Portsmouth vs Gosport & Fareham, Saturday 20th April, Papa John Cup – 2nd round
This is the third meeting this season between these two teams. At present it stands at 1 victory each (League matches) so the winner of this Cup match will have the bragging rights. The squad Portsmouth put out today contains several Colts, among which is this year’s Captain and fly half Hywel Gronow. His father is Matt Gronow, former 1st XV winger and prolific try scorer remembered best by the older Club members. Portsmouth got the game underway and Gosport soon set out their intentions with a series of attacks on the Portsmouth try line. However good defence kept them at bay. Gradually, Portsmouth began to work their way upfield and were soon setting up attacks of their own. As so often happens, the team that defends for a period then sets up an attack that results in a try. Following a penalty against Gosport for a high tackle Portsmouth…
Portsmouth v Petersfield, Saturday 6th March 2024
It hardly seemed possible that this was the final match in our League for this season, where has the time gone? Portsmouth had to make quite a few changes from the usual side, due to unavailability/injury. Most notable of the changes was Ian French starting in the front row and Greg Hoolihan starting at hooker. Ian French was all set for a leisurely trip with the 2’s to play Ventnor on the Isle of Wight. Accompanying him was his son Joe. He then got a call from the 1’s to play for them against Petersfield to which he said O.K.. He doesn’t train and at 47 years that is quite reasonable, he just makes the occasional game for the Vets. He has been called on before to be a replacement for the 1’s which usually only means short spells. Greg retired last season at 36 to help out with family…
Portsmouth vs Gosport & Fareham, Saturday 23rd March 2024
Portsmouth started off the day with a Past Players lunch in which 125 former members turned up for a fantastic day at the Club. Lots of memories stirred no doubt and some a bit exaggerated I’m sure. A few changes from last week saw Cam McGuigan at No.9, Leo Wall in the centre and Tim Rollett at No.15. Phill Galliland was also back in the front row. Play got underway with Portsmouth kicking off. They had lost the toss and were having to play with the wind in the first half. The first few minutes saw both teams vying for territory with Gosport probably gaining most. However a good break from a scrum by Cam McGuigan saw him make a break and race through before kicking downfield. Gosport were able to gather but eventually Portsmouth secured possession and the ball was spun through several hands before finishing with Harvey Field…
Under 16s Hampshire Vase Final
By Fred French Portsmouth v Basingstoke at Winchester RFC. In the first ten minutes possession and position were in Portsmouths favour, but final passes didn’t go to hand and Basingstoke were very strong defensively. They capitalised on a Portsmouth error when one of the Basingstoke backs broke the line and ran from deep in their own half to score under the posts and converted. Portsmouth replied ten minutes later with a penalty in front of the posts kicked by Reggie D, then just before half-time Reggie scored under the posts on a pick and go and converted. Half time 10-7. The second half was Portsmouth’s game. Possession, going forward, in support of each other, but Basingstoke still put up a solid defence, disrupting play tackling and rucking. Tries came from George O with a pick and dive converted by Reggie, a Josh W run in from the wing converted by…
Ellingham & Ringwood vs Portsmouth, Saturday 16th March 2024
Portsmouth travelled to Ellingham & Ringwood for this return fixture having won 13-0 in their first encounter. With only a couple of changes from last week, prop Phill Gilliland was unavailable as was Brad Jewer who played fullback. Before the game got underway teams lined up for a minutes silence for an Ellingham Club Member who passed away suddenly last week. Portsmouth got the game underway and for a while play was contained between the 10 metre lines with neither side able to get any real control. Portsmouth then had a kick upfield resulting from a penalty against Ellingham. A good 5 metre touch was found but the ball was lost at the lineout enabling Ellingham to take play back downfield. A poor pass to Aarron Beesley could not be gathered as the ball was knocked on. Ellingham were now putting pressure on the Portsmouth try line and only some…
Portsmouth vs Andover, Saturday 9th March 2024
This match was rescheduled from a postponed fixture in January due to unplayable pitches. This was originally scheduled for a 3.00 p.m. K.O. but during the week Andover requested if the game could be brought forward to 2.00 p.m. which was agreed by the hosts. Unfortunately the Club website was not altered so apologies to those members who turned up for a later K.O. This was a match between 5th,place (Portsmouth) and 2nd place (Andover) and promised to be a fiesty affair and so it proved. Andover got the game underway and were soon on the scoreboard when Portsmouth were penalised. The conversion gave Andover a short lived lead 0 – 3. However Portsmouth soon hit back when from a scrum Ollie Simpson took the ball upfield dummying his way and eventually passing to Leo Wall on the wing, he cut inside and raced through to score out wide. The…
Portsmouth vs Bognor, Saturday 2nd March 2024
This fixture was originally down to be played at Rugby Camp, but due to a Bognor pitch being unfit back in November the game was switched to Rugby Camp thus making the return match having to be played at Bognor. Unfortunately the Bognor pitch was deemed unfit and with all of the pitches at Rugby Camp unplayable this week end the game was switched to Littlehampton Rugby Club. Fortunately their 1’s were playing away at Midhurst so that freed up the only pitch available. The pitch is located at the end of a fairly new housing development with views across a valley to Arundel Castle. The pitch is on a slight rise so it had drained pretty well, as the ditches around showed. It was also rather exposed and there was a cold wind blowingup the pitch making the afternoon feel pretty cold despite the sun shining. The players had…
Gosport & Fareham vs Portsmouth, Saturday 24th February 2024
By Jim Dixon Portsmouth travelled to Gosport for this re-arranged fixture from 9th.December due to a waterlogged pitch. Elliott Worrell made a welcome return in the 2nd row after a lengthy injury spell and Stuart Davies had to withdraw due to illness and his place was taken by Dan Gates in the centre. Gosport got the game underway and from a Gareth Davies clearance they took play deep into the Portsmouth half. A kick through by Gosport nearly resulted in a try but fortunately quick cover from Portsmouth saw them touch down first. Portsmouth were unable to make inroads up field and eventually Gosport crossed for the first try of the match giving them a 5 – 0 lead with about 10 minutes gone. Gosport had a chance to increase their lead with a penalty but the kick went wide. With both sides vying for territory gain Portsmouth winger Leo…
Bournemouth II vs Portsmouth, Saturday 17th February 2024
by Jim Dixon Portsmouth travelled on one of their longer journeys to take on Bournemouth 2’s on a rather damp and miserable day. Portsmouth got the game underway and managed to give away 6 penalties in as many minutes which rather frustrated the Coaches and the visiting spectators. Eventually however they got things under better control and soon started to dominate, especially in the forwards where they drove the opposition back on several occasions. The lineouts were also proving a good source of gaining extra ball with Liam Glazebrook stealing several balls on the Bournemouth throw. Bournemouth had a chance of taking the lead with a penalty kick from just inside the Portsmouth 10 metre line but the kick went wide. It wasn’t long before Portsmouth got on the score sheet with a try by Aaron Beesley who made one of his typical runs through the opposition. With Gareth Davies…
Portsmouth vs New Milton, Saturday 3rd February 2024
Portsmouth welcomed New Milton to Rugby Camp and a rather cold breezy day. New Milton won the toss and elected to play with the breeze behind them. Prior to the game starting the two reams lined up in front of the Clubhouse to give a minutes applause in memory of Kevin Ricketts who sadly passed away last week. Portsmouth kicked off and soon set up a good attacking move that involved forwards and backs alike, taking the ball from one side of the pitch to the other. Eventually it was hooker Brad Atkins who took the final pass and scored close to the posts. Gareth Davies was on target and they took a 7-0 lead. The game became a bit bogged down with neither side being able to make ground. In fact there was a short period when Portsmouth had no possession and spent time just on defence. Prop Adam…