16 February 2008

Portsmouth Vets 0 – 46 Trojans 2
by Simon Newsham


'If we'd played us at their age we'd have won by eighty points', this exclamation from fly-half Sean Godkin after the game is not at all far from the truth. That quote needs a little thought to fully understand but you can see where he's coming from, Trojans seconds were young and fit and the average age of each player around twenty-three years but the score line should have been double that.

The spry visitors got two early tries in both halves but were held at bay for long periods of this game by tenacious tackling and wily old treachery. Pompey were missing several influential players and had both replacements on the field after 15 minutes, not the best scenario when playing against a team twenty years younger per man, the vast difference in age obviously had a bearing on the outcome of this match but i'm not going to go on about it. The youthful visitors were 12-0 up inside five minutes, a chip ahead and a lucky bounce for the Trojans wing put them in for their first score and another came when Portsmouth lost the ball in the tackle and a quick break by the embryonic outside half made it two tries for this young side who were all intent on impressing their coach, many of these youngsters will be playing first team rugby for Trojans in the near future and judging by the singing in the changing room after the game they knew they'd taken a major scalp in beating Pompey Vets, however our guests couldn't stay long afterwards as they had homework and an early night to get back for.

Although the hosts didn't get on the scoreboard they did manage a ten minute spell in the second half where they were camped in the Trojans twenty-two, in fact on their try-line, only knock-ons saving the vernal visitors from conceding a try. There was nothing wrong with Pompeys application, they tackled hard and never gave up, and they kept hold of the ball for long periods but the fact that much younger, fitter and fairly talented lads got the better of them in the open spaces.

Next week sees the last game for Leon Reilly and to commemorate it we'll be having a cheese and wine doo with our guests from Southampton Vets (over thirty-fives) please send your availability to Bungle or Caspall.