Vandals produce ice cool display in nine try bonanza .....

NEW MILTON & DISTRICT 7 points WEYBRIDGE VANDALS 53 points

As reported by roving reporter- John Farrow

]A nine try bonanza, seven of them in the second half, with the team indulging in some superb running rugby, gave Vandals a much needed victory and one which will boost their confidence for their final three games, beginning with a home match against local rivals, Old Tiffinians, the coming Saturday. It took a long time for Vandals to impose themselves against a resilient and spirited New Milton side, but scoring two tries in the later stages of the first half settled the nerves, and they began to play with more freedom and more expansively which created the gaps and consequently the tries. The game was played in artic conditions, where even the polar bears would have felt the cold, but both sides played with great commitment and energy with Vandals dominating in increasing intensity as the game progressed.

A lively start by New Milton was quickly repelled by Vandals with lock Andy Howe and No 8 Joshua Carter winning turnover ball at the breakdown, and the pack driving forward at the early scrums and line outs. Winger Will Relfe then tested the home side’s defence with a fine run, and Howe was just denied a try as he followed up a kick through from a scrum. Vandals were pressing hard but two poor passes again frustrated them, before New Milton’s ill discipline gave them a further chance, and opting for an attacking line out from the penalty, hooker George Shannon finished off the driving set piece with the touch down. Vandals had to have worked hard for this try, but it appeared to remove the shackles and they got a crucial second try on the stroke of halftime when centre Dan Wellden, one of a three quarter line which was to enjoy a ‘plethora of possession’ in the second half, touched down for fly half Harry Weatherall to convert.

With the wind now behind them, New Milton were soon into Vandals 22, and they went close to scoring with a blindside move, but being turned over twice in quick succession they soon found themselves back on the defensive. They held up Vandals on their line, but were powerless to prevent skipper, Adam Bullett, who led the front throughout, plunging over for the try. With a Weatherall conversion Vandals now led 19-0. A breakaway try by fullback Greg Lynch who danced his way past several defenders took his side to 26 after another successful conversion, and although New Milton rallied with a fine try of their own, the rest of the game was largely played in their half as Vandals laid siege to their line time and time again. Having put in another good shift, following his contribution last week, Shannon scored his second try. Now finding more space centre Harry Reed was next on the score sheet, dancing his way like Fred Astaire in his prime. New Milton were still battling away, and they were probably relieved to see Vandals Joshua Carter leave the field with an ankle injury, but there was no let up for the home side as Carter’s replacement James O’Neill, Adam Bullett and John Cottam continued to work as a solid back row unit and linking well with the back line. Fly half Weatherall scored Vandals seventh try, and after some slick handling scrum half Dave Loubser was on hand to touch down for try No. 8. With the score at 46-7 Vandals could have relaxed but they continuted to pile on the pressure and duly went past the half century when Reed crossed for his second try with Weatherall adding the extras, and his team gaining two vital bonus points.