U16s - Hampshire Bowl Winners!

The game began on a drizzly Sunday morning at the Park with bright eyed players, all looking to win the final. It started with Portsmouth edging closer and closer to the home try line and after their third attempt, a rolling maul took them over making it 0-7 after just 4 minutes.
Robert Ellis then ran 30m on the blind side from a scrum and was taken out well into touch by a Portsmouth defender. Ben Smith then kicked a penalty to make the score to 3-7 after 10 minutes after good support play by the home side. Portsmouth were then shortly given a penalty in return however after some great running skills from Flash (Joe O’Mahony) he defended well to take the Portsmouth player out of touch to prevent a try being scored.
Gosport & Fareham then lost the lineout in their half and the Portsmouth boys began to attack closer again to the home line, Robert Ellis however took the player out of touch to stop another try.
Gosport & Fareham were given a penalty just before half time however this was missed, making the score at half time 3-7.
The second half began with the home side on the ascendancy but both defences were rock solid. Gosport were then given a penalty under the sticks and decided to run it. Was this the right decision – only time will tell. Ollie Walker drove over the line but was adjudged to have been held up by the official.
Portsmouth then went on the attack after Gosport gave away penalties and they gained territory. The rain kept coming and the ball was becoming greasier and greasier to handle. A tribute to both sides for such good handling skills in very difficult conditions. The game became very open with both sides slugging it out for the win. Both defences stood firm close to their lines.
Eventually after considerable pressure Gosport & Fareham were then given a penalty (again under the sticks) which Ben Smith happily kicked over to make the score 6-7 with less than 10 minutes to go.
With both teams now realising the next score may win the match the game became extremely frenetic – both supporters were biting their finger nails – this could go either way with only minutes to go and with both sides throwing the ball around but composure was key.
The ball in Gosport & Fareham gained some territory with only 4 minutes on the clock and after some good forward play released Ben Smith who took defenders over with him to score possibly the match winning try with only 3 minutes to go – the home supporters went wild. He then missed the conversion making the score 11-7 with only two minutes left on the clock.
All the Gosport & Fareham players ran back to their restart positions awaiting the last few minutes onslaught from the away side. A deep kick off was kicked back over the half way line by Robert Ellis but home players were in front of the kicker and gave away a penalty. They chose to kick to the corner knowing they’d have to score a try to win, the lineout was won by the away side and the home side began defending for their lives. Unfortunately, the home side gave away another penalty but advantage was being played with less than a minute on the clock. Portsmouth kept coming but the home side stood firm. The ball eventually went loose and the match ended when the referee blew his final whistle and the roar rippled through the air as players and supporters celebrated the Gosport & Fareham win.
The game was a “game you would pay to watch” said Head Coach Shane Field up in the clubhouse. Both teams put all their heart and effort into the game and both wanted to win under very difficult conditions.
Big thanks to every single player who played a part in this game as it wouldn’t have happened without you all and also to all the parents, families, dogs and supporters who came down to watch the great final between Portsmouth and Gosport & Fareham.

NGD
U16s Match Reporter