Before this match, Bognor had waited twenty years to climb back up to Level 6 rugby and that long wait was prolonged by the enforced delay to the season due to extreme weather conditions. However, their supporters needn’t have worried as their young side started the season with a bang by defeating a much fancied Winchester team who have consistently been one of the top performers in this league.

The average age of the team is still only 23, all of them having come through the club’s junior ranks to earn their places in the 1st XV, but they were far from over-awed by their bigger and vastly more experienced opponents, throwing themselves into battle right from the kickoff. Charlie Jays, beginning his third season as captain, was absolutely superb until he was forced off with a shoulder injury fifteen minutes before the end. Whether it was by claiming virtually every kick-off or throwing himself into tackles, he led by example throughout and he, together with No. 8 Jamie Foote, were the two outstanding forwards on the field.

If they were the pick of the forwards, then hat-trick hero Connor Herrington was a worthy man-of-the- match as he embraced the challenge of the higher level with another display full of pace and class.

Bognor started strongly and seemed to take the visitors by surprise with their multi-phase play and attacking intent. Even more assuring for the large home crowd, the first two scrums were managed comfortably; indeed, the front row of Josh Turner, Ollie Mitchell and Charlie Weller never took a backward step all afternoon. Turner, in particular, has visibly grown in confidence since converting from wing last season and, when he was replaced, Simon Billingham came on to reinforce the dominance.

This solid platform enabled Foote to pick up from the base and begin the process of re-acquainting himself with fly-half and ex-teammate Brad Caparo who had an uncomfortable afternoon in defence.

After just twelve minutes Bognor’s pressure told when Charlie Spray, whose off-season training has ensured that he is even quicker than he was last year, finished off a fine move for the first try of the match. The conversion was narrowly missed by Adam Halligan but the young fullback continued to be involved in some dangerous attacking moves before unfortunately having to go off with a torn hamstring.

The pressure was telling on Winchester to the extent that they conceded six penalties in the first quarter of the match but they finally pulled themselves together and began putting Bognor under pressure for the first time. Their efforts were rewarded with a try near the posts and the successful conversion meant that, after 27 minutes, the visitors were somehow ahead.

Herrington regained the lead for Bognor with a trademark touchdown but ill-discipline by Bognor resulted in them being pinned back on their own line. Scrum-half Alfie Spurle managed to clear to the 22 and a wonderful piece of attacking rugby saw centre Matt Norrell offload to Herrington who handed on to Spray. The winger put in a neat grubber kick but the ball just touched the line, preventing what would have been a classic try.

Soon afterwards, Herrington strolled through the visitors’ defence for his second try but the missed conversion, together with an off-target penalty attempt, meant that Bognor’s supporters were praying that these missed opportunities did not come back to haunt them. To make matters worse, a handling error by Norrell resulted in an easy penalty for Winchester which they duly slotted to end the half just five points behind.

Bognor’s lineouts had functioned smoothly so far and, from the first one in the second half, a well-worked move saw Herrington cross for his hat-trick and Bognor’s bonus-point try. Newton-Young added the conversion points to make the score 22-10.

This was quickly followed by the try of the match as Bognor’s forwards and backs combined for a breathtaking combination of handling skills which ended with Spurle touching down for his side’s fifth and final try.

Billingham showed his strength by smashing his way out of his own 22 before handing on to Foote who rampaged his way up the field for fully seventy metres before being hauled down just yards from the line. A Winchester player cynically prevented the ball from being released, resulting in a yellow card and a penalty which Newton-Young chipped over to make the score 30-10.

Whether it was the loss of their inspirational skipper or just a case of natural fatigue creeping up on them, Bognor were starting to look second best for the first time in the match. The defensive line began to lose shape and, consequently, tackles were beginning to be missed. In attack, the home backs were still looking sharp and narrowly missed adding another two tries to their total, the first when Spray was held up over the line and the second when Freddie Hayes was adjudged to have put a foot in touch.

The Winchester No.8, by far their most dangerous runner, ran straight through a tiring defence for the visitors’ second try and this was quickly followed by their third and final try of the afternoon.

There was a nervous end to the match when Newton-Young had a Gallic rush of blood near the visitors’ line and was yellow-carded, resulting in a final flourish for Winchester down the other end of the pitch. In the last play of the afternoon the visitors’ fullback butchered a clear opportunity to score a try in the corner leaving Bognor to celebrate a memorable and well-deserved win.

Regrettably, the latest prognosis on Jays’ injury is a torn AC joint which may require surgery, so his team will need to rally round and dig deep for what is sure to be a tough encounter at Wimborne next week.

Man-of-the-Match Connor Herrington rounds his opposite number.
(Photo courtesy of Chloe Dent)

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