Right from the start of this match Bognor seemed to be basking in the knowledge that they were top of the table and unbeaten at home this season, having enjoyed excellent wins against Chichester and Guernsey in their last two games. Andover, however, had other ideas and, in a controlled and gutsy display, they deservedly avenged their home defeat against Bognor back in October.

Most certainly this was a huge wake-up call for Bognor’s young team because, although they remain at the top of Hampshire 1, Head Coach Karl Flinn will know that any repeat of this kind of lethargic performance in the coming weeks will spell the end of their promotion hopes.

Considering the torrential rain during the week the pitch, though heavy in parts, was in remarkably good condition. Andover began as they meant to continue, retaining possession for several phases at a time, with their fly-half controlling things impressively from behind.

Bognor awoke from their slumber long enough for Jamie Foote to take a quick tap and crash over the line, but the big No.8 was deemed to have been held up over the line and the try was disallowed. Centre Kurtus Dent eased the disappointment when he chipped over a simple penalty to give his team the lead, albeit against the run of play.

Andover replied with a quick tap-penalty of their own and sloppy defence by the home team allowed the visitors to score their first try.

Fly-half Dave Sweeney looked to have made amends when he crossed the line but the try was disallowed by the referee for the rarely used law concerning the ball-carrier driving into the tackler in a dangerously low position.

Having survived that scare Andover continued to look extremely comfortable with the ball in hand and their confidence was clearly rising. In contrast, Bognor were guilty time and again of poor decision-making and an unusually passive, leaky defence, the combination of which allowed the visitors to score a second try and a penalty, to extend their lead to twelve points at halftime.

Despite some strong words from Flinn during the interval, the second half began with more of the same, Andover scoring a soft try from a driving lineout.

With his team now seventeen points in arrears, scrum-half Jack Hornibrook caught the visitors’ defence napping with a quick tap-penalty and a clean break. A well-timed pass to the supporting Alfie Spurle saw the winger flying over for Bognor’s second try, converted by Dent.

A penalty goal from Andover increased the gap before Jeremy Newton-Young was denied a try by a superb last-ditch tackle. Bognor’s hopes were briefly raised when Josh Turner crashed over for Bognor’s second try, superbly converted again by Dent.

However, the lack of a specialist lineout thrower came back to haunt the home team in the last twenty minutes and, when full-back Freddie Hayes departed due to injury, it seemed that Bognor’s faint hopes of a recovery had vanished with him.

Sure enough, Andover tightened their stranglehold on the match and another two penalties were enough to see the game out.

Bognor face a tough trip to Basingstoke this coming Saturday when a massive improvement will be needed to retain their top spot.

Leighton Thomas