Hard work on the training ground pays off as first team run in 16 tries

Romsey entertained Chichester 2s on Saturday in the first meeting between the sides since Covid and it all clicked into place in a performance that previous games showed glimpses of being in the team’s repertoire.

Ryan Daly set the tone from the opening kick-off with a 50-metre break to leave Romsey on the front foot and after a few phases the balding Will Davies sniped over to open the scoring 5-0. Following a penalty cleared to touch the pack produced a dominant maul driving the visitors back 25 metres until it was illegally stopped. With a free play the ball was popped to Oli Soundy who barrelled over to make it 10-0.

Rich Sumner caught the ensuing kick-off and weaved over from 70m score under the posts to extend the lead to 17-0.

Chichester then had their best period of the game and were playing some enterprising rugby but the ginger assassin Dan Murrant kept chopping them down in midfield so the resorted to an aerial attack but Jay Hodges defused the pressure with two well gathered high balls and this allowed Romsey to swarm up field and back onto the Chichester line but conceded a penalty. Touch was missed and Sam Adams given the ball with time and space and he outpaced the defence to score the bonus point try at 22-0.

A lineout on Romsey’s 22 was won at the front, spun to Sumner who sliced through the defence for a try that Aiden Cleland converted now that the ball was at the correct pressure for a score of 29-0.

A Sam Adams try was chalked off after Soundy had wiggled his hips too much and this adjusted his line which the referee deemed obstruction but Adams wasn’t to be denied when another poor clearance ended up in his hands and he weaved through to extend the score to 34-0.

A lineout move straight from training resulted in a quick maul off a pen allowed Ben Hoad to plunge over for a try Aiden Cleland adding the extras 41-0.

With Romsey now rampant he returning Ian Milanak bounced through in the style of Franco Harris or possibly Jerome Bettis but seemed to forget momentarily to put the ball down but did so just in time for another 7-point score and when a thrust by the WWE star Alfie “the undertaker” Lawrence prompted two phases of slick hands allowing Jay Hodges to walk in untouched for a half time lead of 53-0.

Ryan Daly set the tone again as a turnover was fed to Oli Pike carried the ball hard into the visitor’s half, the next phased was repulsed but the home side retained possession and when shire resident Ethan Hunt spotted a ring in the in goal area sliced through to claim a precious try with Jim Lamont converting this one to take it to 60-0.

Another try went begging after a clever link play as the pass went over middle earth native Hunts head.

The game got fractious as Rich Sumner was yellow carded for a dangerous clear out before Ian Milanak saw red for a high tackle.

A thundering break from captain Harrison Scott drew 3 defenders to him and his pass permitted Hunt to waddle over for his second try with Lamont, bursting his shirt with his dad bod, converting for 67-0.

The game then was becalmed as the cards took effect and Romsey had to reshuffle with the svelte Elliott Johnson returning from a sore toe, and the flaxen haired Silas Clarke moving onto wing where his deft pass released the flying Adams who shimmied through and offloaded. The pass wasn’t the greatest but Daly picked it off his toes to link with Sumner for his hattrick. Lamont, now playing at number 8, converted to make it 74-0.

Aiden Cleland caught the beleaguered visitors napping with a quick tap to add to the score at 79-0, Rich Sumner burst from a ruck 84-0 but a further try went begging from a dropped pass meant the century would now be difficult to achieve.

The side did make a determined effort to get there with debutant Freddie Cleland half break leading to Jay Hodges’ picking the ball off his toes to outpace the defence 89-0 before a swift handling move found Lawrence hugging the touch line to finish off the move in the corner which Lamont converted to make the final score 96-0.

Credit must go to Chichester who stuck at their task valiantly despite several late team changes.

 

After the game head coach Jason Berry purred “Today, the lads demonstrated the essence of our style—dynamic, running rugby. Despite an initially challenging start to the league campaign, our resilience and determination have kept us competitive, and today, our efforts were duly rewarded. I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to the referee, whose performance I thought was exemplary.

Looking ahead, we prepare to face Petersfield next week, a formidable opponent, but one we are confident in our ability to challenge. I was particularly impressed with Rich Sumner’s commanding display and the continued robust performance from Jay Hodges on the wing.”

 

Skipper Harrison Scott added “I thought this game was a true sign that amongst the losses than have come this season progress has been made and that showed today. A good platform for the last 3 games before Christmas”.

 

This week sees the side playing Petersfield 2s at a venue to be determined by the weather forecast

 

Romsey RFC was also saddened to hear the news of their former full back Robin Smith who played for the club in the 1988 season when unable to tour India and also guested for the vets’ side on a couple of occasions and officially opened the old clubhouse at the sports centre. He was also a rather handy cricketer in the off season.