Results

Counties 1 Hampshire Results

Sat 11 Apr 2026

Bognor RFC

24 – 12

(HT 0-0)

Portsmouth RFC

Bognor RFC

  • 15
    Halligan
  • 14
    Spray
  • 13
    Herrington
  • 12
    Woolnough
  • 11
    Hayes
  • 10
    Newton-Young
  • 9
    Spurle
  • 1
    Billingham
  • 2
    Mitchell
  • 3
    Weller
  • 4
    Flinn
  • 5
    Rimmer
  • 6
    Southern
  • 7
    Jays
  • 8
    Foote

Substitutes

  • 16
    Orchard
  • 17
    Dent
  • 18
    Turner

Portsmouth RFC

Substitutes

Match Report

This was a very important game for Portsmouth who only held a slender 2 point lead before today’s game, in the race to finish top of the league. There was a very strong and cold wind blowing across the pitch which was going to make this a game of 2 halves.

Bognor won the toss and elected to play into the wind, which meant that Portsmouth would have to score as many points as they could before the turn around. Portsmouth certainly set out with that intent, putting Bognor under early pressure. a line out about 7 metres from the try line saw Portsmouth set up a good catch and drive but they were stopped just short of the line, however a quick recycle saw the ball spun out wide, a quick change in direction saw them move the ball back and Brad Atkins crossed for a try out wide. Or so we all thought, however the ref had seen a knock on as he grounded the ball so the try was disallowed. That setback was quickly forgotten when Will Rolfe drove for the line to open the scoring. Gareth Davies managed to convert a difficult kick and Portsmouth were leading 0-7 after 3 minutes.

Another chance went begging when Matt Hogan had the opportunity to score but the pass to him was rather blown off course and the ball went into touch. Bognor were now getting into the game and from a maul they got the ball back and ran through unopposed for their first try but this was also disallowed by the ref. Matt Hoban was also carded for pulling the maul down so Portsmouth were now down to 14 although they still held the lead. Eventually Portsmouth strung a good move together involving Brad Atkins who made good ground before passing to Tawanda Matipano, who, having made good yardage, passed to Callum Grahamsmith who side stepped his way the score close to the posts, Unfortunately Davies’s kick went just wide so the score was now 7-12 with about 8 minutes of the half remaining. Bognor then scored almost on the stroke of half time with an unconverted try taking the score to 12-12 as half time arrived.

With Portsmouth now playing into the wind the feeling was that they hadn’t really done enough in the first half. Elloitt Worrall came on at half time in place of Bryn Rainford, Brad Jewer was on for Callum Grahamslaw, and Alex Buck was on for Henri Davies. Shortly after the re-start Portsmouth lost Elloitt Worrall to a yellow card for offside. By now Worrall was back on and Portsmouth were doing well against the wind but it was Bognor who opened the second half scoring when they ghosted through to score out wide, the result mainly of poor tackling. They now took the lead 17-12 on 60 minutes. To their credit Portsmouth never eased off the pressure but they just couldn’t get through the Bognor defence which was very strong. What also didn’t help Portsmouth was passes not going where they were meant to. There was a situation where Portsmouth had worked the ball up field and there was a 2 on 1 in Portsmouth’s favour but the final pass didn’t find its target so a good chance went begging. 10 minutes from time Bognor put the result to bed with a converted try taking the score to 24-12.

Portsmouth just couldn’t get the scoring chances that they needed to close the gap, even a bonus point could be vital at the end of the season. Eventually the final whistle went with a victory to Bognor 24-12. This result sees Bognor move to top of the table on 78 points and Portsmouth 2nd on 76 points. Basingstoke 2nds lost to Guernsey 2nds, 25-36, and are 3rd on 72 points. Gosport & Fareham beat Chichester 24-21. Chichester play Bognor next week so a win for then would do us a favour provided we can beat Sandown & Shanklin next week. Sandown lost to Basingstoke 21-27, they are 5th. on 60 points. The Portsmouth pack gave a good account of themselves and second row Sam Foster had a good many rampaging runs, making good yardage in the process, also hooker Brad Atkins carried well making good yards in the process. Rather like the Basingstoke game Portsmouth were again not at their best which makes it all the more frustrating. Ideally Portsmouth need two 5 point wins from these last games but also hope that Bognor slip up on one of their games.

TEAM
WILL ROLFE(C), BRAD ATKINS, LIAM AVIS
SAM FOSTER, BRYN RAINFORD
HENRI DAVIS, SAM FLOYD, MATT HOBAN
DOM VUGLER, GARETH DAVIES
CALLUM GRAHAMSLAW, SAM OLIE, LEO WALL, JAY PACKHAM
TAWANDA MATIPANO

BENCH
ALEX BUCK, ELLIOTT WORRALL, BRAD JEWER