16th November 2024

The conditions were perfect leading up to the Romsey Royals’ seventh league game of the season against Aldershot & Fleet in a pivotal decider for third place. The Royals started strong after a strong carry from the front-rower, Ian Milanak, opened the play for fullback, Issac Pitt, and scrumhalf, Ioan Elliott. Several swift passes led to Issac to score the try in the corner for a strong opener within the first two minutes. Not even three minutes later, an excellent read from Pierce Fouch resulted in an interception and eventual try for the flanker capped off by a conversion by flyhalf, James Lamont. However, moments later, a blow to the Romsey side was made in the form of an injury to Malank’s shoulder who was taken off to be replaced by Elliott Johnson.

Aldershot retaliated after a quick tap and go penalty and some passes for them to score in the corner that would be unsuccessfully converted. Romsey responded to this by taking advantage of a dropped ball gathered by Ioan who passed the ball to inside-centre, Ben Powell, in his debut performance for the Royals. Powell’s break triumphantly ended in a try for outside-centre, Tyler Beardsley to score under posts to set up an easy conversion for Lamont.

After several minutes of intense back and forth between the two teams featuring some dominating defence from captain, Harrison Scott leading his pack of forwards in what can only be called some tremendous tackling from Ryan Daly, Brad Piper and Micheal Streicher; backed up by some immense ball carrying from Pierce Fouch, Elliott Johnson and Brad Hughes.

Unfortunately, mistakes can be made, and Aldershot quickly took a penalty that eventually led to another try scored under the corner for the visiting side. However, not long later, Issac Pitt made a break that could only be stopped by a high tackle by the opposing flyhalf, resulting in a yellow card for Aldershot number ten and a penalty try for Romsey. Unfortunately, this put an early end for the fullback, as he had to be taken off due to his injuries. Then winger, Dylan Scott, took on the role of fullback leaving space for Alex Watts to fill in on the wing.

Not ones to waste the advantage of being a man up; Romsey put the pressure on when hooker, Ben Hoad, expertly read Aldershot’s attack and intercepted the ball and made a break to be backed up by winger, Ollie Soundy, who would pop the ball to Dylan Scott who would unfortunately lose the ball backwards but was kicked through the retreating defence by Ben Powell who then conceded a penalty for his tackle being slightly too high. However, the kick to touch for the penalty didn’t quite make it to the line and was neatly kept in by Ioan and gathered up by Alex Watts to be handed to James Lamont who made a kick over the top for a mark to be called from Aldershot’s 22 section. After being called back because of several players being offside from the kick, a precise penalty kick from Lamont gives the Royals’ an easy three points a lot of pressure being placed onto the Aldershot & Fleet team who responded to this pressure with another try in the corner after driving maul from a lineout.

Romsey responded straight from the kick-off after Ollie Soundy chased the kick and tapped it back for his side to be gathered by the backs and kicked through by Ben Powell who makes a cracking tackle that makes the ball go loose and gathered up by Ryan Daly who passed it off to Ben Hoad who was stopped just short of the line and eventually taken over to score by Micheal Streicher to put an end to the first half.

At half time, Ian Milanak returns to play putting Elliott Johnson back on the bench. Romsey keep the pressure going after a line out and some strong ball carrying, Ian Milanak makes his return known after a breakthrough the defence and score in the corner with some impressive flair in the dive. Unfortunately, his shoulder injury re-emerged in the dive putting an unfortunate end to Milanak’s game for good and was replaced by Elliott Johnson once again.

Romsey’s momentum had not slowed down after a strong driving tackle by Ben Hoad caused the turnover gathered up by Harrison Scott causing a break from Ioan Elliott and Ollie Soundy laid a nice path for Pierce Fouch’s second try of the match capped by a conversion from Lamont. Pierce ended his game there after being replaced by Nate Johnson.

Romsey’s attack put Aldershot on the back foot after a cross-field kick was caught on the wing by Alex Watts to be followed by a second kick landing on their try line forcing them to run the way back. However, after a penalty kick placed a lineout for the visiting team inside of Romsey’s 22, but Romsey’s defensive pressure caused a knock on and gave the home side a scrum where a clearance kick pushed Aldershot back and two phases later, Romsey’s defence is rewarded another penalty, giving them a lineout back in Aldershot’s half. Unfortunately, the line out was lost, and a penalty was taken quickly, and Aldershot were soon back in Romsey’s 22.

Romsey’s defence never let up, however; despite several unfortunate penalties, Romsey kept forcing the mistakes and won back possession in a defending line out and were soon awarded a penalty, relieving the pressure and putting the Aldershot team back on the defensive. After accidental not straight lineout, Aldershot regained possession and once again pressed slowly within ten meters of Romsey’s tryline. And despite an impressive interception from Elliott Johnson, advantage had been playing for Aldershot, so it was called back for another penalty line out for the away side. After several phases, another penalty was awarded but the Romsey defence’s endurance was rewarded when Brad Piper won the ball from the line out and Ioan placed a precise box kick and soon Harrison Scott wins the ball back for his team and with some quick thinking and stepping from Ioan Elliott, Romsey were back on the offensive when a penalty was given to Romsey at the break down and after some back chat from a frustrated Aldershot player, the Royals were given an extra ten meters for their penalty.

Romsey’s defensive efforts were pivotal throughout the game and despite how hard Aldershot attacked, they were only met with a relentless wave of heavy tackles driving them back and forcing mistakes that Romsey always found ways to take advantage of. No matter what kinds of questions the Aldershot offensive asked, Romsey always had an answer. After several phases of play, penalties, and lineouts, Romsey’s defence turned to attack when Harrison Scott once again steals the ball at the break down and soon later Ioan Elliott makes a breakthrough an exhausted Aldershot defence to score an incredible solo try.

Alas, Aldershot managed to soon exploit an overlap on the wing and scored another try in the corner. But Romsey had the last say when they worked their way back from a lineout on their own five meter line after several phases of slowly pushing Aldershot back, they forced an attempt at a kick over the top but it was elegantly caught by James Lamont who returned a kick of his own that he chased and caught himself for a well-placed passed to Ollie Soundy to finish of the game with one more try under the posts for Lamont to easily convert. Putting an end to an extremely well-fought game by each player on the pitch.