MATCH REPORT

23 Jan 2010

Gosport & Fareham - H - Score 7-14

Scorers: Keith Walsh try, Mat Norton conversion.



With the pitch in superb condition, the weather dry and the top of the league team on their way we were all looking forward to a tough encounter for our first home game of 2010.



Traditionally the games between Fordingbridge and Gosport & Fareham are always good quality, hard fought encounters and this was to be no different.



In a carbon copy of last week’s game at Kingston, within five minutes we were five points down following a line out on our five metres and a well organised drive from G & F for a push over try.



For the first twenty minutes of the half we hardly got our hands on the ball and when we did things did not seem to go to plan. G & F capitalised well on our mistakes and kept us under constant pressure finally resulting in a penalty against us, for not rolling away, and we were eight points down.



Bridge had their chances especially when Sauce somehow grabbed the ball from their three quarters mid move and broke for the try line from our twenty two. Unfortunately good chasing back from the visitors and the pass not quite making it to brother Dan’s hands, meant the chance passed.



Another three points from a penalty for killing the ball meant that we went into the half time break eleven nil down.



As the second half got underway and the large crowd became more and more vocal the quality of the rugby stepped up a level. Both sides were playing superb attacking rugby with fierce determination and skill.



The only score in the half came when Bridge were awarded a penalty just outside the G & F five metre line. Timmie Godden ran up took a quick tap and passed to Beefy who ran in the corner for a well deserved try. With an excellent conversion from the touchline by Norts we were well and truly back in the game.



This just seemed to spur on both teams on and the high quality rugby continued. Despite being on top for most of the second half we just could not break through the G & F defence and well into extra time the visitors were awarded a penalty and with the last kick of the game took the final score to fourteen seven.



This was a thoroughly entertaining game of rugby played in good spirit. G & F deserve their place at the top of the league but it must be said that we can hold our heads up after a fine performance. It would not be fair to single out any individual player as it was a fine team performance but thanks must go to Tom Townsend who stepped in at nine for us for the first time this season and was awarded Man of the Match.





Match Photos - Click here

Players :1. Nick Tyler, 2. Leigh Marsden, 3. Chris Leaton, 4. Alex Tattersall, 5. Chris Spain, 6. Joel Worrall, 7. Sean Gorman, 8. Dean Lewis, 9. Tom Townsend, 10. Steve Brown, 11. Dan Brown, 12. Mark Newton, 13. Mat Norton, 14. Tim Godden, 15. Tim Brittan, 16. Keith Walsh, 17. Craig Halkerston, 18. Mike Grimes, 19. , 20. ,