Portsmouth RFC 2s vs Bognor RFC

2nd March 2019 By Thomas James

Portsmouth RFC 2s vs Bognor RFC
2nd March 2019
By Thomas James

Bognor started off brightly with some rugged defence in the midfield, Tom Orchard and George Castleton making tackles left right and centre; firing Bognor firmly into the contest.

The away side broke from deep with young standoff Jeremy Newton-Young stepping through a gap, the fly half fed his outside man Dave Sweeney who passed with ease to try addict Paddy Burnett. 0-7.

Bognor kept building the phases and playing their game plan well, Billy Toone was providing quick ball for the big boys Chris Webb and Josh Burgess; who both carried in equally menacing fashion throughout the encounter. The ball was shipped from right to left through the soft hands of Sam Newcombe and Dan Robinson, eventually finding the Irish winger Burnett for his second. 0-12.

The men in green then got another score and it was that man Burnett with the goods again, the shakiest winger in the south stepping his opposite man to score a hat trick within 10 mins, Sweeney converts. 0-19.

Bognor then gave away a few silly penalties after some pressure from the home side’s forwards, Tom James getting dragged into the thick of it and James Barlow impeding for offside; the big second row not stepping a foot wrong else where. 3-19 after an easy penalty kick.

It was only time before we’d see a typical Robbo weaving run and the St Mary’s graduate showed just that by stepping 5 men and then lifting the egg to skipper Burgess who finished in open space. Excellent stuff and 3-26.

Portsmouth bounced back immediately with a great carry in the midfield from the ever rampant 13. 8-26.

Adam Groome and Darren Bidwell were they usual selves, creating an absolute nuisance in the breakdown and making hit after hit around the fringes.

Tom Orchard capitalised on a loose ball and picked up out wide, he steamed down the wing for Sweeney to pick up a dropped ball and fed poor man’s Owen Farrell, of course it’s colt Chris Hay; the inexperienced but talented winger dotting down over the white stuff to make the scores 8-33 at half time.

Jeremy started the second half with ball in hand and an air of confidence about him, unfortunately for the Frenchman he was then injured shortly after half time. Frankie Jolley, the Hartpury College drop out made a quick start and was passing well from the get go.

Paddy then got his 4th and final try of the afternoon, Newcombe with a trademark line busted through enemy defences to offload to his friend Burnett who slid over to make the score 8-40.

Portsmouth scored again swiftly after some poor Bognor tackling. 13-40.

Chris Webb was dominating every scrum and the accountant was then replaced for George Hutchinson who had big boots to fill in the next set piece, the young prop did excellently to get under his opposite man and looked to have a rise smile on his face afterwards.

The captain Burgess wanted a second try and did so with a lovely turnover strip out wide and had a clean run to the line. 13-47.

Adam Knight was introduced for Josh Burgess and Webb was brought back on after Groome suffered a neck injury.

The home side were not laying down without a fight and drove a maul over the Bognor try line to worry the visitors late on. 18-47.

Next a piece of sorcery was conjured up from Sweeney, Knight hit the home sides full back creating a great turnover and Sweeney received the ball out wide and sold a dummy to beat 3 men and touch down himself. 18-54.

Portsmouth didn’t want to end on a low and with the last play of the match scored a well deserved try from consistent forward carrying, the Bognor side becoming complacent in defence towards the end of the contest. 23-54.

Bognor host Fareham Heathens next weekend at Hampshire Avenue, so get down and support Burgess’s boys!

Team Line-Up

1. Christopher Webb
2. Adam Groome
3. Thomas James
4. Tom Orchard
5. James Barlow
6. George Castleton
7. Darren Bidwell
8. Josh Burgess
9. Billy Toone
10. Jeremy Newton-Young
11. Paddy Burnett
12. Dave Sweeney
13. Sam Newcombe
14. Chris Hay
15. Dan Robinson
16. Frankie Jolley
17. Adam Knight
18. George Hutchinson