Fareham Heathens

Trojans were somewhat lucky to come away from Fareham with the narrowest of victories. The weather was dreary and the game much the same, particularly from Trojans point of view with a side showing eleven changes from the previous week.

Trojans started well and within the first few minutes won a line-out ball on the half way line, mauled the ball well into Heathens territory and spun the ball out to the backs for winger Jake Bailey to touch down near the corner with a fine conversion by Elliott Culley. For the next half hour the game became very scrappy with both sides having attacks break-down through simple mistakes but Heathens did gain a penalty which was well taken by a long range drop-kick.

Although Heathens started the second half a man down due to a yellow card they seemed to play with more conviction and gained another penalty to bring them within a point. They continued to put on the pressure and on twenty-five minutes won a line-out on the Trojans five metre line and mauled the ball over the line to take the lead. Trojans continued to make simple mistakes but their defence remained strong until, with five minutes to go, they sparked into life. Replacement winger, Jake Sandall, gathered the ball inside his own half and put in a scintillating run down the wing to get into the Heathens twenty-two and from an ensuing maul Neil Andrews claimed the touch down to give Trojans the late win much to the relief of prop Marcus Coffin who was captaining the side on his 100th first team appearance.