Portsmouth 30 – 10 Basingstoke

Match Report by Jim Dixon

Portsmouth secured their first win of the season with an emphatic 2nd half display, playing against a strong wind, after finishing the first half leading 15  –  10.  It could also be said that both the Basingstoke tries came from Portsmouth mistakes, the first from missed tackles and the second from a rather bizarre moment which saw some very erratic handling in which the ball was knocked every which way until it was picked up by the Visitors who scored close to the touch line.  Portsmouth scores came from a good drive from the forwards which saw second row Max Clarke dive over to level the scores at 5 apiece.   Basingstoke then retook the lead with a well taken try after some missed tackles by Portsmouth taking the score to 5  –  10.  Again from strong a Portsmouth forwards drive to the line, scrum half Elliot Davis managed to make a good blind side break and just squeezed at the corner, bringing the scores level at 10 all. More pressure from Portsmouth saw a good kick from fly half Lee Chandler gathered by quick thinking winger Scott Weatherhead who beat the opposition to the touch down taking the score to 15  –  10 as the half time whistle went.
The second half saw Portsmouth playing into the strong head wind but they soon began to pressurize the visitors line with some good handling moves together with strong forward pressure which saw them set up a couple of mauls in which they drove them back 10 – 15 metres.  A good scoring chance came to nothing when the final pass was ajudged to have gone forward.  After defending their line for a period Portsmouth managed to break out and took the ball from one end to the other with some good handling and eventually the Fijian centre Risi scored his first try in Portsmouth colours,  extending the lead  to 20  –  10.   This gave Portsmouth their bonus point  with the 4th. try.  More pressure from Portsmouth was forcing Basingstoke to run from their own line and as they passed the ball along the backs quick thinking by Scott Weatherhead saw him intercept a pass and run through unapposed to score their 5th. try taking then lead to 25  –  10.  Basingstroke where soon back on the attack but Portsmouth were not letting them score this close to the final whistle and again some good defensive work saw them gain possession and again take the ball the entire length of the field and from a driving maul Max Clarke got his hands on the ball and dived over for the 6th. and final try as the whistle went to end the game.  
This was a much better performance in which the entire squad played a vital part, especially in the second half.   Second row Rob Gicquel also reached his  100th.league.  appearance.  Despite some changes in the squad the effort they all put in was very pleasing to the Coaches.  However this result will be best served if they can replicate the result next week away to Old Emanuel who now lie in 11th. place behind Portsmouth in 10th with 8 points  Old Emanuel lost to Old Georgians 64  –  19 and are on 5 points.

TEAM:-Rhys Bowen, Brad Atkins, Adam Parks-Dare.Rob Gicquel, Max Clarke.Dan Perry, Greg Hoolihan(C)  Aaron BeesleyElliot  Davis, Lee Chandler.Scott Weatherhead, Rokilibau Ratu Rusiate,  Dan Gates,  Luke Peters,Olie Samuel.
BENCH:-Ian French,  Anthony Fooks, Masirewa Vihame

Old Emanuel 29- 17 Portsmouth

Match report by Jim Dixon

From the kick off play was mainly contained between the two10 metre lines  as both teams fought for domination.  However it was the home team that came out on top in the early exchanges.  They gradually managed to dominate both the lineouts and scrums, although Portsmouth were able to secure the ball on their put ins they did so whilst going backwards thus giving their backs now real forward momentum which resulted in play taking part mainly in the Portsmouth 22 area.   The pressure enventually told and O.E’s got on the score board with a try close to the posts which was converted giving them a 7  –  0 lead after about 27 minutes.   Ian French came on to replace Rhys Bowen in the front row.  A penalty kick was squanderd by O.E’s and a second try was only prevented by solid defence by the visitors and the half time whistle went with the score 7  –  0 to the home side. 

The second half started with Lee Chandler having to be helped off the field as he was going in and out of consciousness and an ambulance was called to treat him.Bradley Jewer came non to replace him.   A good attacking move came to nothing when it all broke down as they closed on the O.E’s try line only to loose the ball and suddenly find themselves on the receiving end of a second O.E’s try which was converted, giving them a 14  –  0 lead after 2 or 3 minutes of the re-start.   However Portsmouth were not done yet and an excellent move by Bradley Jewer as he made a fantastic break, making good ground before passing to Sam Foster who then passed to Greg Hoolihan who score close to the posts. Hopkins converted and the score was now 14  –  7.   Jewer was on hand again to make another good break and he managed to gather his own kick ahead to out strip the opposition to score out wide taking the score to 14  -12.   A penalty against Portsmouth saw O.E’s extend their lead to 17  –  12.  Portsmouth were now on a bit of a roll and from a kick ahead by Luke Peters,  he managed to collect his own kick and outstrip the opposition  to score out wide taking the score to 17  –  17.   O.E’s then made a change at fly half in bringing on a player who hadn’t played for the all season but changed the shape of the game for O.E’s as he soon managed to dominate proceedings.  The result was that the game suddenly swung back in favour of the home side as he sidestepped his way through  Portsmouth players to score close to the posts taking their to 24  –  17.  O.E’s were soon scoring their 4th. try after some scrum pressure, taking the final score to 29  –  17 as the final whistle went.   

This was a very  disappointing performance by Portsmouth especially after last weeks second half display versus Basingstoke although it must be said that this team was stronger than Basingstoke,.   Portsmouth had opportunities to score but poor finishing or loosing the ball in contact   certainly didn’t help their cause.

Portsmouth have now slipped back to 11th. in the League on 8 points, with Old Emanuel in 10th. on10 points.  Petersfield still top the table despite a 25  –  12 loss away to Warlingham.  Old Cranleighans ,our next opponents , lost 7  –  36 away to Weybridge Vandels.   Portsmouth’s next match is in 2 weeks time as there are no League fixtures next week so they have a rest which will hopefully give time for some niggly injuries to improve,

TEAM: Rhys Bowen, Bradsley Atkins, Adam Parks-Dare,

Sam Foster, Max Clarke,

Anthony Fooks, Greg Hoolihan,  Aaron Beesley.

Elloit Davis, Lee Chandler,

Tom Hopkins, Rokilibau Ratu Rusiate, Masirewa Vihame,  Luke Peters

Suliasi Caucau.

Bench: Bradley Jewer,  Ian French, Dan Perry,