New Milton II (10) – (11) Lymington – Match Report

Lymington Edge First Ever Derby

New Milton 2nd 10 – 11 Lymington Mariners

Saturday was an historic day as it saw the first ever local derby between the clubs when the New Milton’s second team played host to Lymington in a Hampshire Merit 2 league match.

The home side flew out the blocks the quickest and immediately set up camp in Lymington’s 22. A few short phases later Lymington were awarded a scrum on their 5 metre line but the Milton pack drove them backwards causing a mix up between the No.8 and scrum half which handed an easy try to the Milton flanker, Gerhardt Swarmers, who intercepted a loose pass to touch down in the corner.

Lymington began to rally and worked their way in to New Milton territory. A
penalty was awarded within sight of the posts and outside centre Jamie Bolwell kicked the 3 points.

However this proved to be just a blip in New Milton’s offensive intentions.
Their forwards managed to continually be first to the breakdown which provided the platform they needed to threaten Lymington’s line again.

Eventually the pressure told and Milton scored their second try inside 15
minutes. Again, camped deep in Lymington territory the Milton pack sucked the defence in to a number of rucks to create an overlap which their backs made full use of as their centre Harry Halligan found the space to score. Again the conversion was missed and the score moved to 10-3 in favour of the home side.

The rest of the half continued to be played at a ferocious tempo and a level of intensity that undoubtedly either team had performed at all season. Chances came the way of both sides but each time the defences stood strong making those final few inches to score beyond the reach of either team.

The second half took off where the first ended but this time it was Lymington who took the early initiative. It wasn’t long before the Mariner pack was deep in Milton territory yards from the whitewash. Then in an almost carbon copy of New Milton’s second try, scrum-half Chris Scott-Bowden found the perfect angle to break through the defensive wall and score for Lymington. The conversion was missed so New Milton still led 10-8.

With 20 minutes still on the clock Lymington were awarded a penalty outside New Milton’s 22 which Jamie Bolwell kicked to put the Mariners in front for the first time in the match 10-11.

Despite the herculean efforts of every player on both sides no further points were scored. New Milton came close to a try from a penalty move 5 yards out and Lymington’s backs almost carried the ball the length of the field only to let a handling error wipe out the opportunity.

When the final whistle blew every player that had taken to the field, as well as the large crowd on the sideline, knew they’d seen a battle the like of which they rarely experience most weekends.

Although Lymington got the result, in truth it could have gone either way and been a just outcome. The return fixture in March should be a must in the diary.

This week’s ‘Lymington Rivaaz Man of the match’ was awarded to flanker Ben Bradley-Watson, New Milton man of the match was to his brother scrum half Tom Bradley-Watson. Both put in an awesome performance and epitomised the spirit and commitment with which the game was played.