Men’s 1st XV v Bognor 15/02/2009

Away – Sussex Cup

Report by Andy Ward

Won 49-0

Saturday proved a day of mixed fortunes with all Hove teams winning through for the third week in succession, but with England falling victim to the non nation and the vagaries of South Africa’s refereeing system. Having had to witness some rather idiosyncratic interpretations of the laws and appropriate penalties for such infringement whilst away at ODs and also via TV from Cardiff, the stage was set to see what would be the outcome at Bognor.

Both Hove and Bognor had difficult ties the day before, with Hove possibly having the slightly easier task. Also, having won the previous day, Hove were in a good frame of mind, whereas Bognor who had agonisingly gone down by a single point to strong Devonian side Cullompton in the EDF/SV, looked perhaps a little jaded and suffering from having to play a second full blooded fixture in two days.

Referee Webb having satisfied himself of all pre match refereeing thingies proceeded to blow on his trusty whistle and to wave his arm in a signal to all that proceedings should be under way. And so they were. With Adam Phillips dropping the ball and launching the kick into Bognor territory and thus catalysing the 29 other terracotta soldiers into instant motion, the game was on and Hove were soon in the ascendancy.

Hove were all over Bognor like a rash and the Bognor defence was stretched this way and then that as they tried to repel the Hove hordes.

Hove were big and strong in the pack and quick and strong in the backs and  this combination was to prove fatal for Bognor’s ambitions in the Sussex Trophy this term.

After five minutes the Hove supporters were celebrating a try by scrum half Matt Sole only to see referee Webb call that it was held up. Well, it might have been 30 seconds later but when it was put down there wasn’t a Bognor player in sight. Referees are responsible for positioning themselves correctly and Mr. Webb may conclude he has a little work to do in that area of his game. Anyway, it was disallowed and so Hove just shrugged off the disappointment and played the game. Some reward came from the ensuing 5 metre scrum and Adam Phillips after weeks of trying scored his second drop goal of the season.

3-0 to the boys in Claret and Sky Blue. It was to be the start of a scoring binge that stopped just one short of a McGarrett (oh come on now. Keep Up. Hawaii FIVE OH – get it?).

Twenty minutes of play had passed by with Hove in the ascendancy throughout in terms of both possession and territory but Bognor were doing a sterling job of keeping them out, when the ball was fed to Adam Phillips who kicked ahead and it was gathered by Scott Patto who raced for the line slipping the ball to Ryan Morlen who went along to Sam Whiting and finally out to flying wing Barry Young who hurtled over the line leaving Bognor in his wake. The try was awarded and Sam dispatched the kick to make it 10-0 with 21 minutes gone. Things were looking good for Hove.

Bognor’s chances were not improved when their 11 was yellow carded in the 23rd minute and from the resulting penalty, Sam slotted the ball over for a further three points to Hove. Within 4 minutes, Hove were on the attack again in the Bognor 22 with bodies piling forward and clearing defenders out of the way. The ball breaks through to Rory ‘the Drive’ Chesham who showed a fine pair of heels as he raced to the line and, giving the impression of Michael Phelps at the start of 100 metre freestyle, dived over for a try and with Sam adding the two, Hove were at 20 to Bognor’s big round egg.

Right at the death of the first half, young Eileen popped up from his leaning stool and went over for a try only for Sam to miss his first kick in three weeks. Half time came and it was 25-0 to the visitors.The second half continued pretty much the same way with Hove being in complete control of the game and Bognor being a yard or more off the pace. In the 54th minutes debutante Seb Eubank raced forward with the ball and fed it to Adam who continued the forward motion and released blind side wonder Harvey Strudwick to power his way through for a further try. Sam’s second miss followed his first and Hove were 30-0 up. In the 53rd minute Bognor had a bit of territory to go with some rare possession and as the Hove defence was denying them any further yards, they elected to try a drop goal. This just about summed up Bognor’s day as the ball threatened the spectators more than the posts!

A good run by skipper Glenn Rankin in the 54th minute released Adam Phillips who kicked in the afterburners and left everyone in his wake as he touched down between the posts for Sam to restart normal proceedings. 36-0 and Hove were clearly not going to be threatened. A second try for Ryan in the closing stages and a kick for Sam and everyone thought it was over, but there was still some time before the fat lady (in the shape of Gary!) was ready to sing. Good work by Glenn Rankin to Paul Hasib to Harvey Strudwick as Bognor bodies were lying pole axed from the Hove 22 to the Bognor 22 and then to Matt Sole who released Seb Eubank starting his first game today who raced like the wind for the final score to Hove.

49-0 and a great game for Hove. Commiserations to Bognor who gave their all but had little left after their battle the day before and the RFU need to think about playing 2 games in 2 days. In fact, Hove will to play 4 games in 8 days as next weekend is a Saturday against Aylesford and Sunday against Worthing IIs in the Sussex semi.

They shoot horses don’t they