Nomads II v Lymington II – Match Report

Mariners 2^nd XV score first away victory

Southsea Nomads II 15 – 29 Lymington Mariners II

Lymington Mariners 2nd team got back to winning ways on Saturday with their first away league victory of the season against Southsea Nomads.

The hard knocks started before the game even started with Lee Thomas accidentally driving into the back of Anthony Hoyle’s car at three successive sets of traffic lights. In a desperate attempt to escape further damage Anthony, the only one who knew the way to Nomad’s ground, managed to lose the rest of the following cars who then managed to find the pitch but not the way to the car park. Eventually the rest arrived and the game was on.

Lymington took an early 12 point advantage with two tries, one converted. The first was by 17 year old debutant Jamie Fenton who running half the length of the pitch dodged at least 5 tackles to touch down under the posts. Not bad for someone who only found out he was playing 3 hours before kick off. The second came a while later and not before having crossed the line and being awarded the try Dominic Martin-Mayes saw the referee change his mind and award a 5 metre scrum. This from the referee who’s pre-match talk included the words – ‘I’ve never seen a referee change his mind – have you?’. However Dom was not to be denied and a few plays later picked up from a ruck five yards out and, despite the best efforts of the Nomad defence, managed to wriggle his slinky hips to find a gap to the line. Mikey Jenner then came close chasing a long kick and collecting the loose high bouncing ball. Unfortunately he was just caught by the last defender.

Southsea then found their game and managed to score 3 successive tries, 2 before the half time break, the other immediately after it. By this point Ollie Westall’s shoulder had made a funny noise whilst being tackled so Anthony joined the fray with Neil Foot moving from hooker to the flank, Dom to 2nd row, Lee from centre to no.8 and Harry to the centre – well it made sense at the time! Aaron Lopez having started on the flank instead in his usual place on the wings kept his head down hoping to not have his fun in the forwards ruined by having to join the girls again.

Despite going behind there was a confidence in the Mariner ranks that it was only a temporary set back. The forwards were holding well in the scrums and captain jack had things all his own way at the front of the line-out. Neil Foot was putting in tackles that should come with a health warning whilst Stuuie, Dom and Nozza were providing the power and platform to release the backs. Max at scrum half was hitting every pass, Brian Hill calling the shots at fly-half kicked with precision and Craig Esterhuizen at full back returned every Nomad kick with interest.

Nomad’s lead was short lived as Mariners recycled quick ball for Jamie to cut a line that took him clear of his opposite number and across the whitewash for his second try. Southsea came back strong and a series of Lymington infringements kept them moving up the pitch and applying pressure. When one of their penalties was taken quickly Neil Foot hammered the ball carrier before he’d retreated the obligatory ten metres and was shown yellow. However Lymington held strong and eventually managed to clear their lines. Mikey Jenner then scored the try that put Lymington 7 points clear when a blind side run, again by young Jamie, left a 2 on 1 which he converted perfectly to put Ram man through with a clear run to the line.

With the minutes ticking away Lymington again managed to work their way deep into enemy territory. A penalty was awarded to them 5 metres out and a plan was quickly hatched. The gargantuan trio of Nozza, Stuuie and Dom were to create a near 60 stone flying mass of muscle, bone and flesh (mostly flesh) that would draw in most of the Nomad pack. Max spun the quick ball to Lee Thomas who although brought down short of the line managed to stretch his freakishly long right arm, ball in hand, over it to touch down for the decisive try. Dominic Martin-Mayes kicked the extra points with his second conversion of the match. With only minutes left the clock ran down without further event and the young Mariner side had the victory they so badly wanted.

This week’s man-of-the-match could have gone to one of many. Brick walls would have been easier to break through than Neil Foot’s tackling and debutants Jamie and Harry were responsible for much of the play that was decisive in the victory. However it was young Aaron Lopez joining in the forwards for a change and revelling in the tight play who is bestowed with the award this week.