Counties One Hampshire rugby: New Milton RFC 17-20 Trojans RFC
Counties One Hampshire
New Milton RFC 17
Trojans RFC 20
YET again, New Milton led the game into the final stretch before ultimately leaving empty-handed, this time with Trojans snatching victory at Norman’s Way.
There was undoubtedly a sense of déjà vu about the game. With five minutes to go, Milton were two points ahead, but a penalty gave the Trojans a line-out in the Milton 22, from which they scored the winning try.
The two sides entered the contest separated by two places, with the Southampton side in seventh after winning a game more than New Milton. Each scored three tries, while a converted penalty gave victory to the Trojans.
Milton had to defend their line from the kick-off and, after a brief reprieve in clearing, the hosts were back defending in front of their line. The Trojans won a five-metre scrum, which they pushed over for a try.
Milton’s forwards struggled in line-outs and scrums but gradually gained control, winning a scrum and breaking into Trojans’ 22.
After winning and taking a quick penalty, New Milton passed the ball along the line to Tom Gould, who ran past defenders for a try, levelling the score at 5-5.
A series of penalty awards led to intense Trojans pressure on the New Milton try-line. However, they staged a staunch resistance against a much bigger pack. After being repelled multiple times, the visitors went for the easier option of three points, kicking through the uprights.
New Milton prop Rylan Pearce played a crucial role in the game’s next moment, chasing down the kick-off and tackling the receiver. After a turnover, the forward was on hand to take the ball and run past defenders to touch down deservedly.
The hosts then kicked a penalty to touch, but the effort fell just short, and the Trojans ran the ball back from their 10-metre line, passing well to score a converted try.
The New Milton forwards engaged for a scrum in the Trojans 22 and emerged with the ball, allowing Jason Marlow to speed past defenders to touch down, with Connor Hammerstone adding the extras.
With cold mist descending, it was getting hard to see the play, and the Trojans won a line-out in the Milton 22, which led to the their match-winning try.
With the game entering the final moments, New Milton made it as far as the visitors’ five-metre line, but after winning a penalty, Trojans cleared their lines and secured victory.
After the match, New Milton lock James Blair received the Man of the Match award.
New Milton, who sit in ninth, are on the road when they face 10th-placed Eastleigh on Saturday at 3pm.
New Milton: E. Hynd, J. Korbey, H. Chung, J. Blair, B. Steers, O. Woodhouse, G. Warne, R. Kendall, A. Lavis, C. Brown, T. Gould, L. Day, C. Hammerstone, J. Payne, J. Marlow. Subs: G. Knight, M. Moore, G. Hughes.
