Fordingbridge RFC dominate New Milton in derby

Hampshire Premier: Fordingbridge 58-22 New Milton

FORDINGBRIDGE RFC did the double against their Hants Premier league rivals New Milton on Saturday.

Fordingbridge ran out 58-22 winners in front of a bumper crowd at the Rec.

The home side controlled the match straight from minute one and they never looked like losing against an injury hit Milton squad who played the majority of the second half with just 13 players.

Thirty minutes into the match Fordingbridge were 20-0 up. Tries from Craig Stocker and Tom Tulley, converted by Mat Norton, along with two Norton penalties put the home side in the driving seat.

Chris Conacher touched down in the corner for New Milton just before the break to boost their hopes, but this was immediately cancelled out by a second try from Tulley, converted by Mark Hammond on the stroke of half-time for a 27-5 Fordingbridge lead.

Milton made a great start to the second half, and from a line-out win the backs used the ball well before Charlie Jewiss outpaced the defence to touch down.

A Fordingbridge penalty from Hammond and a converted try from Peter Scott then put the game out of reach at 37 points to 10.

Despite this, New Milton never stopped pressurising and from a line-out Josh Lines ran around the front and broke through the defence to touch down.

With Milton reduced to 13 men, Fordingbridge then scored three tries in quick succession one each from Pat Badger, Joe Tooze and a hat-trick try for Man of the Match Tom Tulley. With Mat Norton injured, Mark Hammond stepped up to the kicking duties converting all three to finish with a 100% success rate for the afternoon.

Milton had the last word when Jack Corbett gained possession and passed to Rhys Frampton who was held up just short of the try line, but from the ruck Jewiss gained possession and wrestled his way over for his second try of the afternoon. The score was well converted by Adam Lavis for the four try bonus point.

There is a break next weekend, but on the 26th Jan Fordingbridge travel to Bognor who are just one place above them in the league.

New Milton: E. Hynd, L. Booker, R. Frampton, J. Corbett, J. Poole, L. Thomas, J. Lines, M. SantaMaria, J. O’Regan, A. Lavis, A. Gunn, O. BC, C. Conacher, C. Jewiss, N. Smith, B. Treacey, C. Coombs.