Eastleigh II 24-12 Lymington – Match Report

Mariners run aground at Eastleigh

Eastleigh II (24) – (12) Lymington Mariners

Despite a promising start that saw them take an early 12-5 lead Lymington Mariners crashed to their second league defeat of the season last Saturday away to Eastleigh.

The first score of the match went to Mariner’s try scoring machine Jamie Banasik. Winning a scrum yards from the Eastleigh line Jamie swapped from open-side to No.8, picked the ball up, rounded one defender and powered over the line. Eastleigh soon responded with a try of their own.

Half way through the first half Lymington executed the best play of the match. It started with a sniping run by fly half Tom Jenvey who delayed his pass to put Phil Jenner into space. Phil then drew both centres before he sublimely released outside centre Joe Rodway who put on the after burners to leave the Eastleigh full back grasping at thin air as he touched down between the posts. Jenvey converted and Lymington looked to be settling in to the game nicely.

However the home side started to dominate at the line out and used the rolling maul to put constant pressure on Mariner’s defence. With the final play of the first half Eastleigh won a penalty a few metres from Lymington’s line and with a simple tap to one of their forwards blundered over the line to make the score 12-10 at the break.

The second half saw the game descend into a stuttering affair as mistakes and infringements meant second phase ball became a rarity for both sides. Eastleigh were firmly camped in the Lymington half and despite a superb ‘backs to the wall’ effort for 20 minutes Eastleigh finally got the score they needed to take the lead. With time running out and a number of injuries Eastleigh found a gap in midfield to close the game out 24-12.

The Lymington Rivaaz man of the match this week was awarded to John West who continually carried the ball over the gain line with strong running and was a menace in defence all afternoon.

This Saturday Lymington play Fareham in the league at Woodside Park, kick off at 2.30pm.