Category Archives: Match Report

With Havant 1st XV away this match was played on the main artificial pitch in front of a vociferous crowd of supporters from both clubs. From the Portsmouth kick off Havant caught but knocked the ball on giving Portsmouth a scrum around the 22m. line. From that scrum, Havant were then caught offside resulting in a penalty kick to the visitors. With the ball coming off the tee twice Tom Sanderson called for someone to steady the ball but as time was running out the kick was somewhat hurried resulting in a surprise miss. From the restart Portsmouth set up a good attacking move which saw winger Brad Jewer racing down the touch line but as he neared the try line he felt his hamstring go but thought he could still make it but he had to pull up just short. After treatment he had to come off. Harry Drew…

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Portsmouth travelled the short distance to Eastleigh in this League encounter. Portsmouth were 5th.and Eastleigh 7th. before this game but Eastleigh have had a bit of a resurgence recently so this was always going to be a hard fought match and so it proved.Portsmouth kicked off and straight away kept Eastleigh pinned in their 22. Portsmouth had plenty of possession but with Eastleigh defending well they were unable to cross to try line despite several attempts. Eventually Eastleigh got the chance to clear their lines with a good touch kick which took play into the Portsmouth half for the first time in the opening 10 – 15 minutes. A 5 metre lineout to Eastleigh saw them set up a catch and drive and they drove over the line for the first try of the match. The conversion missed and they led by 5 — 0. Portsmouth soon hit back and…

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This fixture was originally scheduled as a League match but due to Alton losing several players to other teams they are endeavoring to fulfill their League fixture with friendly matches instead. This means that Portsmouth are awarded a HWO which gives them a 28 – 0 points victory and 5 points. This gesture was very much appreciated by Portsmouth who were more than keen to play the game after the disappointing loss to Trojans before Christmas followed by a 3 week layoff with too much Turkey, Christmas pudding and alcohol! The Coaching team also welcomed a couple of new players and a returning Stewart Davies who last played for Portsmouth 5 years ago before being posted overseas. He is now back for a 2 year period, possibly longer. Simon Pinhorne is in the RAF and plays 2nd row or No.7, Also playing today are 2 Colts, Matt Pilbeam, fullback, and…

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Portsmouth Vets travelled the short journey up the A3 to play this ‘friendly’ fixture as Petersfield would only play the game game at their ground despite the Clubhouse upstairs being closed to players and spectators alike. It was a rather windy and cold day but the players entered into the festive spirit of the game and a close and entertaining game was eventually won by Petersfield  26 – 19.  The only thing missing was brandy and minced pies at half time.  After the match a group photo was taken before they all went to get warmed up in the showers.  Portsmouth players were then going to return to their own clubhouse for some much needed refreshment. Portsmouth 1st XV’s next league fixture is Saturday 6th.January at home to Alton, K.O is 2.00 p.m.

Portsmouth travelled the fairly short distance to Trojans hoping to do the double on their opponents having won the first encounter 57 – 13 back in September. However this was a slightly changed side from the last game with injuries and unavailability but it still looked a pretty strong side. This is the last fixture before the Christmas break so it was hoped that they could finish the year on a bit of a high. It was a calm day with only a slight breeze blowing diagonally across the pitch away from the Club house. Trojans got the match underway with prop Fooks catching the ball and made inroads into the Trojans half but a knock on gave a scrum to the home side just outside the 22. Trojans then won a penalty almost in front of the posts and between the Portsmouth 22 and half way line. The kick…

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Counties 1 Hampshire League Match Report by Jim Dixon. The day started with a Christmas Lunch held for 70 members and their guests. During the proceeding President Nigel Morgan spoke about Junior Club member Jonathon Warbrick as this was the first anniversary of his very untimely death. His son and family were present and he made a very emotional address in which he presented the Club with a silver trophy to be played for annually between a Portsmouth XV and a Portsmouth University team with the winner holding the trophy for that year.Before today’s match started both teams and Portsmouth 3rds/Fareham Heathens lined up in front of the Clubhouse and gave a minutes applause in his memory. Portsmouth got the match underway and straight away put Ellingham under pressure deep in their 22. When Ellingham won a penalty they were only able to clear the ball to their own 22.…

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Match Report by Jim Dixon. Portsmouth travelled through the New Forest for this re-arranged fixture with New Milton, cancelled earlier due to a wet pitch. As I was driving down to the game I was thinking of the last time I had been here which was probably playing for the Vets. I then realised that that was over 30 years ago so no wonder I couldn’t remember the way! In those days the Vets played every week and if we had a cancelled game John Smith, who was not only Vets Capt. but also the club fixture secretary, so he always made sure we got a fixture. We played New Milton, Worthing and Tottonians more frequently than any other team but that is for another day! As this was meant to be a blank Saturday some of the 1’s players had made other arrangements so it was a rather different…

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Portsmouth 12 Bognor 36 By Simon Newsham The change of venue to a home fixture because Bognor is currently under water should have given us a bit of an advantage, however, Bognor came flying out of the blocks and took the lead after just three minutes. Their forwards are big and quick they tore through the Pompey defence scoring under the posts. The game settled into a midfield scrap, Bognor using the wind and kicking deep while Portsmouth tried to run it out of their own half. There was a hopeful attack in the ninth minute but a knock on gave the ball away and Bognor launched another attack, the ball was turned over by Lee Chandler but was adjudged to knocked it on. The resulting scrum ten metres from the Pompey line saw the scrum half dummy and slip past Tom Sanderson, offloading to the right where a Bognor…

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Portsmouth took on Bournemouth 2nds on a very still day but at least it was not raining. The game was preceeded with a minutes silence with both teams lining up in front of the Clubhouse, in recognition of former Club President Peter Golding who sadly passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday night. This was followed by a minutes applause by players and spectators alike. Portsmouth got proceeding underway and Bournemouth straight away took the game to Portsmouth with a series of attacks until they eventually knocked on giving Portsmouth a scrum. From the scrum the ball went to Tawanda Matipano who made good ground before passing to Anthony Fooks who scored out wide, Gareth Davies was on target with the conversion and they led 7 – 0. with about 7 minutes gone. A lineout to Bournemouth following the restart saw them set up a good attack and suddenly…

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