This was Portsmouth’s first game since 18th January given that we should have played Guernsey on 1st February but they had ‘problems with their pitch’ so the game is being re-arranged.
Portsmouth were more than eager to get the game underway and were soon on the score sheet with Bryn Rainford crossing for the first try on 4 minutes. The conversion missed with the lead 5-0. This seemed to open the floodgates and before we knew it Aaron Beesley, Sam Foster and Connor Charlton had all added tries to give us a bonus point on 18 minutes. None of the tries where converted giving us a 20-0 lead.
10 minutes later Liam Avis scored followed by his brother Oli. There was 1 conversion by Matt Higgins taking the lead to 32-0. 7 minutes later Oli Avis scored his second taking the score to 37-0. In the closing stages of the first half Brad Jewer showed a good turn of speed as he crossed for a try converted by Matt Higgins taking the score to 44-0 followed by Jas Solanki scoring an unconverted try taking the half time score to 49-0.
The second half got underway with an even quicker start than the first half with probably the try of the match. From the kick off by New Milton he caught the ball in his half and set off on an amazing run, side stepping opponents to run straight through the opposition to score out wide with barely a minute on the clock. This put the score at 54 – 0 and 5 minutes later Connor Charlton scored his second try taking the score to 59-0. Not to be outdone Sam Floyd was again on the score sheet with 46 minutes on the clock, Gareth Davies had taken over the kicking duties and he duly obliged with the conversion taking the score to 66-0.
Connor Charlton was again on the score sheet with his third of the afternoon. Gareth Davies obliged with the conversion taking the score to 73-0. Matt Higgins was next on the score sheet taking the score to 80-0 with the conversion. Olie Avis then scored his second try which was converted by Gareth Davies taking the score to 87-0. Connor Charlton then scored his 4th try which Gareth Davies again converted, taking to score to 94-0 with about 10 minutes of the match remaining. Jas Solanki added the final score with his second try, also converted by Gareth Davies, giving Portsmouth a comprehensive win of 101-0.
To the best of my knowledge this is only the second time Portsmouth have scored such a score, the first being many, many years ago when the then scoreboard had 2 hooks for the numbers and I had to hold required number on the board.
Credit must also be given to New Milton for not giving up for the entire 80 minutes and they even thanked the referee for not giving them any help with his decisions by favouring them in any way. He was, they said, the best ref they had had all season.
Would you believe it but next week is also a rest week! We seem to be having more rest weeks than playing weeks this year. Our next match will be against Bournemouth 2’s who lost 45-21 to Ellingham & Ringwood. Bournemouth are currently in 9th place on 38 points and Portsmouth are in 6th on 40 points. The mid table teams are all very close so there is everything to play for. Also a reminder that kickoff is now 2.30pm.
TEAM
PHILL GILLILAND, JOHN PEARSON, LIAM AVIS
SAM FOSTER, BRYN RAINFORD
ANT. FOOKS. SAM FLOYD, AARON BEESLEY(C)
GEORGE WRIGHT, MATT HIGGINS
CONNOR CHARLTON, OLI AVIS, SAM OLIE, BRAD JEWER
JAS SOLANKI
BENCH
ALESX BUCK, LEE CHANDLER, GARETH DAVIES