Men’s 1st XV v Bognor 12/01/2008

Home – Sussex Cup

Report by Andy Ward

Lost 15-28

Hove had the better of the first half, but then succumbed to greater pressure from a physically stronger Bognor side to eventually lose this Sussex Cup tie by 28 points to 15.

Hove, still beset by unavailability through injury of several players put out a team that seems to be getting younger by the week. Hove definitely had the better of the opening skirmishes and threatened the Bognor line early on with Adam Phillips looking particularly dangerous. Within 8 minutes, a good move by Hove found Adam with the ball and a touch down was duly recorded to take Hove 5 points clear. Sadly, the kick was missed which was one of the Hove problems on the day, Had the kicks awarded been converted then a much closer game would have happened and who knows what may have transpired.

Bognor answered with a penalty from their number 10 – stand off Rob Parry and the score was 5-3 in the 12th minute. A further 8 minutes of end to end play saw Bognor awarded another penalty and Rob Parry again made sure of the points to make it 5-6 in Bognor’s favour. Again, Adam Phillips was to change the run of play and 2 minutes later he scored Hove’s second try ‘“ again unconverted ‘to take the score back in Hove’s favour at 10 points to 6.

Sadly, Hove could not last until half time and on 32 minutes the Bognor forwards formed an impressive maul and rolled it all the way to the Hove line and flanker Lee Balchin got on the score sheet with a try in the north west corner. Unlike Hove, Bognor had their kicking boots on and Rob Parry took the opportunity to grab the offered 2 points to make it 10 points to 13 in favour of the away side – a score that was maintained until half time.

The second half got underway and the Bognor forwards began to dictate play more. The Bognor stand off had realised by now that the Hove flanker was not attacking as quickly and so had plenty of time to run the game. This is something Hove must correct and the flanker should be all over the 10 like a rash as soon as the ball is out.

Tragedy then struck Hove as inspirational skipper James Finlason was stretchered off the park and taken to hospital after a nasty pile up. Great concern because of back pains and an inability to use his legs. However, after an overnight stay it is not thought that there is any lasting damage but he is clearly out for a few weeks.

Bognor substitute Jonny Lang had come onto the pitch at the break and after 9 minutes was involved in another forward move and went over for Bognor’s second try but this time the conversion was missed.

Hove 10 Bognor 18 read the electronic scoreboard and your correspondent was seeing deja  vu from last week! If only we could come back like then!

In the 70th minute the Bognor pack was again rolling along and a further try was scored by someone buried beneath the pile of bodies and this time Rob Parry kicked the conversion to take the score to Hove 10, Bognor 25. If Hove were to do anything then it had to happen soon. Hove tried to play rugby in the wrong part of the pitch but were lacking ideas and leadership and all moves came to nothing as Bognor threatened in wave after wave.

Some respite was given by top referee Phil Bowers in the 75th minute when the Bognor 5 (Tim Strickland) was sin binned for being the latest Bognor player to throw the ball away after being warned. Could Hove pull something off with only 5 minutes left and last week’s match winner on his way to hospital? Well, they could do something, but sadly not enough. A good move saw full back Alex Robertson take the ball and step round his opponent (a move that his father who was next to your correspondent claimed to have taught him. Your correspondent knowing Sandy’s step was so convulsed with laughter that he almost missed the score!) to score a third Hove try.

Sadly, the conversion attempt was missed and the final score was to be to Bognor with number 10 getting his third penalty of the match to make the final score Hove 15 Bognor 28.

Hove now face Beccahamians away next week in a must win match if they are to maintain their push for promotion. A salutary note needs to be mentioned in that Bognor are runaway leaders of SE4 and have beaten Hove twice this season with gas to spare. Yet Bognor were relegated from SE3 last year and so if Hove are to go up then all teams are going to be at least as good as Bognor!

Is there any point of going up just to come down again? The Hove Recruitment Officer needs to sharpen his pencil methinks.