Andover 38 Tottonians 0

CFL UK sponsored Andover took to the Goodship Ground in what was thought to be a titanic clash against Southampton-based side Tottonians.

Riding high in the league in third position and at full strength, the visitors were looking to seek revenge, after being unceremoniously dumped out of the County Cup only two weeks previously, by the Hampshire All Blacks.

However, the hosts had other ideas and set off at a blistering pace that left the visitors shell shocked. In the opening minute a well rehearsed move from the base of the scrum saw winger Sam Froggett round his opposite number to score in the corner, roared on by the vociferous home support.

Minutes later from the resulting restart that failed to travel the required distance, Andover found themselves once again in the same field position. Without hesitation, they decided on the same tactic and Chris Reilly and Froggett combined, with Reilly the eventual benefactor as the covering defence was left floundering.

Andover continued to pound and probe the opposition with an excellent combination of exciting and expansive rugby and superb tactical kicking.

From one of these kicks, the home forwards found themselves with the throw into the lineout and a superbly driven maul saw Marc Wilding emerge from the pile after a delayed award from the referee.

Within the first 20 minutes, the All Blacks had made it quite clear what their intentions were, moving into a 24-0 lead following good work from Rowe and Wilding who put Brandon Crisp over for another excellent team score.

It was not long coming for outside centre Nick Rowe to get on the scoresheet himself, making sure his counterpart felt his physical presence, as he burst through with great power and poise to finish under the posts leaving the simplest of conversions.

Full report in the Advertiser sport section