Match Reports 2011 - 12

MILLBROOK 2 vs. New Milton 2nds - Sept 10th by Rich McStraw

A windy day at five acres gave the opposition the initial advantage, playing downhill and with the wind. However, Millbrook refused to let this affect their play and started well.

The kick off saw both teams start positively, though Millbrook dominated possession very early on. Impressive scrums meant Millbrook were able to capitalise on the pack and good linking between backs and forwards saw several breaks. The game stuck at 0-0 for a long time until suddenly New Milton made a break for the line, scoring a try which looked to be held up. Conversion missed.

Millbrook replied, linking forwards and backs well to release Pex through the centre to put down after an impressive scrum released the forwards. A very tricky kick missed by Gareth.

New Milton refused to let this affect them and replied with some strong tackles and a big push. Aaron Race looked to be clear on the wing, to have the ball stolen and Millbrook's defence on the back foot lead to an inevitable try. Conversion missed. 10-5 to New Milton at half time.

Millbrook came back after the half positively and eventually found the break they needed, hitting the wing with Aaron Race scoring a good try and Gareth converting to put Millbrook ahead 12-10. The game became very close, with mistakes being made from both sides. Poor discipline saw Millbrook's attacks stopped by silly penalties and finally New Milton took the ball over the line to take the lead 15-12.

Millbrook replied witha good run from Rob Richards ending 5metres from the posts before he was arguably high tackled. Penalty kick went over from Gareth to bring the game level at 15-15.

Both sides fought hard to try and take the lead but Millbrook seemed to switch off in the last 10mins. This lead to a silly missed tackle and New Milton made a break through to put the ball down in the final play of the game. Conversion missed left the result as Millbrook 15 - 20 New Milton.

MILLBROOK 2 vs. Ryde - Sept 17th by Rich McStraw

Another windy day at five acres for the first merit table game of the season. Knowing the opposition were ready for a hard physical game Millbrook had to raise their game. The first half started well, with Millbrook dominating a lot of the play and certainly taking advantage of scrums through a more disciplined pack this week.

The first try was sure to come from consistent play and finally Millbrook broke through with good link up play between the backs and forwards and a surging run from L. Campbell lead to the first try being scored. G. Havis missed a tricky kick to put Millbrook 5-0 ahead. Ryde came back, pushing the Millbrook defence to their limits at points but a few mistakes gave the ball back to Millbrook and eventually a penalty was awarded and converted by G.Havis to give Millbrook an 8-0 lead.

Ryde didn't let this affect them and made some good breaks to finally break through the defence and score their first try, conversion missed by a mile! 8-5 to Millbrook as the first half finished.

Second half Millbrook had the wind against them and tried to use some of their fitness to push Ryde back further. A physical game in the pack saw several good plays in the final 5meters to have a try opportunity held up by the Ryde defence. Millbrook continued to push hard and eventually a penalty came to give R. Richards a break through try, G. Havis missing the conversion. This time to put Millbrook ahead 13 - 5.

A few changes gave a bit more life to the Millbrook side, though some silly mistakes let the second try from Ryde get through. This time converted to give Millbrook a narrow lead of 15-12. Millbrook and Ryde exchanged penalty kicks for a while in the second half, with some great break from both sides at points. A good forward run from the backs brought L. Campbell's second try; G. Havis missing a tricky kick.

With 10mins to go the score stood at 21 - 19, Ryde scoring and converting and G. Havis kicking well given the wind. Suddenly Millbrook's defence switched off letting through two soft tries in quick succession, one from a penalty and one from a scrum which went straight through the backs. Both conversions missed leaving Ryde in front 29 - 21. With just over 5mins to go G. Havis kicked a good penalty to leave Millbrook agonising close at 24-29.To Ryde

Gosport 3 vs.MILLBROOK 2 - Oct 8th by Rich McStraw

Gosport played host to the travelling second team this week for the third merit game of the season. An early kick off had been arranged, but last minute the kick off was posponed due to a referee being delayed. This did not play to Millbrook's strength and this had evidently shaken the team up going into the first half.

The first half began relatively well, although at points very scrappy. Gosport seemed determined to make the game into more of a punch up, with several scuffles breaking out early on. Some good linking between backs and forwards saw both teams making breaks towards the try line and the game was very much end to end play. However, Gosport eventually broke the Millbrook defensive line and scored their first try. A conversion left the score at 0-7.

Millbrook attempted to come back at the Gosport lines, with good surges from R. Witch, L. Campbell and D. Searley making good ground. However, some poor discipline lead to penalties being given (although arguably some poor referee decisions didn't help) and Gosport broke the defence again to score try two and convert. 14-0.

This continued in the second half, with frustrations causing more scrappy play and more physical contests to break out between individual players. Gosport broke through again, having been cleared off the line initially to take the score to 19-0 (conversion missed). Not long after the fourth try of the game came, again to Gosport after some physical passages and a heavy amount of fumbles, taking the score at half time to 24 - 0.

Second half began much better, with Millbrook making much more the ball and running well. A great move by A. Race put D. Coffin through but was pulled back for a forward pass. D. Searley was replaced by C. Collins, both returning this week from injury. Millbrook shored up the defence and made some good forward runs at several points. Neither team looked certain to score until Gosports winger made a break. A. Griffin made a superb tap tackle to save the try and R. Witch kicked to touch with one of the best kicks of the game.

With 10 minutes to go Gosport again came of the attack and push after push saw Millbrook defending from their tryline. A penalty given and taken quickly saw Gosport ground the ball just over the line; 29-0 Final score.

Millbrook welcomed league newcomers Lytchett Minster to 5 acres this weekend. With a disappointing result and a sense of underachievement hanging over from last weekends fixture against Eastleigh the squad were looking to set a marker for themselves and put their season back on track and this showed from the off when Tom Colling opened the scoring in the opening minutes following some quick hands in the backs, captain and fly half Richard Colmer adding the conversion - his first of twelve conversions from fourteen attempts during the afternoon. Winger Colling was soon followed over the line by fellow winger Mike Randell, who was then next to cross the line on two more occasions in the opening quarter to bring up his hat trick. Colmer, converting two of the three, took the score up to 26 - 0.

Full back Tom Barnes put in a strong performance and showed his attacking capabilities joining the attacking back line where possible and providing valuable passes to string together several useful attacks. Lytchett Minster continued fighting in the game but the home side showed a desire and drive to keep the score line ticking over at a nice pace with forward Dean Vincent crossing the whitewash next, scoring only his second senior try - both of which have come this season. Scrum half Jordie Coffin and centre Mike Cronin also added a try a piece to round off a dominant first half and put the half time score at 45 - 0.

Millbrook continued the momentum into the second half and were able to add a further 49 points. Early into the second half the game was moved to the other Millbrook pitch following an eye injury to one of the Lytchett Minster forwards. Tries were added by both forwards and backs. Ratu Degei, Wayne Allen, Dan Wade, Lee Taylor, Sonny Bedwell and Rich Colmer all added second half tries. Allen added a second try himself after breaking through several tackles in front of the uprights and Rich Colmer converted each second half try in an excellent kicking display. Lytchett Minster were able to get on the scoreboard during the second half when their full back made a strong break, chipped through and was able to gather his own kick and touchdown to the left of the sticks however the dominating performance by Brook meant this was only a consolation for the visitors who can take pride from their continued drive to not finish the game with nil as their score. The final score 94 - 5 to Millbrook, one of the highest favourable score lines old and new club members could recollect in the clubhouse afterwards.