Winchester A v Gosport and Fareham A

This game was always going to be an interesting being a friendly pre-curser to the cup match in February 2012.
The first half was evenly matched with handling errors and knock-ons from both sides and play going either way. With our forwards maintaining possession from their own scrums the backs were let loose and managed some great attacking runs. Winchester defence was strong which pushed the attacks out wide and despite our speed through Jake M the defence held forcing us into touch. Gosport failed to take advantage from penalties awarded and Winchester maintained the pressure keeping Gosport pinned in their own half. Mistakes by Winchester led to another penalty to Gosport which Dids kicked into touch taking us into the Winchester half for a throw in on the 10m line. A good throw and some punishing strong runs from Curly, Pepper, Jack and Stephen led to a scrum deep in Winchester’s 22m. With Gosport causing confusion to the defence line up, Connor picked up from the back of the scrum to drive over the line. Dids kicked the conversion to put us 7 points up. This obviously rattled Winchester as they kicked the long restart dead. Our 22m drop out led to poor play in our own half and Winchester were eventually awarded a penalty. Gosport were awake for the tap penalty and defended well to some strong driving runs but after 4 phases Winchester just managed to cross the line. The wind kept the conversion wide and half time score was too close for comfort at 5 -7.
Winchester started the second half strongly and showed much more determination for the win. Turnover ball was won by both sides and play was going each way but the first break came through the Winchester winger which took a huge effort by Jake M for a try saving tackle. Again play was fairly even when Winchester kicked open, gathered the ball and mainly due to some poor defence scored in the corner. A difficult conversion was missed. 10-7.
A clean catch from the restart caught Gosport defence sleeping again and some very poor tackling allowed Winchester to run in an easy try out wide. Conversion missed 15-7.
Some scrappy play by both sides followed with Winchester opting to kick and keep us in our own half. Gosport failed to clear which led to a Winchester throw deep in our half. Some great fast hands by Winchester backs and again due to poor Gosport defence out wide allowed there winger in for a final try. Conversion was missed.
Final score 20-7 and some clear lessons gained ahead of our cup fixture in February.