Sat 16 Nov 2024
29 – 19
(HT 15-7)
Match Report
The day started with a lunch in memory of Club stalwart Ken Reilly who sadly passed away last week. There were about 60 members present together with Jenny Reilly and her family. There was much recalling of memories of yesteryear. Just before the matches started, teams from the two games lined up for 1 minute’s applause in K.R’s memory.
Bournemouth are a much improved side from the one we played last season so Portsmouth new they were in for good contest and so it proved.
Portsmouth got the match underway and soon had Bournemouth pinned in their 22. A relieving kick from the visitors saw Portsmouth spin the ball through several pairs of hands and the move was finished of by Leo Wall who dotted down out wide. The conversion fell short so the score stood at 5-0 after about 3 minutes. Just under 10 minutes later Portsmouth set up another good handling move which was again finished off by Leo Wall scoring out wide. Again the kick fell short and they now led by 10-0. Portsmouth then lost Liam Avis to a yellow card for a high tackle. Following a penalty against the home side Bournemouth set up an attack and their big second row crashed over but somehow Portsmouth managed to get under him thus preventing a try. Bournemouth were now playing with a bit more confidence and they set up another attack which this time resulted in a try out wide which they converted, taking the score to 10-7 with about 30 minutes played. Avis was now back on having served his 10 minutes.
A good run from full back Matt Higgins saw play go deep into the opposition half. Brad Jewer than came close to scoring when he chased up a kick but he just put a foot in touch as he gathered the ball. Olie Avis then collected a kick from Bournemouth in his own half with the resultant kick going into touch giving the lineout to Portsmouth with a 50/22 kick but they then lost the lineout. Just on the stroke of half time Portsmouth set up another attack resulting in Wall going over for his hat- trick. Again the kick missed but the lead was now 15-7 as the half time whistle went.
Portsmouth made a change with Lee Chandler coming off to be replaced by Vinnie Jefferies. A good kick up field by Oli Avis saw the ball bounce close to the try line as Portsmouth followed up. A Bournemouth player got there first but was then penalised for holding on after the tackle. From the resultant scrum the ball was got quickly away by scrum half Wright and the ball went through various hands before Sam Olie took the final pass and cutting back inside scored under the posts. Matt Hughes was now taking on the conversions and his kick dissected the posts giving Portsmouth a 22-7 lead. Adam Parks-Dare then came off to be replaced by Louis Bristow, This was the home side’s 4 try giving them a bonus point. Brad Jewer also came off to be replaced by Harvey Field.
Bournemouth were again giving Portsmouth some problems and only good defensive work kept them out. Portsmouth then lost Bristow to a yellow card. Taking advantage of the yellow card Bournemouth set up an attack and scored their second converted try taking the score to 22-14. A good attack by Portsmouth eventually came to nothing when the final pass was adjudged to be forward. Portsmouth were now in attacking mode and a brilliant run by Jas Solanki saw him take the ball across field dummying his way through the opposition before stepping back inside to score close to the posts, again Higgins was on target with the conversion and the lead was now 29-14. From a scrum to Bournemouth 5 metres from the try line they broke blind and managed to squeeze in at the corner, the conversion missed and the score was now 29-19. The whistle went shortly after as Bournemouth knocked on and the game came to an end.
This was a good win for Portsmouth who were without their skipper who is serving a 2 match ban following his red card last week.
Ant Fooks stood in at No.8 and acquitted himself well and Sam Foster led the team well in the absence of Beesley. The pack played well against good opposition and the backs are now looking to be a potent force. Bournemouth had a few players who were playing 1st team rugby last season but with an influx of new player’s to their 1’s, are now in the seconds.
The disappointment for Portsmouth was that they were due to field 4 teams this weekend with 3 at home and 1 away. Unfortunately 2 of the opposition teams were unable to field sides so although Portsmouth 2nd got a walkover, the Vets away friendly game was also called off. Next week sees Portsmouth travel to Eastleigh which promises to be another hard game. Eastleigh lost away to Ellingham & Ringwood 48-16. Eastleigh are now 6th. with Portsmouth in 8th.
TEAM
LIAM AVIS, BRAD ATKINS, ADAM PARKS-DARE
SAM FOSTER(C), BRYN RAINFORD
LEE CHANDLER, HENRI DAVIES, ANT FOOKS
GEORGE WRIGHT, JAS SOLANKI
LEO WALL, OLI AVIS, SAM OLIE, BRAD JEWER
MATT HIGGINS
BENCH
LOUIS BRISTOW, VINNIE JEFFERIES, HARVEY FIELD