4 hours Ago
In the second round of the Papa John Community Cup, Winchester 1st XV lost a bruising encounter to Bournemouth 23-19, the winning score coming in the last move of the match. In an extraordinary coincidence, Winchester have lost three games against Bournemouth this season in identical fashion, . In the first five minutes, Winchester’s centre Jake Hiscock crashed over the try-line and fly-half Tom Fieldsend converted.
Bournemouth responded well, but Winchester’s renowned defending kept them at bay until Bournemouth’s hooker, Louis Allum, scored from a line-out seventeen minutes later. The conversion was missed. Penalties from full-back Jesse Ribeiro and Fieldsend increased Winchester’s lead, but in added time, Bournemouth’s heavier pack drove over Winchester’s line and Number 8, James Griffiths, touched down.
The conversion sailed wide, leaving the score 10-13 at half-time. With fourteen minutes of the second half played, Winchester extended their lead to 10-19 with two penalties converted by Fieldsend. Despite being reduced to fourteen players following a red card, Bournemouth responded strongly and converted two penalties, bringing the score to 16-19 with four minutes of normal time remaining.
A moment later, Winchester thought they’d sealed victory when Ribeiro touched down but had knocked on in the process. In the seventeenth minute of added time due to injuries, Bournemouth’s scrum-half, Ben Hogan, scored in the final move of the match following a scrum five metres from Winchester’s try line. The successful conversion brought the score to 23-19 to the delight of Bournemouth’s supporters and leaving Winchester’s heartbroken.
A large crowd gathered to watch the Winchester Knights v Andover Vets cup game at North Walls on Friday night, and with a team full of classy players, we were in for a treat, . Both teams started with speed and agility that belied their age but Winchester took the early honours. Number 7 Gaz Martin made a break and deft passing saw winger Simon Farrington over for a corner try, there was no conversion, score 5-0.
Following some back-and-forth attack and defence, a phase of Andover rucks allowed their speedy backs to break through; Leon Taylor scored the try for Tommy Gentleman to convert 5-7. More back-and-forth play saw Winchester concede a penalty while pressing the Andover line; as the Winchester players regrouped a sprightly Alex Kane took a quick tap and go running the length of the pitch to score under the posts, Gentleman converted score 5-14. Winchester responded with a quick penalty themselves; number 10 Dave Brown went over in the corner, but no conversion 10-14.
As the half ended, Winchester were again pressing Andover’s line, Brown’s chip ahead was collected by Andover but Winchesters’ forwards strength turned the ball over between the posts; Gus Adamson touched down, for Brown to convert 17-14. The second half again started strongly with Winchester’s forwards dominating and releasing Farrington for another darting run. His try converted by Brown score 24-14.
Forward pressure continued to tell with Brown slotting 2 penalties taking the score to 30-14 but the final word went to Farrington with an unconverted try. Winchester the deserving 35-14 winners. Winchester Knights play Totton’s Vets in the final on May 10, venue to be confirmed.
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