Steve Barnes Match Report

Basingstoke Colts v Trojans Colts 1st XV.

Sunday 5th October 2014 2.00pm

League – Cup Division

Playing Condition – Sunny and still

.Not quite up to the temperature of last weekend, but still a great afternoon for rugby. A vociferous and boisterous Basingstoke side kicked off, and soon had Trojans under pressure. A Trojans infringement allowed Basingstoke to kick into the T’s half. T’s then surrendered possession after feeding at a scrum. This gave the Basingstoke forwards the opportunity to drive over for the afternoon’s first score. It was now Basingstoke’s turn to give away a penalty and allow T’s to kick deep into enemy territory. An immediate reply looked on the cards, but George Goff just couldn’t force his way over the line. T’s then knocked on. The ball ended up with Basingstoke 14, who raced clear from halfway for a fine solo try. Suddenly T’s were 12-0 down! T’s were penalised again (High Tackle). Basingstoke kicked for touch, collected the lineout and scored a converted try. Further Basingstoke pressure in the remaining minutes and a fine tackle breaking run from their No12 increased Basingstoke’s lead. With Max Bartlett and Connor Jack Off with concussion, Trojans looked somewhat shell shocked at the interval.

HT Basingstoke 24-0 Trojan’s .

In a repeat of last week, T’s found some form in the second half. A fine break from Will Halfpenny set up Kal Traynor, but again T’s could not break the Basingstoke defence. However, T’s forced a period a pressure right on their opponent’s line. Basingstoke fell foul of the ref on several occasions. Finally, Will Halfpenny again looked set to score, but was tackled right on the line. Basingstoke failed to release him, and the ref, tired of their constant infringements, rightly awarded a penalty try, converted by Kal Traynor. Chris Ngoulou now started to run riot down the left wing, and made several forays deep into the Basingstoke half. T’s were certainly in the ascendancy, and soon had more points on the board, when George Goff burrowed over from short range. However, Basingstoke fought their way back into the game, and it was the hosts who troubled the scorers last

Final Score Basingstoke 29 – 12 Trojans
Tries
Goff & Penalty Try.
Conversions
Traynor.
In Summary, we fielded a team short of 5 players away with county commitments, and others through injury. Then lost two further players to injury before half time. So to be 24-0 down at the interval was probably no surprise. However, in the second half there was a noticeable improvement. The team weren’t bullied anymore, and ended up winning the second half, but not the match. A bit more aggression and voice from the start, and this young colt’s team should start winning some of these close games. So hopefully next week, we will see Trojans play two halves at Havant, and not just one?
In the second half, the whole team upped their game. George Goff put in a fine half in the forwards, and again Chris Ngoulou showed why he needs to see more ball! But the player who started the 2nd half recovery, with two fine runs, and didn’t shirk any tackles, gets my vote this week.
My Trojans MOTM goes to Will Halfpenny.