Counties Two Hampshire rugby: Perfect New Milton overcome slow start against US Portsmouth
Counties Two Hampshire
New Milton RFC 42
US Portsmouth RFC 20
NEW Milton continued their perfect start to the season with a fifth straight victory, a 42-20 home win over US Portsmouth to preserve their status as league leaders.
An early kick-off time surprised several supporters and possibly the team, with the visitors racing to a 10-point lead after 20 minutes. After that, New Milton got into their stride to outscore USP by eight tries to three.
US Portsmouth kicked off and quickly converted a penalty before gaining possession from a tackle and running in to score a converted try for a 10-0 lead.
New Milton narrowed the lead after Tom Wood broke away to touch down, but USP responded with another converted penalty after New Milton were caught offside.
The hosts maintained their composure, and after winning a scrum, the ball was sent out to Tom Gould, who ran in a try before another successful scrum led to Jude Payne driving into space and playing a return pass off Ben Steers. A good tackle stopped Payne short of the line, but he somehow returned the ball to Ben Steers who made an acrobatic touchdown.
New Milton were not finished and, as the half drew to a close, Chris Conacher’s pace allowed him to outstrip the chasing defence to make it 20-13.
USP came out of the blocks ferociously, but Milton seized momentum with the next score when Christian Brown, Tom Wood and Joe Eldridge combined, with the latter scoring. Dalton Thomas duly converted to extend the lead.
Milton gained possession on the halfway line, and Hangil Chung exploded down the wing before Gould fed Steers to score his second. That was quickly followed up with Gould grabbing his second try after a lineout on the USP five-metre line.
USP scored another, but Brown quashed any hopes of a comeback when he weaved in for a well-deserved try.
Zac Smith was Milton’s player of the match for his all-round play and teamwork.
New Milton are back in league action away against second-placed Bognor on Sunday.
Milton: E. Hynd, Z. Smith, H. Chung, B. Steers, J. Corbett, T. Wood, J. Payne, D. Mallard, C. Wood, C. Brown, C. Conacher, L. Waugh, C. Hammerstone, J. Eldridge, D. Thomas, T.Gould, O. Woodhouse, R. Richardson.
