Hard-working New Milton Rugby Club lose out at the death
Hampshire Premier: New Milton Rugby Club 33-34 Bognor
NEW MILTON RUGBY CLUB first team took on matched a much bigger third placed Bognor man for man in the Hants Premier, but lost out by just one point.
The New Milton rugby pack worked hard and produced the ball for the backs who with the forwards played some exciting rugby, scoring five tries and being in a winning position for 15 minutes of the final quarter of the game, but,l despite rigorous defensive work by the whole team, were unable to prevent Bognor scoring a sixth try to snatch the win.
Bognor started well and immediately created pressure on the New Milton line, but it was cleared to half way and from a scrum taken against the head, the ball was passed along the backs to Milton’s Charlie Jewiss who ran clear to touch down.
Back and forth match
Bognor replied with a try from a five-metre line out. Milton responded immediately with pressure in the Bognor 22 and from a scrum, the ball which was passed out to Oli BC who dodged the tackles to touch down. The try was converted by Adam Lavis.
Bognor bounced back, winning the ball from the kick-off for their backs to run in a converted try. The visitors then stunned New Milton with two further tries, one converted.
Milton regrouped quickly and showed they were in business, the hard-working forwards winning their ball at the scrum and the backs using it well for Jewiss to cross the whitewash for his brace. Ali Gunn converted.
After a flurry of penalties to either side, Milton gained good possession from a line-out and Oli BC broke through tackles. He was finally brought down within a metre of the line, but was able to pass to Gunn who touched down before converting his try.
The two sides traded tries, Milton’s scored by Chris Conacher who made a break from the Bognor 22 running through the attempted tackles to touch down. The score was converted by Lavis giving Milton a four-point lead.
Milton were then subjected to constant pressure on their line and survived many penalty awards. They finally cleared the ball only for the visiting full back to bring it back to the Milton 22, Bognor won the tackle ruck and their backs touched down in the corner for the winning score.
New Milton Rugby Club: G. Shortland, R. Frampton, E. Hynd, T. Hynd, J. Whittle, T. Wood, B. Treacey, A. Wignall, A. Lavis, C. Conacher, J. Lines, O. BC, N. Smith, C. Jewiss, A. Gunn, G. Swamers, D. Simmons, J. Halligan.
