Sat 7 Sep 2024, 15:00
Gosport & Fareham
16 – 7
(HT 0-0)
Portsmouth
Gosport & Fareham RFC Ltd
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15LLiam Charlson
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14SStanley Mavin
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13TThomas Robertson
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12SSamuel Whitehead
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11IIain Grice
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10DDominic Holling
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9SSamuel Gee
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1JJordan Carter
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2TTimothy Snowden
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3DDaniel O’Donoghue
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4RRikky Curtis
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5MMax Page
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6CCalum Birse
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7FFinlay Daly
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8SSimon Trivett
Substitutes
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16DDaniel Gamblin
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17BBrad Thomas
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18CCalum Allardice
Portsmouth RFC
Substitutes
Match Report
Portsmouth travelled to Gosport for this first League fixture of the new season.
Gosport kicked off and Portsmouth soon found them selves under pressure. Portsmouth gave a few penalties away which didn’t help their cause and soon found themselves 3-0 down after about 3 minutes. From the restart Portsmouth made inroads into the Gosport half through Fooks, but eventually Gosport got the ball back and pressed the Portsmouth line. Another penalty awarded to Gosport saw their lead increase to 6-0 after about 13 minutes. Gosport then had another chance to increase their lead with a penalty but the kick went wide.
Portsmouth were defending their line when a loose ball got picked up by Gosport and they just had to drop on the ball for the first try of the match taking their lead to 13-0. Portsmouth managed to work themselves into the Gosport half but suddenly there was a bit of an altercation between the forwards which resulted in a penalty awarded to Portsmouth. This resulted in a 5 metre lineout which they were unable to take advantage of after Aaron Beesley was tackled into touch. Portsmouth were now putting pressure on the Gosport line but just could not finish of with a score and eventually the half time whistle went with the score still 13-7.
The second half got underway with neither team able to exert any real control and the game became rather scrappy and disjointed. Portsmouth then lost Stewart Davies having taken a big hit in the first half. His place was taken by Matt Higgins. This was followed by Lee Chandler coming off to be replaced by Ryan Bosher. He went into the second row and Sam Foster moved the back row. A light drizzle was now falling making the ball a bit difficult to handle. Some good defensive work by Portsmouth kept their line intact. Brad Atkins then had to come off after taking a knock and he was replaced by Vinnie Jones who went to prop with Fooks moving to hooker.
Portsmouth then had their best moment when, from a Gosport attack in the Portsmouth 22, Hywel Gronow anticipated a Gosport pass and intercepting, caught the ball raced away to score under the posts as he outpaced the opposition. He then had to convert his own try which took the score to 13-7 with about 10 minutes remaining. This seemed to wake up Portsmouth as they realised that another converted try would seal their first win. However, despite their efforts this failed to materialise and instead yet another penalty to Gosport saw them convert taking the score to 16-7 as the final whistle went and with it a chance of at least a losing bonus point.
Gosport had a very big heavy pack which put the Portsmouth forwards under pressure. With the backs struggling to make any real inroads and a few dropped passes made their task harder than it should have been. 2 scoring chances were missed which also cost them dearly. All in all this was a rather scrappy match between 2 average teams. Despite this there were probably more positives than negatives for the coaches to work on. This is also the first time this team has played together. Next week sees the 1’s at home to Ellingham & Ringwood who lost to Sandown & Shanklin 29-22.
TEAM
FOOKS, ATKINS, AVIS
PINHORNE, FOSTER
CHANDLER, GLAZEBROOK, BEESLEY
MCGUIGAN, GRONOW
CHARLTON, DAVIES, OLIE, WALL
JEWER
BENCH
JEFFERIES, BOSHER, HIGGINS.