Dramatic last minute first defeat for the U16s

The friendly fixture began in calm conditions with Gosport & Fareham attacking the creek end. With both teams low on numbers, Gosport & Fareham opted to lend players to balance the teams rather than just match numbers.
The opening 5 minutes were scrappy initially but then it sparked into life with an Alex Stepnitz try following a scrum against the head on 6 minutes. It was successfully converted by Ben Smith (7-0). At the restart Millbrook took the ball towards the Gosport 22 but some solid team defence and a try saving tackle by Joshua Morris kept the opponents at bay. Then followed a majestic mazy 50 metre run by Robert Ellis that took Gosport & Fareham on the offensive and back into Millbrook’s half. At the breakdown Millbrook took the ball down the right side and the winger outstripped our defence and scored their opening try. The conversion was missed (7-5). On 18 minutes Alex Stepnitz scored his second try duly converted by Ben Smith (14-5). Following a quick tap on 23 minutes from half way and a chip over Gosport & Fareham’s Luka Mankiewicz went down with a shoulder injury and took no further part in the game. On 24 minutes the ball was stolen from their scrum half and Gosport’s Ben Smith ran into the left corner to score the teams third try. He could not convert (19-5). With the last play of the game in the first half Gosport tried running from their own 22 but possession was lost and turned over and Millbrook scored just to the left of the posts and with the successful conversion the first half ended 19-12.
In the second half Robert Ellis switched with Harvey Field to even up the sides. After 6 minutes of the second half an excellent break down the middle by the Millbrook number 10 saw him go under the sticks to level the match (19-19). Gosport and Fareham came back with a great try by Alex Stepnitz completing his hat-trick and Ben Smith converted (26-19). After 17 minutes of the second half from an attacking line out infringement Harvey Field took a quick tap and went on to score and the extra two points, from Ben Smith, stretched Gosport and Fareham’s lead to 33-19. On 21 minutes a fracas occurred with players from both sides involved. The referee red carded Ben Smith following the incident. On 27 minutes Millbrook’s number 10 intercepted in his own half at pace and scored under the sticks. With time running down the conversion was drop kicked successfully (33-26). With only minutes to go Robert Ellis scored another try (this time for the opponents) to make it 33-31 but the conversion was missed. Millbrook then rallied one more time and their number 10 (the best player on the park) scored an amazing 70 metre try (the best in the match) once again running straight through the centre of the backs, to win the game and the opposition crowd went wild. The conversion was missed but the game was won and Millbrook went from the Park victorious 33-36.
At the end of the game both teams left the field shattered after an entertaining open game enjoyed by all the crowd.