Hampshire Bowl Final: Trojans Seeded 56 Portsmouth 0

This was more a formality than a true contest and although it was a good win it was another reminder that we were in the wrong competition. Over the 4 games we scored 265 points and conceded none. However, as they had done in the semi-final, the boys played at a high intensity throughout, this time scoring four ties in each half. In addition Josh had a perfect day with the boot, converting all 8 tries.

The boys were facing a side who played a forwards game and they had some big lads. Trojans fronted up and competed well in the scrums and stifled all Portsmouth's attacks. Trojans played their own game and got the ball out wide as often as possible. The Portsmouth back line couldn't cope, missing a lot of tackles and as expected their forwards soon tired.

The first try came from Christian, who sprinted down the touchline before scoring under the posts. After a phase of excellent passing from both forwards and backs combining, Ash scored from a scrum 5m out. Oscar scored the third running down the wing from half-way, handing off players in his path. Ollie made a couple of good runs and Euan also made a good run down the opposite wing. Ash scored again when Trojans took a scrum against the head on their 5m line.

The second half started with Joseph chasing the kick off all the way to their goal area forcing Portsmouth to touch down behind their posts. Trojans pressure continued and Josh scored from a scrum under the posts, changing direction to wrong foot the defence. Oscar made another powerful run down the middle of the pitch, but was eventually tackled. Then Christian took a crash ball and smashed their biggest player out of the way and sprinted to the line to score his second try. The pressure continued as the boys camped in the opposition 22 with a series of line-outs and scrums. Portsmouth's resistance was broken when Thomas took a short pass from Josh and crashed over from close range. Ash wrapped up a man of the match performance, scoring his third try with a powerful run from half-way.

The winning team:
1 Louis
2 Euan
3 Thomas
4 Finlay (capt.)
5 Joseph
6 Linton
7 Michael
8 Ash
9 Ben
10 Josh
11 Aubrey
12 Christian
13 Dylan
14 Ollie
15 Oscar
16 Gabriel
17 Holden
18 Adam
19 Matt

Tries: Ash 3, Christian 2, Oscar, Josh, Thomas
Conversions: Josh 8

Referee: Simon Harris, Havant RFC