HRFU

13/11/2011 Basingstoke (Away) League L 10 - 43

A spirited effort had Trojans camped in the Basingstoke half for most of the second half of the game.  However, two breakaway tries and a conversion from Basingstoke cancelled out tries from Adam and Dan and for all our dominance we still came off 12 – 10 down in the second session.   The match, of course, was already lost by half time where in the first half we saw a combination of a master class from the Basingstoke fly half, Ross Catlin, a strong following wind and a fair amount of good fortune take Basingstoke into an unassailable 31-10 lead. 

Trojans tackling could have been better in the first half but this wasn’t the poor tackling of old, with Luke, James, Jack and Sheldon putting in some great tackles.  Basingstoke tries were mostly a result of intelligent kicking, strong running and creative interplay.  Good fortune also favoured the victors as I counted three kicks which we unluckily helped into touch and three of their tries coming from kicks over our back line. 

As luck would have it the wind changed direction in the second half but the influence of Ross Catlin was clear as his departure through injury seemed to allow Trojans into the game.  As we came back to 36 – 10 there was some fanciful thinking that we may be able to get reasonably close as we started to dominate all areas of play.  Although Basingstoke lost a lot of their creativity with the departure of their fly half they remained resilient and defended well.  Commitment to the cause went a bit too far at one point with a serious scuffle breaking out.  Parents and coaches did their best to restore order, none more so than Rob Goff who received a playful tap to the back of his head from an unknown assailant.

At the end of the game the Trojans coaches felt we had started too slowly.  In the second half we showed that we could make the most of some good set pieces and that our backs with ball in hand could be as creative as our opponents.  On the day however, Basingstoke ran out as the better team.

On the plus side there were good reports on the bacon and burger buns,  John Moore was especially pleased with bacon, sausage and egg bun he purchased.  Damien was pleased with the bread to bacon ratio and most of us agreed that Ferns coffee was a class above the usual.  The coffee cups were a little disappointing but they were quite a firm cardboard and there were no reports of scolded hands from spilt crumpled coffee cups.

It was a lovely day and the trees surrounding the ground were turning beautiful reds and oranges for those wanting to soak up the sunshine.  For the younger members there was cartoon tv before the match started (which Ian was delighted with).  There was a bit of concern when we thought we had lost four of our party.  Lou, Paula, Karen and Julie had suddenly discovered a fascination with strategically placed rugby balls and lost all track of time.

Rob had his usual game as Touch Judge.  He only forgot to keep up with play a few times, ran into and tortured a passing dog, frightened a man on a disabled scooter and almost started a riot.

16/10/2011 Ellingham & Ringwood (Away) League D 20 - 20

Game started, they scored, they scored again, they scored again! WE SCORED!, they scored, We scored again, we scored again, we scored again!

Score 20-20 thanks for coming

25/09/2011 New Milton (Home) League W 29 - 19

The weather for the first league game to played this season, against New Milton RFC, was warm, bright and dry favouring  a fast running game which appeared to suit both teams from the off. Trojans knew New Milton would provide a stern test, and the visiting team did not disappoint.

New Milton started the game confidently, spreading the ball through the hands of their backs to the wings from the off. Trojans responded well, also showing good handling skills with the forwards and backs linking well. Trojans drew first blood in the within ten minutes when Dan W took a quick penalty. Chris W carried strongly, breaking the gain line before juggling the ball and releasing Luke J who out stripped the defence and scored under the posts. The Trojans pace in the backs was to prove a continuous threat to New Milton throughout the game. Adam added the extra points with his trusty left boot, 7 – 0. It was New Milton who crossed the line next, levelling the score from the re-start when their centre got round the outside of the Trojans defence, scoring under the posts. He converted his own try, 7 – 7.

The game then settled in to an exciting contest during in which both teams trusted in their own abilities to run the ball and committed wholeheartedly in the tackles and at the breakdown. All the summer training paid dividends when the Trojans lineout gained supremacy with Ryan throwing well, and Jim and George winning most of their own ball whilst disrupting New Milton’s lineout. The backs equalled the efforts of the forwards ‘pick and drive’ play with well worked moves of their own accumulating in both Adam and Sheldon on the wings getting a chance to run with ball in hand. The New Milton team matched Trojans in all areas, sharing equally the ball possession and territory, with their backs continuing to threaten Trojans defence.

It was at this time that Coach Andy made the decision to move Chris W, from the back-row to prop, to strengthen the Trojan scrum up front. With Chris in his more familiar position, and  Ryan B moving to the less familiar position of No8, the Trojans pack went from strength to strength, slowly taking control of the set piece. Frasier and Jim locking out the powerful front row of Dan G, Andy F and Chris. The ever reliable Luke M took a great catch following a testing New Milton ‘Garry Owen’ creating space and time when passing well to Adam in defence. The Trojans defence was often stretched with New Milton running good attacking lines.    

New Milton were the next to score, again with their No13 showing pace and determination in beating the Trojans defence on the outside and scoring 7 yards in from the left touchline. He again converted his own try with a very assured kick, 7 – 14.

With their tails up following their try, New Milton continued to put pressure on Trojans but continued be thwarted by a Trojans defence that would not give up. A tackle by Sheldon summed up the whole teams efforts when New Milton threatened to break away again. The Trojans back row of Tom M, George G and Ryan B continued to soak up the pressure around the fringes with Tom getting to grips with the opposition stand-off with a couple of good hits, once when the No10 actually had the ball! George tackled well and Ryan B, looking like a seasoned No8, along with Andy F played their normal game of getting around the park, ‘picking and driving’ and securing ball.

Five minutes before half time Trojans struck back with a great try by Adam following a break and pass by Luke J. The New Milton defence was undone by the shear pace of the pair who will no doubt terrorise defences throughout the season. Adam converted his own try to bring the score level, 14 – 14. This score remained until half time when Sam S was brought for Frasier W.

Trojans started the second half with the wind but continued playing rugby with the ball in hand. James was being kept busy around the scrum by the close attentions of the New Milton back-row and scrum-half, but in his normal un-flustered manner kept serving up good quick ball to Dan W who controlled Trojans game well with his kicking out of hand and distribution. New Milton gained the upper hand at the breakdown, especially with their counter-rucking. Rupert C and Luke J had their hands full with the New Milton centres, however they stuck to their tasks, Rupert C playing good hard rugby by showing particularly good technique and strength in contact, and Luke J linking well with Adam and Sheldon at every opportunity.

Dan W then put Trojans in front with an outstanding run from his own five yard line.  Again Adam confidently slotted the ball between the posts, 21-14.

The game re-started and both teams kept up the pressure, New Milton however made substitutions which appeared to unsettle their game. Dan G took good responsibility fielding the ball from the kickoff making a good run in to contact. Chris W who remained the pack’s main ball carrier, always showed willing and making the hard yards with the help of James H and Sam S. Luke J scored again following another superb break giving the team some breathing space. Adam failed with the kick, which was on the wrong side for the left footer, 26 – 14.

Trojans then applied a period of pressure on New Milton  with both George G and Rupert C stealing ball at the tackle area to retain possession, Ryan B taking a great catch (in the traditional No 8 covering position) and some tidy lineout work by James H. New Milton then had a sustained period of possession throwing everything at Trojans and succeeding to drag defenders out of line. Dan W and James D tackled well, however they finally crossed the line when they ran a penalty, moving the ball quickly to one of their No 7s, who scored 3 yards from the left touchline. They missed the conversion, 26 – 19.

By this time Lee M had come on for Sheldon and continued the good work on the wing by chasing up and tackling well. The good movement of the backs, both on and off the ball, as well as the solid scrum continued to the end. Ryan B was injured in the final minutes after throwing himself head first in to the tackle with typical ‘gusto’, with the final act being a penalty which the team elected to kick with the gentle persuasion of Coach Jim (residents of Basingstoke would have heard his dulcet tones) allowing Adam to stroke the ball between the uprights to finish the game 29 – 19.

All in all a fantastic start to the new season.  Long may it continue!

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This page last updated:  01 December, 2011