Match report from Steve Barnes

Fareham Heathens Colts v Trojans Colts 2nd XV.
Sunday 1st March 1.00pm
League – Plate South Division
Playing Condition – Sunny, but a very Wet Pitch, Pools of standing water and Mud.
An Early KO today, so everyone can watch the Ireland England game at 3.00pm. Although it was a very sunny Spring afternoon, the pitch was very wet, which would undoubtedly affect the style of today’s rugby. Early pressure came from the Heathen’s. Trojans struggled to clear their own half, and their play was full of errors. However, on T’s first visit to the Fareham half, it was Mike Sheppard-Williams who almost scored the first try of the match, but was thwarted by a knock-on. T’s threatened again, but a rolling maul heading towards the try line, was forced into touch. T’s were then penalised for offside and Fareham decided to kick for goal. A wayward kick, and the game remained scoreless. Kal Traynor then kicked up field. A good T’s Chase and T’s turned over Fareham possession allowing Matt Evenhand to score. T’s lead was short lived, after Fareham took their own lineout and a rolling maul sent them over for their first try.

HT Fareham Heathen’s 5-5 Trojan’s.

.T’s started the second half brightly. Kal Traynor and Luke Joslin combined to make an incision into the Fareham half, and Johnnie Jackson was on hand to score, with Kal Traynor converting. However, Fareham then enjoyed a period of consistent pressure, and were eventually rewarded with try number 2. In a game which swung from end to end, it was T’s to score next. Turning over a Fareham scrum, Kal Traynor passed to Dan Barnes, who scored T’s third try of the afternoon. That proved to be the final score, so a hard fought victory for the 2nd XV

Final Score Fareham Heathen’s 10 – 17 Trojans
Tries
Evenhand, Jackson, Barnes
Conversions
Traynor.
In Summary, Trojans won a fairly even contest, but should have done so by a more comfortable margin. Too many players wanted to throw the glory pass, in conditions that did not suit fast flowing rugby. It was a day for the simple stuff, going through the phases and keeping possession. This we gave away far too frequently.
My Trojans MOTM goes to Johnnie Jackson.
One player who did the simple things, made his tackles and scored a try!