Gosport and Fareham Rugby Football Club - GFRFC

Gosport and Fareham under 16s travelled to Bognor Regis for this friendly on a dreadful Sunday morning and when they took to the field, conditions were just as bad as expected.

Missing several first choice players and the Coach (sunning himself in Spain), we were aware that things might not go in our favour and so it proved.

Marc  tries a break                                                   Roger Smith

The first half of the game was almost a complete stalemate and with the ball behaving like a piece of soap, the grass being very slippery, little quality rugby was to be seen save for a brave try saving tackle in the tenth minute by Harry, the Gosport wing threequarter.

However, with less than five minutes to the interval, Gofs let in two extremely soft trys .

The first came down the right side following a scrum and the Bognor winger brushed aside a pathetic tackle and trotted in for a simple touchdown.

That was bad enough but two minutes later the Gofs fullback allowed a bobbling ball to slip through his legs and give the oncoming Bognor player the easiest of scores.

The visiting side had a unanimous cringe and heads fell down as they trooped to the other side of the pitch for half time.

Brandon on the charge                                    Roger Smith

In the interval, Coach Steve Bennet gave the team a verbal lambasting and didn’t spare any feelings. Urging the players to play a simple game, in keeping with the conditions.

The second half started with some stronger runs by the visitors but attack after attack failed as they repeatedly knocked on or spilled the ball in contact.

Bognor then gained another soft try when Gofs failed to defend a ruck on their line, less than half the pack committing to it and we watched incredulously as they simply dotted it down.

Whether it was something said by the skipper or their injured pride, this seemed to wake the team and from that moment on, they spent the rest of the match camped in the Bognor half.

Brandon moves this ball wide                                  Roger Smith

It was not pretty stuff but the pack started to “dog it out” and despite numerous turnovers, eventually scored through skipper Matt Hutt.

Following a series of free kicks, the visitors got the ball to Matt who burrowed in under a forest of boots to score a brave try to the left of the posts. Unfortunately, the conversion went narrowly wide of the posts.

Matt scores his first try                                             Roger Smith

A period of intense pressure from Gos then ensued and brakes from Brandon, Marc and Robert were all brought up short by a determined Bognor defence.

The lineout was starting to function better and with the occasional catch and drive, the attacks went nearer and nearer the line.

The gold and blue jerseys did cross the line again at this time it but was adjudged to have been passed forward. Bognor had played on the edge throughout the game employing a rush defence but were now starting to get pinged by the official.

Carl inches the ball closer to the line                Roger Smith

Gofs were awarded a penalty 15 meters from the line and follow a tap and go from Sam, the ball was slipped to Matt Hutt and again he roughed it through a barrage of arms and legs to score a great try.

The extras sadly went missing, Sam having to kick without a tee. There followed more sustained Gofs pressure but with very tired legs and muscles,the final whistle came as a welcome relief to the incessant rain.

Commenting after the match, assistant coach Steve Bennett stated that the home team had adopted to the conditions much better than Gofs and silly mistakes had again lost us a game we could have won.

Simple stuff like always having two hands on the ball when running it. Tackling had been much better this week but one or two weak links had cost us the game.

The lineout started to funtion                                 Roger Smith

Likewise, the lineout, which had not gone that well initially had started to function better towards the end.

 A vigorous training session will be called for next Wednesday.

Marc again in the thick of the action.                       Roger Smith