Rare Defeat for the B Squad Against Tough Fawley Side

Gosport started the game strongly, winning a scrum against the head on half way, straight from the re-start. A break from centre Liam Capper took play into the Fawley 22 to create a promising scoring opportunity but the ball was lost forward in the tackle to give possession back to the visitors. Fawley put themselves under pressure again immediately, though, as they were penalised for illegal binding at the scrum. Gosport took full advantage, recycling the ball through several phases to take the ball to within 10 metres of the Fawley try line. Capper gratefully received and squeeze through the defence from short range to finish the move in style.
An excellent take from the re-start and some strong running from hooker, Rhys Morgan, made 25 metres for the home side and took play back into the Fawley half. Gosport once again stole possession from a Fawley scrum, but the visitors won the ball back and looked to try and move it from inside their own half. However, some fine rucking by the home side gave Gosport their own chance to counter attack, with a damaging run from no. 8 Will Larkin, who caused the visitors problems for much of the game. The pendulum swung back Fawley's way as a penalty allowed them to relieve the pressure and kick for territory but the ball missed touch found its way to wing James Cutler instead. Fawley were up quickly to chase and win back possession but Gosport turned the ball back over straight away, whipping it out wide to centre Joe Bunn, who run down the wing to score in the corner.
It was starting to look like a familiar scenario as Gosport grew in confidence, scrummaging strongly and rucking aggressively against the bigger side but, unfortunately, Fawley hadn't read the script and any notion that they were about to buckle was short-lived. Some big hits from the visitors kept Gosport from breaking out of their own half and, once Fawley secured possession just outside the Gosport 22, several good attacking phases saw the Fawley backs slice through the Gosport defence for their first try. A successful conversion cut the deficit to three points.
A few minutes later, Fawley struck again, winning turnover ball at the ruck and taking it through the phases to exert pressure on the home side, then spreading the ball out wide to score in the corner and take the lead just before half time.
Gosport probably felt they deserved the lead at this time and set about trying to prove it as the second half got under way Once again, the pace and power of centre Liam Capper caused problems for the Fawley defence when Gosport moved the ball away from the breakdown and out to the three-quarters. Around the fringes, Morgan made a nuisance of himself as usual, linking well with Larkin, who continued to cause problems for the visitors as Gosport's loose forward play and support running took the game to Fawley. By now, though, Fawley were getting into their stride and, despite some good phases of possession from Gosport, they weren't getting through the Fawley defence. A penalty deep in Gosport territory was all the invitation Fawley needed and a blistering run split the Gosport defence and gave the visitors a try under the posts and a straightforward conversion.
A lesser side might have been disheartened and let their heads drop at this point but Gosport hit back from the re-start. A deep kick with a strong chase and a thumping follow up tackle by second row Scott Craik put Fawley under pressure, the ball spilling loose to be gathered by Larkin, who popped it up for Matthew “Dids” Symington to run it in.
Gosport had pulled themselves back to within four points but the momentum was starting to favour Fawley more and more. Despite another excellent scrum from Gosport which pushed the visitors backwards, Fawley secured their own ball and spun it wide. The ball found their no. 18, who ran 50 metres for a superb solo try under the posts. It wasn't long before Fawley scored again, this time a strong run from no. 19 created the opening, backed up by some good support play, which allowed the Fawley open-side to cut through the defence and score under the posts.
The home side weren't done yet, though, and continued to exert pressure on the visitors. Fawley secured defensive line-out ball near their own 22 but some loose passing meant they were going backwards and found themselves having to deal with a bouncing ball over their own try line. Fortunately for the visitors, they won the race to touch down and were able to clear their lines with a 22 drop-out. Gosport showed that they weren't going to give in and kept looking for a way through the Fawley defence but, despite breaks from Morgan and substitute centre Jake Moseley, the visitors held firm. The team spirit showed by the Gosport lads kept them in the game right to the end and meant that they gave a great account of themselves against an older and bigger side – it also had the Fawley contingent rattled and drew much praise from the visitors.