2's secure a fine win

Luke Mowbray scored a first half try which Mark Hammond converted.
Mark put us further ahead with a penalty just after the interval before Chris Gogin, who had come on as a replacement, went on to score his first senior try for the club to put the issue beyond doubt.

Mike Parry added:

Fordingbridge RFC II 15 Weymouth 0

Weather: Cold – Slight Breeze (At the Start)

Attendance : A few

Milestones: Dave Gogin, Chris Gogin and Paddy Gogin all appear in Fordingbridge Colours for the first time together.

Fordingbridge received the kick off playing down the slope with the sun at their backs, the ever young Rich Maltby taking the catch cleanly and charging into the determined Weymouth defence which was to prove difficult to breakdown all afternoon, although Fordingbridge had the upper hand in the scrum, the line out was more of an even affair, with both teams challenging each others ball. Around the park back row partners Andrew Godden and Jamie terrorised Weymouth’s defence with dogged tackling and sometimes over zealous rucking, which resulted in Weymouth being awarded a few penalties at the breakdown. However, with Weymouth electing not to kick at goal believing they could batter their way to our line, our defence was being tested to the max, and time after time Weymouth were sent backwards by outstanding mid-field work from Gary (fingers) Evans and Luke Mowbray, who have struck up a formidable defensive partnership in recent weeks.

Alex Tattersall made a welcome return to the boiler room and his partnership with JV could prove invaluable this season. Sean ‘I have been travelling’ Gorman, whilst looking slightly more portly, than when he went away, seems to be revelling in his position as hooker, along with Keith Walsh who looks like he has been playing loose head all his life.

The first score of the match came from an outstanding break from Luke Mowbray, who cut a fantastic line, sprinting almost 40 metres and rounding the full back of Weymouth, to score under the posts. (That’s as much as I can remember – I was still getting up from scrum) Mark Hammond converting 7 – 0. A further penalty was to follow or precede!!! from Mark to make the score 10 – 0 at half time.

With a squad of 23 players selected for this weekend and 33 that were available Fordingbridge had the luxury of being able to make changes at half time, some enforced through injury. Chris Langford seems to be rolling back the years and his position as loose head prop, seems to have got him “more excited than he has felt for years”, and his experience and tactical nous, laid platform to what would be a very efficient performance in the second half which – I think didn’t see Weymouth get into our 22. Colin Reeves looked assured at full back, covering for the injured Tom Webb, who left the field just before H/T, allowing Chris Gogin to come into his usual position at scrum half. Chris played outstandingly well and communicated his orders to a weary, but motivated pack of forwards, who answered with a performance of gusto in the second half, which Weymouth had no answer to, and were left clutching for straws as Fordingbridge completely dominated the second half. Strong running, from Tat and Rich Maltby laid a platform for Chris Gogin to sneak down the blindside for a great individual score, his first in a senior jersey. Mark just missed the conversion.

There were to be no more points in the game, however, this was not to be a dull affair as both teams were looking to break each other down, and their number 4 tried to break me.(Thanks mate)

Gogs saved himself for the final 4 minutes, not to miss out on the action and his attempted box kick went straight into touch to signal the end of the game.

Well done lads, have a great Christmas and Happy New Year. See you all in 2012, where we start the second half of our campaign against Wheatsheaf away