New Milton Rugby Club Colts in hard fought battle for Hampshire Cup

Hampshire Colts Cup: New Milton RFC 10 -7 Wimborne

NEW MILTON Rugby Club’s Colts team won the Hampshire Cup in front of a bumper crowd at Ashley Rec on Sunday.

The Milton lads, who had already won the Hants Division 2 title this season, produced an excellent all-round team performance to defeat a gritty Wimborne side 10-7 in a hotly contested cup final.

It was nip and tuck in the first half until New Milton grabbed a well-deserved opening try before the half time whistle. Jude Payne-Owen reeling in a quick pass down the line to dive over.

Campbell Golding’s conversion attempt looked hard and true, but clattered the right upright and ricocheted wide to give the hosts a 5-0 lead into the break.

On the hour mark Wimborne found their way back into the game. The visitors’ sustained pressure paid off as the ball went wide for winger Tadhg Harries to touch down in the corner. Jake Allder’s clinical conversion snuck over the posts to give the away side the advantage.

New Milton’s reply was swift as good forward work set up a pick and drive for Liam McCurdy to give Milton their second try and a 10-7 lead.

It was backs to the wall for several minutes as waves of Wimborne attacks were repelled by obdurate Milton defence and excellent clearing kicks from the powerful Golding.

With nerves jangling amongst the partisan crowd the Milton youngsters found a second wind and piled forward to see the game out and win the Hampshire Colts Cup.

New Milton Colts: Jack Chartres, Liam McCurdy, Alex Baker, Tom Belbin, Alex Goode, Simon Cooper, Ollie Woodhouse, Frankie McCracken, Brennan Fry, Marc Harburn, Campbell Golding, Taylor Burrows, Jude Payne Owen, Bruce Hinkson, Elliott Pegg, James Miller, Toby Budge, Sammy Smith, George Jones, Gabe Short, Joe Eldridge.