Lymington v Southsea II/Ryde – Match Reports

Mariners winning run continues with a double

Lymington Mariners vets 51 – 17 Southsea Nomads II

Lymington Mariners 69 – 5 Ryde

On Saturday Lymington Mariners played at home for the last time this season. To celebrate the progress of the club since it’s creation less than 2 years and to make the most of the good weather the Mariners dug deep into their squad to put out two teams on the same day for the first time in the club’s history. First up the Mariners fielded it’s veteran side, sponsored by Plumbingtrader.co.uk, against a much younger Southsea Nomads 2nd team. Next the younger members of the squad took on Ryde in a league fixture.

On the touchline a large group of supporters turned up to enjoy the rugby as well as the BBQ laid on by the Lamb sisters, much of the food generously donated by Simon Hoyts of the Mariners adopted clubhouse The Chequers Inn.

Arriving slightly short handed Lymington had to lend Nomads the services of hooker Anthony Hoyle, 2nd rows Dom Ellis and Charlie Cutler, whilst New Milton’s Fred Hood also lined up as prop for the Southsea visitors.

From the kick-off some excellent foraging by the Mariner pack stole back possession and following a series of penetrating rucks inside centre John McGuffin danced along the touchline to cross in the corner before touching down under the posts. Banasik senior stepped up to convert the extra 2 points.

Minutes later captain Andy O’Callaghan scored his first of hat-trick following a neat back row move with No. 8 Rob Douthwaite from a scrum 5 metres out. This time the extra two were added by Adam Atkinson.

Hooker Owen Cavell built on the lead with another try for Lymington following a penetrating run which ended with him reaching at full stretch, just his fingertips crossing the line with the ball.

Southsea then ran a quick penalty to score in the corner to take the score to 17-5. Before the half came to an end Andy O’Callaghan got his second capitalizing on a strong break by fellow flanker Stuart West.

The second half saw an early score by Mariners when prop Gary Brooks received the ball from a quickly taken penalty 5 metres out. Luther Stone, Andy O’Callaghan and Brian Hill all then went on to score tries for the home side whilst the visitors battled on hard to pick up two more themselves.

In the second match Ryde only managed to arrive with 6 players. So as to not disappoint the touchline crowd a number of the Nomad players along with a few of the Mariner veterans and New Milton friends that weren’t completely finished off by the first game joined ranks to form a barbarians team. The game followed a pattern of a hard fought battle between the forwards broken up by the fleet of foot Mariner back line running in 11 tries, 7 of them converted. The Ryde Barbarians’ wily scrum half pulled one back at the beginning of the second half but it was only a stutter in the otherwise one-way traffic. To save a few of the veterans from requiring resuscitation as well as some serious layers of after-sun the game was called to a merciful end shy of the full eighty minutes. The rugby gods sated everyone decamped to the touchline for some well deserved beer and burgers.

Lymington’s 1^st XV shirt sponsor Shahin Malek of Lymingon Rivaaz was on hand pitch side to congratulate Nick Bubb on being awarded man of the match.

This week Lymington travel to Ryde for their final game of the season, kick off at 3pm.

Any players, experienced or new to the game, young and fit or otherwise are all welcome to come and join the club. For more details visit the website – www.lymingtonrfc.co.uk or contact Lee Thomas on 07917 556 863 or at lee.thomas@skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk