1st XV
Matches
Sat 01 Dec 2018  ·  Hampshire Premier
Fordingbridge Rugby Club
1st XV
Tries: P Collier, M Hammond (3), W Wildman, J Hirst, P ScottConversions: J Tryska (5)
45
22
Portsmouth II
Ex colt debutants both score in victory over Portsmouth by 45 -22

Ex colt debutants both score in victory over Portsmouth by 45 -22

Martin Norton15 Dec 2018 - 19:57
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We welcomed Portsmouth 2’s to the Rec for the first full league meeting between the two clubs brought about by the new Hampshire Premier League

Ex colt debutants both score in victory over Portsmouth by 45 -22
We welcomed Portsmouth 2’s to the Rec for the first full league meeting between the two clubs brought about by the new Hampshire Premier League. In the preceding VP’s lunch, club President Ian Brown commented that due to unavailability in the backs this was a great opportunity for first team debuts for two ex-colts on both wings. Will Wildman and James Hirst took to the field for the first time in senior colours for the club.
The league positions and seasons results suggested that we would start the game as favourites. However, the Portsmouth pack was a heavy and well drilled unit and their plan was to play to that strength. It became clear from the outset that we were going to have play the game wide were our speedier backs could do the most damage. We got off the mark with two quick tries from Phil Collier and Mark Hammond and with Jamie Tryska converting both we relaxed in the game a little.
With another converted try from Hammond and an unconverted try from new boy Will Wildman we started to gain the upper hand in the match with a lead of twenty six points to nil approaching half time.
However, following a loose pass in the centre of the field a Portsmouth interception saw their centre score under the posts for a converted try. We pressed home one final attack into the break when second debutant James Hirst went over out wide to take the half time score to thirty one points to seven.
The second half started well for us when Mark Hammond scored his third try of the day pushing the score to thirty eight points to seven.
It is fair to say that mid-way through the second half we slipped off our pace and lost the dominance we had enjoyed in the first half as mistakes and penalties crept into our performance. Portsmouth were quick to capitalize on this scoring two unconverted tries through their pack taking the score to thirty eight points to seventeen and they definitely had the wind in their sails.
To carry on the nautical analogy, Peter Scott steadied the ship for us with a fine try and with Tryska adding the extras, the status quo was resumed. With the score at forty five to seventeen and six minutes to go the match was won. However, Portsmouth were out to get their fourth try and bonus point which they succeeded to do in the last minute to take the final score to forty five points to twenty two.
This turned out to be a tougher game than we had expected but Captain Harry Hitchings said that the team stuck at it when things were not going their way and that he was delighted with the performance of the new young players on their debut.
James Hirst and Will Wildman were both awarded Man of the Match.

Match details

Match date

Sat 01 Dec 2018

Kickoff

14:15

Meet time

12:45

Instructions

Post match dress code: Xmas Jumpers

Competition

Hampshire Premier

League position

4
Fordingbridge
11
Portsmouth II
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club Photographer - Geoff Bell
Senior Shirt Sponsor - Elliotts
Senior Shirt Sponsor - Collier & Dobson
Senior Shirt Sponsor - Pain's Fireworks