RUGBY ROUND-UP: Winchester go top with third bonus-point win

Winch sit on top of the league following a 34-17 victory at Surrey side Old Georgians, staged in wet and windy conditions.

First-half tries from scrum half Guy Mawhood and Tom Forster were both converted by Josh Tolan as the Hampshire side went into the break with a 14-3 lead.

Jesse Riberio raced over the line after the interval and Forster brought up the extra point when he sprinted across for the second time following a try from the home side.

The game was put to bed when Jake Hiscock made a 50-metre break to feed Ribeiro for his brace. Battling Old Georgians struck with a late converted try.

Injured captain Jim Beavan, who watched from the sidelines, said: “Credit to Georgians who played an open game. But if we have any aspirations to win this league then these are the sort of games that we have to win and win away.”

Trojans’ recent victory over US Portsmouth in the Hampshire Bowl counted for nothing when the sides met in SW3.

USP dominated forward play and ran out 26-5 winners on their own turf.

Trojans were trailing 14-0 at the break following a couple of US Portsmouth tries and went further behind early in the second half.

They got across the line themselves when fly half Johnny Smith found winger Sam Walker with a crossfield kick. However USP’s stronger pack pushed over again before the final whistle.

Eastleigh made it three London 2 South-West wins from three with a hard fought 18-10 victory away at Old Emanuel.

The wet weather made handling difficult for both sides but it was Eastleigh who got on the scoreboard first – Paul Fudio grounding the ball off a five-metre scrum with Matt Lovell converting.

The home side hit back with a well crafted try to level at 7-7 but the Hampshire team went into the break with the upper hand after Fudio drew a defender out wide to gift Arron Enock an easy try.

Second-half points all came from kicks, two successful penalties by Lovell and one for Old Emanuel in between. Eastleigh’s Man of the Match was Jack Berry.

Gosport & Fareham pulled themselves off the bottom of the table with a 20-11 home success over Farnham.

Errors in heavy rain were abundant for both sides as Tottonians lost out 17-16 at regular rivals London Cornish in London 1 South.

Totts got on the scoreboard first as Robbie Searle slotted home the first of his three penalties of the afternoon. They also had the final say with a try from Nick Jones, converted by Searle.

However Cornish amassed 17 points of their own and held on to their slender advantage despite intense pressure from their visitors in the closing stages.

Hampshire round-up

A dozen Romsey players travelled to Isle of Wight RFC and returned with their heads held high – despite losing out 74-3 in Hampshire 1.

The club could only muster a team of 12 for the Hampshire 1 game and, ironically, that lowly number was reduced by two when a couple of them collided and left the field with head injuries.

In fact it was visitors Romsey who scored first – kicking a penalty after ten minutes.

But, being so heavily outnumbered, the writing was on the wall for the visitors and IoW took advantage.

Romsey skipper Dan Penn-Newman said: “It was truly an inspirational performance that was greeted with ovations from the opposition crowd after the match.”

Their efforts saved Romsey from a five point deduction which other clubs are likely to face following several early-season walkovers in the Hampshire leagues.

Southampton, Trojans IIs, Winchester IIs and Fareham Heathens IIs (twice) have all handed opponents games so far.

Ellingham & Ringwood are among the early Hants 1 pacesetters – they won 16-13 at Locks Heath.

Southampton slipped up for the third time on the trot – losing out 33-7 at home to Andover twos.

Fordingbridge’s good form in the newly-formed Hampshire Premier League continued as they beat Millbrook 30-10.

Bridge’s Mat Norton scored the only try of the first half but his side kept the scoreboard ticking over to lead 13-3 at the break, mainly thanks to top class kicking from fly-half Jamie Tryska, including a drop goal.

The home side’s left wing Josh Merry popped up on the other side of the field to cross the line to increase the lead in the second half and fullback Peter Scott also touched down.

Brook never gave up and struck with a Mike Thomas try 11 minutes from time.

Dempsey Bedwell converted and slotted home a penalty during the game.

A couple of Adam Lavis penalties was all New Milton had to show for their efforts after welcoming Basingstoke to Ashley Rec - the north Hampshire side won 29-6.

Fawley head Hampshire 2 following their third win on the bounce – defeating Nomads 25-5 at Newlands Park.

Five tries produced the bonus-point victory with Will Benfield, Rob Thomas and Nick Fairbairn getting one each and Dave Johston touching down twice.

RESULTS

London 1 South
London Cornish 17 Tottonians 16, Chobham 0 Westcombe Park 40, Thurrock 10 Medway 20, Hove 7 Sevenoaks 31, Dartfordians 30 Havant 21, Cobham 24 Brighton 28, Chichester 18 Camberley 33.
                                   
London 2 South-West
Old Alleynians 29 Old Cranleighans 10, London Exiles 22 Old Reigatian 27, Effingham & Leatherhead 17 Twickenham 23, Gosport & Fareham 20 Farnham 11, Old Emanuel 10 Eastleigh 18, Old Tonbridgians 21 KCS Old Boys 29.

London 3 South-West
Warlingham 28 Teddington 15, Old Tiffinians 16 Battersea Ironsides 17, Portsmouth 22 Old Whitgiftian 7, Andover 26 Petersfield 22, US Portsmouth 26 Trojans 5, Old Georgians 17 Winchester 34.
                     
Hampshire Premier
Bognor 11 Alresford 5, Fordingbridge 30 Millbrook 10, Gosport II 13 Tottonians II 8, New Milton 6 Basingstoke 29, Portsmouth II 0 Fareham Heathens 31, Sandown 15 Eastleigh II 5.

Hampshire 1
Locks Heath 13 Ellingham & Ringwood 16, Ventnor v Winchester II HWO, Southampton 7 Andover II 33, Farnborough 38 Overton 10, Trojans II 7 Alton 43, Isle of Wight 74 Romsey 3.
 

Hampshire 2
Winchester Knights 7 Stoneham 19, Fawley 25 Nomads 5, Chineham 22 Aldershot & Fleet 19, Havant III v  Fareham Heathens II HWO , Tottonians Vets  Petersfield II , Overton II 47 Basingstoke II 0.