Hampshire Counties One rugby: New Milton beat Bournemouth II
Hampshire Counties One
New Milton RFC 25
Bournemouth RFC II 15
NEW Milton finally snapped a three-game losing streak with a hard-fought victory over visitors Bournemouth II.
The hosts had to fight until the very end, with victory only assured in the final minutes thanks to a Dan Jackson try, lifting New Milton above local rivals Ellingham & Ringwood.
New Milton started the match well and made their way into the visitors’ 22, where they were awarded a penalty, which Connor Hammerstone converted.
Bournemouth capitalised on penalty awards and applied pressure within Milton’s 22. The Milton forwards resisted and pushed back against the power of the larger Bournemouth pack on their five-metre line, eventually winning a scrum and possession.
After securing the ball, Milton kicked clear. Bournemouth received the kick and passed the ball, but Jude Payne intercepted and ran to the try-line while juggling the ball before scoring. Hammerstone stepped up and kicked the extra points.
Following the kick-off, a penalty award to Bournemouth was converted. New Milton responded immediately, winning and scoring a penalty of their own for a half-time lead of 13-3.
The Bournemouth forwards started the second half well, gaining a turnover from a Milton scrum and scoring a converted try.
Bournemouth gained a line-out on halfway, but the Milton forwards gained possession, allowing Payne to extract the ball from a ruck to burst down the touchline and score under posts for a converted try.
The back-and-forth nature of the contest continued with Bournemouth winning a five-metre line-out, which they won before driving over for a try.
It was then New Milton’s turn to attack, and they laid siege to the visitors’ try-line before deciding to take the simple three points. However, the penalty was missed, allowing Bournemouth to clear.
The hosts ran the ball back into the Bournemouth 22, with the shining head of Dan Jackson bursting out from the ruck before powering over the line to secure the 25-15 victory.
After the match, New Milton full-back Luke Day took the man -of-the-match award.
New Milton return to action against Ellingham & Ringwood on 6th January at 3pm.
