Best game of rugby this season.

The drainage of Gosport Park saved the day and the pitches were fit for Tadley Tigers to travel down from the northern border for this Hampshire Cup Quarter Final. At stake a top 4 place in the county this season meaning a Division 1 League position next season.
The game began with both sides probing each others defences and it was clear that the sides were evenly matched with perhaps Tadley stronger in the backs whilst Ravens had forward power if they could bring it into play. Tadleys players were clearly well coached at winning turnovers in the tackle and Gosport had to adjust their game to nullify the repeated loss of possession. It took 19 minutes for Tigers to score the first try but they weren't successful in the conversion; but it gave them a 5-0 lead at half time.
In the second half Ravens came out firing and got into their game and after 7 minutes of hard work Lock Ben Wheeler crashed over for a try that Harry Rabjohn converted. Tadley seemed to be resurgent and were on the attack using their backs well despite the poor conditions for handling. Gregor House was tackling well above his weight again and whilst not pretty Tadley were being contained but were threatening. Harry Rabjohn, playing at Fly Half, put in a tackle on the right wing to stop the winger running in a try but Tadley recycled it and worked it all the way across field into the hands of one of their powerful centres who broke through two tackles and looked free for the corner but in a desperate dive Harry Rabjohn caught him from behind to bring him down and Ravens won the contest for the ball. It seemed to be a turning point, as if the Tadley players all had the same thought "What do we have to do to score?".
Ravens moved up a gear and the front row of Harry Freeman, Finley Daly and Samuel Rushent became dominant and won ball against the head. The back row of Joe Wilkinson, Ed Bell and Jonnies Lewis were ferocious and kept the ball going forward. From a line out on the 22m after a kick to touch from a penalty Lock Euan Archbold took the ball and rolled into the narrow side channel he broke free of the first defence, shrugged off the second line and dragged the third line over the try line to score, conversion missed; 12-5 and the game was still in the balance but Ravens were now in control with 7 minutes to go. They shut down Talley's attack despite valiant efforts by their man of the match Connor Sitton and Paris McErlain to keep their team in the game. 3 minutes left and after 8 phases of pick and drive, with scrum half George Smith distributed to close runners, Ben Wheeler crashed over but too wide for the conversion in the conditions. Final score 17-5 to the Ravens and a semi-final place against Basingstoke at Basingstoke on 12th February.
A tremendous game of rugby well officiated by Hampshire Youth Academy Referee Gareth Blake and enjoyed by all those watching. Both sides were a credit to their coaches and played a superb game of U14 rugby with real passion.
Ben Wheeler was nominated Man of the Match for the Ravens. With absences due to sickness in the backs wingers Oliver Orsag and Jude Read got there first cup game run outs and all did well. The momentum in the pack didn't drop when forward substitutes William Hosell and Christian Osborne came on in the second half. Captain Ethan Hammond at inside centre played his part but along with winger Aaron Spiteri and full back Tom Archer had to accept the conditions weren't the best for their game; but all played their part in a great team performance.