Snows Group

Hampshire One

THE top two places in Snows Group Hampshire 1 may well be all but sewn up but a couple of regular adversaries will be battling until the end of the season for bragging rights.

Third spot is still up for grabs and both Fordingbridge, who currently occupy it, and Millbrook put in winning performances at the weekend to underline their ambitions.

Brook got the better of Ellingham & Ringwood 38-2 at their Five Acres home while Bridge put in one of their best games of the season to defeat Sandown & Shanklin 39-29 on the Island.

Millbrook were keen to get revenge for defeat at the hands of Ellingham earlier in the campaign and went in front when outside centre Mike Randell intercepted and sprinted over the line.

The home team added another when the ball was moved to winger Aaron Race and full-back Mike McGrath got over the whitewash twice before half time for a 23-0 lead.

The second half saw a fifth try as Ratu Degei crashed over whitewash to put Millbrook into a commanding lead. Mark Colmer, on his return from injury, added the conversion.

Ellingham battled back into the game but strong try line defence kept out the attacks.

A sixth and final try for the home side came as the Millbrook forwards battered the try line before shifting the ball wide to winger Paddy Comerford.

Ellingham’s try came from Jonny Joiner while scrum half Will Jenkins also kicked a penalty goal.

Fordingbridge, who narrowly beat Millbrook earlier in the month, were delighted with their performance at Sandown.

They took the lead after 30 seconds when Peter Scott crossed the line but Hurricanes equalised on three minutes.

They then went in front with a converted try before Fordingbridge’s man of the match, Paddy Gogin, brought the scores level , scoring the first of his four of the afternoon. The try lines were crossed twice more before the break, one by each team, firstly Sandown and then by Gogin for Fordingbridge who trailed 19-17.

And the top quality first half was repeated after the interval as spectators were treated to another six tries.

Paddy Gogin’s hat-trick came just after the break, and with Norton converting, the lead had again changed hands. However, within ten minutes it was all square when Sandown scored a superb try in the corner to keep the game on a knife edge.

Two further tries from Scott and Gogin for Fordingbridge put the New Forest side ten up and with ten minutes to go it was anybody’s match.

A pushover try from Hurricanes’pack gave them a glimmer of hope but they were dashed by Peter Scott who scored his third try of the afternoon to close out the match for Fordingbridge.

l Snows Group Hampshire2 leaders Farnborough walloped Aldershot & Fleet 54-12, second-placed Romsey did not play and Fawley defeated Southampton 31-17.