Hampshire Counties 1

WINCHESTER II 23 BOGNOR 29

Having lost their last three contests, albeit by narrow margins, Bognor knew that this really was a match that they had to win if they were to retain any hope of promotion contention. No-one, though, could have foreseen such a frantic, error-strewn game where the lead changed hands several times, and where the visitors scored a fifth try with the last play of the match to clinch a late but well-deserved victory.

The win, together with Basingstoke’s surprise home defeat against Millbrook, means that Bognor climb back up to second place, eight points behind promotion-favourites Portsmouth, whom they will meet at Hampshire Avenue in just over a month’s time.

A late change due to illness saw Tom Orchard replace Matt Norrell, but Head Coach Karl Flinn was confident that his squad was strong enough to complete the double over the side positioned just one place below them at the start of the match. That confidence seemed well-placed when, just two minutes into the match, slick handling put flying winger Freddie Hayes over in the corner.

Winchester hit back with a penalty before No.8 Jamie Foote set off on one of his trademark runs off the back of a solid scrum. He flattened three would-be tacklers and the ball was quickly recycled, allowing Hayes to execute a perfect chip for Adam Halligan to touch down.

Instead of intensifying the pressure after the two quality tries, however, Bognor took their foot off the gas and the rest of the half belonged to the home side. Enjoying a steep slope and with the benefit of a strong wind, the temptation for the visitors to kick for position was too strong and good possession was aimlessly kicked away time and again. Winchester capitalised on Bognor’s poor decision-making and worked their way up to the 22, visibly growing in confidence as they did so. A strong home scrum and a disappointingly passive defence allowed Winchester to score their first try of the match to bring the scores level.

With Bognor scratching their heads as to how they had got themselves into this situation, matters got even worse as the home side helped themselves to a second try to open up a seven-point halftime lead.

Bognor’s ponderous and indecisive twenty-minute period was reminiscent of the second half at Sandown two weeks earlier, so it was no surprise when Flinn’s vocal halftime talk made it absolutely clear that such a repeat would be totally unacceptable.

The visitors’ supporters did not have long to wait for a positive response, Halligan putting Hayes over for his second try, converted by Kurtus Dent to tie the scores once more.

Winchester nudged themselves ahead with a second penalty goal but Bognor were at last working out that moving the ball quickly to the outside channels was their best chance of success.

By this time Hayes was wreaking havoc, beating three or four players every time he touched the ball, so it was no surprise when he linked with Halligan for the umpteenth time to score his hat trick and Bognor’s bonus-point try.

However, with Bognor now two points ahead and with just five minutes left there was still time for another two twists in this nail-biting contest. Firstly, Winchester earned themselves yet another penalty at the breakdown which their scrum-half duly popped over from 42 metres to enjoy a typically modest celebration as he assumed that he had won the game.

Bognor were having none of it and, when the ball was kicked down the throat of man-of-the-match Hayes yet again, the ball was moved to the righthand touchline where Charlie Spray ran strongly and kept the ball alive. From there, the ball was moved quickly back across the field allowing the outstanding Noah Flinn to find Foote with a well-timed pass. The big No.8 made ground but made sure that he executed a perfect offload to Hayes who gratefully accepted his fourth try of the match. Halligan converted to put the icing on the cake and the whistle blew to signal the end of a truly pulsating match.

This coming Saturday Bognor entertain Bournemouth II at home in an attempt to gain revenge for a disappointing defeat back in November. All support is welcome. (KO 3pm).

Leighton Thomas