Hampshire Counties 1 rugby: New Milton battle hard in season closer against third-placed Havant II

Hampshire Counties 1
Havant II 26
New Milton 14

For the final game in the season Milton, ninth in the league, travelled to play Havant II in third.

Milton built upon the lessons learned from last week’s game, giving first-team debuts to Dan Colein and John Talbot, fielding the youngest first team this season.

From the kick-off Milton attacked and took up possession of Havant’s half with scrums and line-outs near and on the five-metre line. The forwards were under pressure in the scrums against a much heavier pack but they held their own and gave the backs opportunities to attack but were unable to break through Havant’s line defence.

After 10 minutes the ball finally bounced into the Milton half for the first time, but the Milton attacks continued until penalty awards gave Havant line-outs and scrums on the Milton five-metre line and in their 22. The game continued with both teams attacking and tackling and playing exciting rugby.

With the end of the half approaching, Milton were under pressure in their 22 and, from a Milton scrum on the five-metre line Havant gained the ball and broke through Milton’s defence to score a converted try.

Milton responded immediately and gained a scrum in the Havant 22 and created pressure on the Havant try line. Jude Payne drove for the touch down, converted by Tom Brown, to end the half 7-7.

Following the restart, penalty awards to Havant gave them a line-out on the Milton 22. From there they created pressure on Milton’s try line and touched down.

From the kick off Jude Payne gained possession and made a break from deep in the Milton half, heading to the Havant 22 where he was tackled. From a resulting ruck penalty, Havant gained possession and broke through to touch down a converted try.

Havant then attacked, creating pressure in the Milton 22 and, from a scrum, they moved the ball towards the try line and finally broke through Milton’s defence to score.

A penalty award to Milton gave them a line-out on the Havant 22 then, after two scrums, they drove closer to the Havant try line, Rylan Pearce gaining possession and driving through for the touchdown, converted by Will Pearson.

Milton worked hard and pushed on for another score, creating pressure in the Havant half. Penalty awards gave them possession in the 22, but the Havant defence held.

Team: R.Pearce, H.Chung, J.Corbett, R.Kendall, D.Colein, T.Mitchell-Innes, T.Wood, J.Payne, J.Wale, C.Brown, J.Eldridge, L.Waugh, A.Bolter-Jackson, G.Knight, T.Brown, W.Pearson, J.Talbot.