Rugby – Papa John's Cup: New Milton slip to defeat against Oakmedians

Papa John's Cup first round

Oakmedians RFC 20

New Milton RFC 19

New Milton left the field caked in mud and carrying a sense of disbelief at how they had failed to beat Oakmedians and progress to the next round.

The Norman's Way-based side were by far the more positive and attacking team, with the hosts seemingly happy to sit back and protect a single-point lead.

With the rain pouring down and the pitch a quagmire, New Milton took a fully deserved 14-3 lead into the break.

As the rain increased after the restart, New Milton made a slow start, and the hosts capitalised, scoring two quick tries to take a one-point lead with the scores at 15-14.

Both sides scored a further try each, but as the game entered the final 10 minutes, only one side played rugby.

Milton camped out in the Oakmeadians' 22, putting enormous pressure on the hosts' try-line. However, a mixture of a slippery ball and desperate defending stopped further scores and sealed the visitors' fate.

In the mud-spattered gloom, there was a glimmer of joy for one player – New Milton's equal top try-scorer in the league, Tom Gould, who scored all three of his side's touchdowns.

Connor Hammerstone took responsibility for kicking the conversions in challenging conditions, slotting two through the uprights.

New Milton: T. Gould, H. Chung, L. Booker, J. Corbett, B. Steers, L. Thomas, G. Short, S. Bew, D. Thomas, C. Brown, A. Everett-Jackson, C. Jewiss, C. Hammerstone, J. Eldridge, F. Anderson. Subs: D. Mallard, L. Waugh, H. Willis-Finn, J. Blair.