Our seniors finished pre-season in style as they defeated a strong Salisbury side 41-28 at Ganger Farm. 

Romsey ran in seven tries as they finished their pre-season campaign unbeaten, with three wins from three outings. Outside centre Ed Davies claimed a hat-trick whilst his namesake Will dotted down twice. The other tries were scored by Ollie Soundy and Will Murrant respectively.

1st XV head coach Jason Berry selected a 24-man squad for the seniors final pre-season outing against Salisbury. Captain Harrison Scott returns to the playing XV as he partners Jack Light in the second row. Josh Clark moves from fly-half to 12, partnering Ed Davies in the centres, with Dylan Scott moving from the wing to full-back and Simon Purdon earning his club debut at fly-half.

The game started off in scrappy fashion with errors from both sides, however, a dominant defensive scrum saw Romsey win the first penalty of the game, just outside of the Salisbury 22. Unfortunately, a knock on in the maul ended the Roms first meaningful attack of the game. As the game continued in similar fashion, Romsey were looking the more dangerous side but struggled to make any inroads as the game edged towards the ten-minute mark.

The opening score of the game came in the 20th minute as outside centre Ed Davies scooped up the ball in midfield and carved a path through the Salisbury defence, before strolling in unopposed under the posts to give Romsey the lead. Inside centre, Josh Clark, slotted the ball between the uprights to add the extra two.

The pressure from the home side continued, resulting in Ed Davies crossing over the try line for his second score of the game, following a barrage of carries from the Romsey pack. The conversion, however went wide, as the score remained 12-0 to Romsey.

Salisbury responded well, forcing Roms winger Admire Munenga to dot down behind his own try line, resulting in a five-metre scrum to the visitors. The pressure from Salisbury finally told as their number eight ran through and dotted down under the posts in similar fashion to Ed Davies’ first try for Romsey. The conversion was successfully added.

Minutes later, Romsey responded superbly with a fine move off the base of a scrum, as Will Davies found Ricky Drewitt who tipped to Ed Davies. The outside centre then charged over to seal his hat-trick. Winger Ollie Soundy added the conversion to leave the score 19-7 to Romsey.

On the stroke of half-time, a sublime attacking move from Romsey added to their advantage as Ricky Drewitt found Will Davies who cut inside off the left and dived over for Romsey’s fourth try of the afternoon. This left the score as 24-7 to Romsey at half-time.

Salisbury started the second-half in the ascendancy, and found the opening score of the second forty through the outstretched arm of their number 19, as he clattered over from close range. The extra two were added as the score read 24-14.

Following some flowing rugby in the back field, Ollie Soundy crashed over for his first try of the game and Romsey’s fifth on the right flank as they restored their advantage. The conversion was pushed wide.

After some more pressure from the Roms, the next score of the game went the way of the visitors as their number four crashed through a hole in the Romsey defence and crossed the try-line underneath the posts. The conversion was successful.

The next score came the way of the Roms, thanks to a flying run from scrum-half Will Davies who dived over for his second score of the game. The conversion was added by Simon Purdon to leave the score 36-21 to Romsey.

The visitors responded well and crossed over for their fourth-try of the game, following a flying run from their full-back after claiming the ball from a goal-line dropout. The conversion was added to leave the score 36-28.

As the game headed towards its conclusion, Romsey’s lead was restored after Ricky Drewitt’s decisive run before finding Will Murrant on his inside. The flanker then strolled over unopposed for the Roms seventh-try of the afternoon. The conversion was unsuccessful.

This proved to be the final notable action of the game as the referee brought proceedings to a close minutes later.

Romsey Starting XV: Argent, Lawrence, Johnson, H. Scott (C), Light, W. Murrant, Finney, D. Murrant, W. Davies, Purdon, Soundy, Clark, E. Davies,  Munenga, D. Scott

Replacements: O’Brien, Pike, Gray, Drewitt, Greathead, Bath, Fenemore, Thomas, J. Davies

Tries: E. Davies (20′, 28′, 34′), W. Davies (40′, 70′), Soundy (55′), W. Murrant (75′)

Conversions: Clark (20′, Soundy 34′, Purdon 70′)