Men’s 1st XV v Lordswood 29/01/2005

Home – London 4 South East

Report by John “Statto” Harrison

Won 31-20

Following last week’s defeat at Old Dunstonians, Hove were back on the winning track with a sometimes gritty performance against Lordswood. On five minutes a missed penalty by Adam Phillips gave possession to Lordswood and they used it well, going up the other end and scoring. Scott Crammond missed the conversion. 0-5.

Hove were level almost immediately as Graham Street went over in the corner. Adam missed the conversion. 5-5 Nick Marshall gave the home side the lead on twelve minutes with a try in the corner. This time, Adam added the extra two points to give Hove a 12-5 lead.

Phillips, himself scored Hove’s third try of the afternoon following some good work between the forwards and James Finlason. Adam also added the conversion to give Hove a 19-5 lead, which they deserved.

A scrum near to the visitors line saw Laurent Doggett go over in the corner on twenty six minutes, again after good forward play. This gave Hove what they thought was an unassailable lead of 24-5. Adam missed the conversion. Lordswood were awarded two penalties in quick succession as they did their best to get back into the game. The second, for holding on, led to Scott Crammond kicking for goal, which was successful, making the half time score Hove 24 Lordswood 8.

The second half began with Lordswood almost encamped in Hove’s twenty two, which brought about two tries in five minutes. The first, scored by second rower Steve Stoppani, which Crammond converted making the score 24-15. The second Crammond scored himself, after some good play by Lordswood’s forwards, but missed the conversion.

With the score at 24-20 Hove were beginning to look jittery, but on sixty eight minutes, following a fair amount of pressure in Lordswood’s twenty two, Hove won two successive penalties. From the line out, after the second penalty, Hove were awarded a scrum, which led to James Finlason running round the back of the scrum to score.

This time, Adam made sure of the conversion to give Hove a 31-20 lead. A fine run from Rupert Pratt in the dying seconds of the game almost brought about another try for Hove, but the attack ended for not releasing after the tackle. FINAL SCORE: HOVE 31 LORDSWOOD 20

Despite the win, Hove’s position in the table remains unchanged (sixth) mainly due to Eastbourne going down at Elthamians and Bromley winning over Betteshanger.