ROMSEY just came out on the right side of the score line in a fiercely fought and competitive Hampshire U18 Division 3 game on Sunday at Totton.

The first half hour of the game was scoreless but there was plenty to admire in both teams especially in terms of commitment at the breakdown and great support play in the breakaway moves.

The first score came after 31mins and what a great move it was. From a defensive clearance Jay Hodges fielded the ball and drove back to the 22 line where second row Sam Newman took on the charge only to be brought down five yards from the line. Scrum half Dylan Scott then got the ball flowing down Romsey’s back line in the form of fly half Henry Brown who ran smoothly and straight drawing the Totts defender before offloading to Oli Hodges who made haste to the line try line only to be held up just short. Hodges though was able to pop the ball up to hooker Alfie Lawrence who barrelled over the line for the try. Brown was just wide with the conversion.

The second half was only 5mins old when Tottonians got back on level terms when their centre ran through a couple of missed tackles to touch down. With the conversion successful this put Romsey behind for the first time.

It only tool 4mins for Romsey to regain their lead, when off the back of a solid scrum, flanker Louis Bates took the ball down the blind side drawing in the solitary covering winger and he expertly popped the ball on to winger Ed Bethel who put the gas on to cross the line for Romsey’s second try and a nice birthday present for himself. Unfortunately, Sam Newman was just wide with the conversion.

The final try, and the game sealer, came when the dynamic Alfie Lawrence broke down the blind side on the left of the pitch and made tremendous ground before offloading to Newman who, with still fifteen yards to make to the line just about managed to ground the ball in the very corner. The long conversion from Brown, although on target, just lacked the distance and dropped just under the bar.

A great match well contested by two evenly balanced teams that was just edged by Romsey’s slightly better quality in the important areas of the pitch.

Romsey potentially have a home game on Sun 28th Nov v Bournemouth, but this may be changed due to Bournemouth fixture congestion

Man of the Match: Sam Newman