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Sat 06 Jan 2018 · Snows Group Hampshire 1
1st XVFareham Heathens
Tries: D Stone , M Parry, I Williams, Z ButlerConversions: M NortonPenalties: M Norton
25
18
Most definitely a game of two halves as we beat Fareham Heathens 25-18 at the Rec.
Martin Norton7 Jan 2018 - 22:12
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It took both teams some while to get into their stride in this game but it was the visitors who started to take control after ten minutes when after an infringement at the ruck they slotted the first penalty to take an early lead.
Most definitely a game of two halves as we beat Fareham Heathens 25-18 at the Rec.
It took both teams some while to get into their stride in this game but it was the visitors who started to take control after ten minutes when after an infringement at the ruck they slotted the first penalty to take an early lead.
This lead was stretched in dramatic fashion when after a scoring an unconverted try in the corner Fareham Heathens scored straight from the kick off to race into a thirteen points to nil lead. It must be said that we were still struggling to get up to speed and looked to be uncomfortable with most aspects of the game at this stage.
However, within ten minutes of the break we finally began to click and following some great interplay between backs and forwards we opened our account with a well finished try by Dee Stone. Captain for the day Mat Norton converted to bring some respectability to the score line. However, Fareham crossed the line after thirty five minutes for another unconverted try to stretch the lead to eleven points.
We were awarded two penalties in the last five minutes of the half. Norton converted one for three points and pushed the second to the corner. A well taken line out and rolling maul saw Mike Parry score a try but with the conversion just wide the score at the break was 18 – 15. Considering the fact that Fareham were in control for most of the first half it was a score line nobody would have expected thirty minutes into the match.
On the flip side it was us who dominated the second half not only with some good attacking moves but also defensively preventing the visitors from scoring at all. The only two tries of the half came from Iestyn Williams and Zak Butler. Iestyn taking a ball from the lineout to force his way through several defenders to touch down and give us the lead for the first time in the match. Zak’s try in the last five minutes sealed the win for us. That said, Fareham were capable of scoring at any time during the half and it was with some relief to us and our supporters when the final whistle went. Both fixtures between the teams for the season have now been played with us narrowly winning both.
Mat Norton commented after the match that he was pleased that we had hung in and won the second half and the game but we needed to shake off the effects Christmas break as we are away to Ventnor next week and at home to second in the league Bognor on the 27th of January.
It took both teams some while to get into their stride in this game but it was the visitors who started to take control after ten minutes when after an infringement at the ruck they slotted the first penalty to take an early lead.
This lead was stretched in dramatic fashion when after a scoring an unconverted try in the corner Fareham Heathens scored straight from the kick off to race into a thirteen points to nil lead. It must be said that we were still struggling to get up to speed and looked to be uncomfortable with most aspects of the game at this stage.
However, within ten minutes of the break we finally began to click and following some great interplay between backs and forwards we opened our account with a well finished try by Dee Stone. Captain for the day Mat Norton converted to bring some respectability to the score line. However, Fareham crossed the line after thirty five minutes for another unconverted try to stretch the lead to eleven points.
We were awarded two penalties in the last five minutes of the half. Norton converted one for three points and pushed the second to the corner. A well taken line out and rolling maul saw Mike Parry score a try but with the conversion just wide the score at the break was 18 – 15. Considering the fact that Fareham were in control for most of the first half it was a score line nobody would have expected thirty minutes into the match.
On the flip side it was us who dominated the second half not only with some good attacking moves but also defensively preventing the visitors from scoring at all. The only two tries of the half came from Iestyn Williams and Zak Butler. Iestyn taking a ball from the lineout to force his way through several defenders to touch down and give us the lead for the first time in the match. Zak’s try in the last five minutes sealed the win for us. That said, Fareham were capable of scoring at any time during the half and it was with some relief to us and our supporters when the final whistle went. Both fixtures between the teams for the season have now been played with us narrowly winning both.
Mat Norton commented after the match that he was pleased that we had hung in and won the second half and the game but we needed to shake off the effects Christmas break as we are away to Ventnor next week and at home to second in the league Bognor on the 27th of January.
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