Results

Counties 1 Hampshire Results

Sat 22 Nov 2025

Andover RFC Ltd

10 – 15

(HT 0-5)

Portsmouth RFC

Andover RFC Ltd

  • 15
    Waite
  • 14
    Banks
  • 13
    Roll
  • 12
    North
  • 11
    demesi
  • 10
    Gentleman
  • 9
    Higgins
  • 1
    Dixon
  • 2
    Barberstarkey
  • 3
    Reed
  • 4
    pearson
  • 5
    Erskine
  • 6
    Hollinshead
  • 7
    Feirn
  • 8
    Barton-Knott

Substitutes

  • 16
    Earle
  • 17
    Shinton
  • 18
    Fleet

Portsmouth RFC

Substitutes

Match Report

Travelling to Andover is one of the longer away trips this season. Add to that the cold and persistent rain and it was not the most enjoyable of trips.
However to come away with a 10-15 win is a rarity in itself and certainly made the homeward journey a lot more pleasing. Added to that is the fact that the pitch has something like a 15′ fall from the far end to the clubhouse end and you can understand why it is not everyone’s favourite venue.

Andover kicked off but the ball didn’t go 10 metres so it was a Portsmouth scrum back on the halfway line and for a prolonged time the majority of play took place in the Andover half despite, or because of it, Portsmouth were playing uphill. Andover had a couple of forays into the Portsmouth 22 but some good defence kept them out. Portsmouth then set up an attack from the half way line and despite the wet and slippery conditions, spun the ball across the backs, eventually Jay Chatham took the final pass and be broke a couple of tackles to score his side’s first try. Matt Higgins was unable to add the extras so the score was 0-5 to Portsmouth with about 15 minutes gone.

More pressure from Portsmouth nearly gave them a second score but with the rain handling was becoming difficult as was keeping on your feet. Another attack from Andover was repelled and as Portsmouth got towards the halfway line the whistle went for half time with the score still 0-5 to the visitors.

The second half got underway with both teams trying to get the upper hand despite the difficult conditions. Eventually it was Andover who scored first through a quickly taken tap penalty, they were unable to add the extras so the score was now 5 a’piece with about 55 minutes gone. An excellent drive from the Portsmouth forwards saw them drive the opposition back 15/20 metres before Andover were then penalised for collapsing the maul. From a quickly taken tap penalty Portsmouth scored their second try through a good charge by Liam Avis. The conversion missed but they re-took the lead 5-10 on 60 minutes.

Andover then had a period when they were pressing for a score which eventually came taking the score to 10-10 on 75 minutes. The conversion missed. From an Andover lineout Portsmouth managed to steal the ball and they drove towards the line with Sam Olie taking the final pass to score their third try. Again the kick missed but they were now in the lead again 10-15 with about 5 minutes of full time left. The final whistle went following a kick to touch by the visitors and a very jubilant Portsmouth team deserved the praise from the Coaches.

This has not been a happy hunting ground for Portsmouth over the past few years so this victory was all the sweeter. They played some very good handling rugby despite the slippery conditions and an opposition pack that always gave as good as they got. A thoroughly deserved victory which sees Portsmouth move up to 5th place on 23 points, just 1 point behind Bournemouth 2’s. The whole squad played an important role in today’s win. Winchester 2’s beat Chichester 33-23 to go top.

Next week, Portsmouth welcome Gosport & Fareham, who beat Eastleigh away 14-34. Kick-off is 2pm with a very popular pre-match lunch available from 12:30pm.

TEAM
WILL ROLFE,(C). BRAD ATKINS, LIAM AVIS
SAM FOSTER, TOBY WILSON
HENRI DAVIES, SAM FLOYD, ANT.FOOKS
DOM VUGLER, MATT HIGGINS
JAY CHATHAM, SAM OLIE, LEO WALL, BRAD JEWER
ARCHIE CLEMENCE

BENCH
CHARLIE BODMAN, CALLUM GRAHAMSLAW, DOM BOURNE