Defeat despite good performance

With a host of players unavailable due to county trials, Julian was able to select a squad which gave opportunities for other players to get some valuable match experience against a very competitive Portsmouth side.

The forwards, in particular, needed to show strength and determination, and the first 16 minutes were spent camped in our own half, under fierce pressure from Portsmouth. In this period, tackles were flying in from Callum, Harry and James C, and essentially when the ball was won, Harrison Fry, Finn and Joe Totts broke strongly to take pressure off the defensive line. Portsmouth's patience paid off, however, on 16 minutes when they took the lead, but a couple of minutes later, Gosport found space and got the ball out to Harrison Fry who's well timed pass allowed Jaff to score on the left, with Gareth cooly slotting the conversion over the posts.

Gosport started to come back into the game, as the pack started to support the runners, and five minutes later scored a fantastic try, started deep in their own half, with a crunching tackle from Ben Bryant, and with Archie Dylan and Travis all supporting, the ball was worked out to Jaff to score under the posts, making it relatively easy for Gareth to smartly covert leaving the score at Half time 14-5. It was well worth everybody turning up just to see that try and the team play that created it!

The second half started much as the first, Portsmouth exerting pressure, but for most of the half Gosport were more than a match, with the scrum performing well, notably with some archietypal -get it !! hooking from Archie ( check this Scrum clinic link out lads - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iY1RhfnW-0) . James Wales, in his first game back since injury put in some typically fearless tackles and some dinking breaks to ease the pressure, although as the lads tired, Portsmouth experience paid off and they picked up 3 late tries to leave the final score 22-14. Julian and Podge were pleased with the performances and it was good to see all the lads play in match environment, so that the training can pick up areas where skills and development are needed, but all deserved well done needs to go to everybody who played today.

Also a big thank you to the Kitchen Duty team who were equally dedicated in the serving of morning refreshments, as ever the U14's parents deliver results in this area!!

Cheers Andy.