Lymington v Romsey II – Match Report

Lymington Mariners continue winning run

Lymington Mariners (31) – Romsey II (6)

Lymington Mariners won their third successive match with a convincing victory over Romsey 2nd team on Saturday, scoring 5 tries in the process. A large squad of 25 players turned up to don the Mariner shirt, and being a friendly fixture all of them got pitch time.

5 minutes into the game Kristian Bottomley, on his first appearance for the club, aggravated an old knee injury which brought a disappointing end to his debut. Minutes later, Romsey took the lead as they kicked a penalty for three points.

Lymington responded with some excellent work by the forwards who started recycling good clean possession for the lively Bruno Brods at scrum half. This allowed the hard running centres Phil Jenner and Jason Ludlow the opportunity to make a number of penetrating runs into opposition territory, both leaving a trail of defenders chewing dirt in their wake.

Midway through the half, Owen Cavell, hooker, employing the dark arts of front row play in the scrum to their finest, stole the opposition put in, something he did four more times that afternoon. The packs broke down the blind side, finally winning a line out 10 metres from the opposition line. A neatly executed four man line-out saw No.8, Lee Thomas, take the ball in space, neatly step around the flailing defender and reach for the line to touch down his first ever try for the club.

Minutes later the Lymington backs, combining seamlessly with their forwards, penetrated deep into the Romsey half. Ben Bradley-Watson picked the ball up from the back of a quickly won ruck, burst through the defence and stretched for the whitewash to make the score 10-3. In the dying minutes of the first half Romsey slotted another penalty kick through the posts making it 10-6 at the break.

The third Lymington try gave the watching crowd a spectacle of flowing total rugby that was testament to the excellent work coach Peter Allen has been doing with the players on the training field. Breaking deep from their own half the backs moved the ball sublimely, the forwards supported with urgency and outside centre Joe Rodway carved his way to the line for his first of two tries. Jamie Bolwell converted for the extra two points.

Joe’s second try came minutes later when he again broke through the defensive line from deep and with a neat dummy stepped inside the covering tackle to score by the posts. Jamie again scored the conversion. The backs were now moving the ball with freedom and ease pulling the Romsey defence to tatters. Tim Hinman at second row caught the free running fever making a 50 yard break up the middle of the park. But with only the full back to beat and without the pace to finish he threw an ambitious high pass over his shoulder to find the only defender among a crowd of supporting Mariners.

The final try came from fly-half Chris Scott-Bowden to make his tally two from two for the season so far. Receiving the ball near the half way line and with just a narrow blind side to work with he jinked his way through a defence that appeared to have all the gaps covered; cut back in field and despite a number of attempted tackles was able to find the line to touch down. Tom Jenvey drop kicked the two bonus points.

Further breaks saw Mike Jenner on the wing tackled just inches from the line and Jamie Banaisk, flanker, go on one of his customary length of the pitch dashes only to be brought down short. Romsey did come close themselves near the end, but a determined Lymington defence led by their indefatigable captain Jason Bolwell held fast. The final score when the whistle went for time was 31-6 to the home side.

This was Lymington’s best performance so far and in the second half particularly there were signs of the exceptional promise within this team for the season ahead. There were some great individual performances, and Anthony Hoyle the other debutant of the day has given the selectors even more problems for the league matches ahead. The ‘Lymington Rivaaz man of the match’ award goes to winger Peter Rolfe for his direct counter attacking runs that thwarted a number of Romsey attacks.

Lymington Mariners and Lymington Rivaaz would like to reassure supporters, that Lymington Rivaaz is in no way affiliated with, or to, the New Milton Rivaaz. The Lymington Mariners would like to thank Lymington Rivaaz for their continued and ongoing support.

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Lymington’s next home game will be this Saturday, 9th October 2010, in a league match against Tottonians IV team at Woodside Park, kick-off at 3pm. Please come and cheer the guys on.

Any players, experienced or new to the game, young and fit or otherwise are all welcome. For more details contact Lee Thomas on 07917 556 863 or lee.thomas@skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk