Results

Counties 1 Hampshire Results

Sat 13 Sep 2025

Portsmouth RFC

28 – 29

(HT 8-21)

Winchester RFC Ltd

Portsmouth RFC

Substitutes

Winchester RFC Ltd

  • 15
    Shewry
  • 14
    Cooper
  • 13
    Cooney
  • 12
    Strangeway
  • 11
    Price
  • 10
    breen
  • 9
    James
  • 1
    Nash
  • 2
    Bailey
  • 3
    McGrath
  • 4
    Wilson
  • 5
    Farrant
  • 6
    Wood
  • 7
    Adamson
  • 8
    Bradley

Substitutes

  • 16
    McLauchlan
  • 17
    Chance
  • 18
    Smith

Match Report

There was 1 change to the original selection for today’s game. Sam Foster came in on the bench in place of Lewis Murray. The pack was the same as last week but there were changes in the backs with Fraser Green unavailable , Ali Macdonald took his place at fullback and Harvey Field was working so his place was taken by Jay Chatham on the wing. Gareth Davies was also not available so Matt Higgins took his place at fly-half. Matt Hoban and Callum Grahamslaw came onto the bench.

Portsmouth got proceeding underway with a good kick downfield which Winchester collected and returned giving Portsmouth a line out between the 22 and 10 metre line. A knock on by Portsmouth gave Winchester a scrum and following a kick upfield Portsmouth had to defend their line, a kick downfield was returned by Winchester. Portsmouth then lost control of the ball and Winchester were quick to grab it and run through to score under the posts, the conversion was good and they took a 0-7 lead on 10 minutes. A kick from Winchester was left to bounce by Portsmouth and this was caught by a Winchester player who ran through to score near the posts. Again they converted extending their lead to 0-14 on 15 minutes.

From a line out in the Winchester 22 Portsmouth were able to set up a good attack which eventually lead to scrum half Dom Vugler side-stepping his way through to score out wide. The conversion missed and the score was now 5-14 on 20 minutes. Shortly after this, Portsmouth were able to close the gap a bit with a penalty taken by Matt Higgins making the score 8-14 on 25 minutes. Shortly after this, Winchester put a a high kick and yet again Portsmouth let the ball bounce and Winchester were quick to pounce on the ball and run through for their 3rd try which was converted thus extending their lead to 8-21 with about 10 minutes of the half remaining and that was the score as the half time whistle went.

The second half started with a penalty to Portsmouth on 43 minutes which Matt Higgins converted with difficult kick into the wind taking the score to 11-21. 2 minutes later Winchester had a penalty which they converted, increasing their score to 11-24. From a 5 metre scrum, Winchester broke wide and scored their 4th try – taking the score to 11-29. Portsmouth were now beginning to string some good moves together which were causing Winchester some problems. Following a penalty against Winchester, Portsmouth had a line out 5 metres from the try line, from a good catch and drive Will Rolfe barrelled his way over to score their 2nd try taking the score to 18-29.

Portsmouth were now playing well and this score was followed shortly with their 3rd try through Evan Watts following a good run. The score was now 23-29 on 65 minutes, with Portsmouth now realising that victory was within their grasp. However with Winchester taking the ball downfield and a line out about 6 metres from the try line Portsmouth had to put in a massive defensive effort to prevent them from scoring. It was then Portsmouth’s chance to score when the forwards drove over the line only for Winchester to get under the ball carrier. With only a few minutes left Portsmouth set up another good attack which saw Brad Jewer eventually take the ball down the blind side and raced round to score almost under the posts. Portsmouth needed the conversion to win but although the kick was on the 22 metre line and just to the side of the posts the gusting wind made it a difficult kick and the ball just went wide.

The score was now a tantalising 28-29. A scrum to Portsmouth saw them shoved off the ball for the first time in the match and with that their chance of winning went as the final whistle went. Their only satisfaction was that they did get 2 losing bonus points, but it could have been so much more. 3 gifted tries certainly didn’t help their cause, lets hope that lessons are learned.

The centre partnership of Evan Watts and Sam Olie is certainly on the up and will only get better. Scrum half Dom Vugler possibly need to get the ball away quicker but that will come as his confidence grows. All 3 subs made an impact when they come on and it was especially pleasing to see Callum Grahamslaw get his debut appearance for the 1’s. He has great pace and is very aggressive with ball in hand. It would be good if Jay Chatham saw more of the ball as he also has great pace. He was subbed on half time but he had only received about 3 passes in the time he was on.

Next week sees Portsmouth travel to Bognor for the first round of a new cup competition. Bognor beat Guernsey 2nds 71-14 so that looks likely to be a tough match. Andover beat Gosport & Fareham 13-41 and they top the table at present. Portsmouth have moved up to 8th.

TEAM
LIAM AVIS, ANT FOOKS, WILL ROLFE
ELLIOTT WORRALL, TOBY WILSON
ALEX BUCK, SAM FLOYD, AARON BEESLEY(C)
DOM VUGLER, MATT HIGGINS
BRAD JEWER, EVAN WATTS, SAM OLIE, JAY CHATHAM
ALI MACDONALD

BENCH
MATT HOBAN, SAM FOSTER, CALLUM GRAHAMSLAW