Dominant first half sets up win

Hampshire U15 League Gosport & Fareham and Tottonians playing to turn around their seasons and rise off the bottom of the table. Tottonians came out all guns blazing and for 10 minutes dominated the game, but the G&F Ravens were unbreakable in defence and Fly Half Harry Rabjohn used the wind to kick them into the Totts 22. After a couple of driving runs from the pack Ed Bell picked up at base of ruck and broke on the blindside to scrabble into the corner [photo]. The referee was unconvinced by the very large shouting man on the side line and consulted with the perfectly positioned Assistant Referee Jo Taylor; the try was awarded. Harry Rabjohn, from the side line, kicked it to add the conversion, 7-0. Three minutes later prop Sam Rushent crashed over, this time 5 meters in from the side line; again the kick went over 14-0. Play settle down for 9 minutes and Totts looked like they may get back into the game but handling errors on both sides broke up attacking opportunities. Again using the wind Ravens got deep into the Totts half and lock Ben Wheeler who was carrying well crashed over in the corner; again the kick sailed over, 21-0. In attack the back line of Tom Ellis and Ethan Hammond were working well and Tyler Joly was getting a good run out on the wing. From the kick off Ravens built and attack and again Ben Wheeler broke the line and off loaded out of the last tackle to Euan Archbald who went in under the posts to give an easy conversion, 28-0.
Ravens turned around into the wind and seemed to think the job was done but the Gosport breeze can be worth two extra players to the team playing with it. Individual players, especially Joe Wilkinson, Finlay Daly and Tom Ellis, continued to disrupt and attack Totts at every opportunity but the mind set seemed to have shifted and too many penalties put them under pressure. Penalties were building up and Ravens received a final warning in the red zone , Toots put a great passage of play together from a penalty 15m out and scored in the corner 28-5 16 minutes remaining. Totts spotted that Ravens were playing as they had in the first half and pressing everything without deep cover, a tactical error playing into the wind. Totts kicked over and 25 minutes into second half scored and converted, 28-12. Three more times they kicked over the Ravens into wide open space and only a scrambled defence by Fly Half Harry Rabjohn denied them a score on two of those attacks. Time was running out for Totts but they kept at it and worked their way to a 5m scrum with last play of the game called. A try under posts converted would give them the bonus point they deserved for their second half efforts. Ravens front row out hooked them and scrum half George Smith picked out Harry Rabjohn in the pocket t who kicked it off the close the game.
Another important win for Ravens that could see them climb to second in the League depending on the Andover v Basingstoke result. Also important lessons to be learnt by the squad on playing the conditions. Man of the match awarded by the opposition to Harry Rabjohn, but I think if the coaches had made the award then Ed Bell would probably have got it. Gosport Warrior Shield rightly went to Joe Wilkinson for his outstanding grit and determination throughout the game.