See also the the News page for brief details of matches played to date:   News
Verwood RUFC play in Hampshire Division 2 in season 2009/10
Home matches are played at Potterne Park Verwood Dorset

Verwood RUFC Match Reports 2009/10

Verwood 23  Old Freemen’s 15
2nd April, 2010
See  Match Pictures
On a blustery but sunny day Verwood (one of the youngest clubs in the Union) put on one of their best displays of the season against the tourists (one of the oldest clubs in the Union) who play in Surrey Division 1.

This is the second consecutive year that Verwood have entertained the Old boys but Old Freemen’s have been visiting Dorset at Easter for over 30 years. Many of the original Old boys were now returning with their children and grandchildren for their fun filled weekend and friendly matches. And more than rugby enthusiasts lined the Potterne field touchline to cheer on their respective teams.

Such was the appeal of the match that a number Verwood lads returned from University and even a couple of old faces dug out their boots for a few minutes on the park.

The game was an open affair played in good spirit and demonstrating just how entertaining an end to end match can be. It would be wrong to pick out particular individuals as all played so well but young Ben Watling showed his abilities on his first appearance for Verwood.

Verwood managed several excellent team tries and outscored the visitors by four tries to two in a final score of 23 – 15.

The Albion Inn once again provided a feast fit for royalty and hosted the after match activities including rugby’s version of the “boat race” (ask any rugby follower how this works!) albeit a day early.

Verwood 44 v Gosport and Fareham III 3
13th February, 2010
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What a difference a week makes as Verwood (pictured in red strip) recovered from a heavy league defeat to stage a sparkling display at home. Buoyed by the return of senior players and several new faces making their home debut they played an open running game.

Once again the front row gave an excellent platform to launch the three quarters and with David Coy controlling at fly half Verwood looked a well organised team again whilst Phil Huckle added the missing experience at hooker and Will Trim provided the link in broken play.

With this ‘home friendly’ Verwood’s DOR Mike Cockram had the opportunity to give a few new faces a run out including James Beck who has returned to the sport after a lengthy absence with an admirable performance at wing forward.

The tries were scored by Chris Roberts, Will Trim and Charlie Cockram with conversions from the boot of David Coy.

Verwood 5  Overton 49
23rd January, 2010
See  Match Pictures
A cold damp afternoon at Potterne Park saw a very much depleted, injury ridden home side missing senior players since well before the Christmas break, give a heart warming performance against a weightier Overton team.

Verwood held Overton to a 5 – 10 points lead at half time showing excellent defence and some dazzling back play in which they scored their only try of the game.  The second half did, however, take its toll as Verwood – although playing the more progressive rugby early on – were increasingly less able to secure set piece ball from the heavier Overton pack and thus there could be only one winner.

See also  Overton RFC's Match Report

Kingsclere 12 Verwood 17
7th November 2009

A classic match with, no quarter asked and certainly none given. The game ebbed and flowed from end to end until Verwood got over early nerves and settled into playing their attractive open game.

About twenty minutes into the half a fine attacking move down the left flank saw the Verwood forwards retain good possession which resulted in the ball flying down to the right wing where a good break by Man of the Match Will Trim, saw him feed the ball back into Kendall and two side steps later saw him score near the posts.Unfortunately the late arrival of the Kingsclere number 5 resulted in serious rib injuries to Kendall and a long delay whilst he was attended to and helped off the pitch. Coy, who has recently found his kicking boots, converted.

Kingsclere came right back at Verwood and a long period of pressure from their heavier pack saw them drive over for an equalising score, which was also converted. The subsequent arrival and attentions of the ambulance and paramedics meant the game had to be moved to another significantly smaller pitch which favoured the Kingsclere style of play. Verwood fell into their recent habit of conceding early points and another elongated drive from the opposing pack. The try was forced wide and the kick missed.

Verwood were in danger of falling away with the cruel loss of their captain but as each successive attack was repelled belief returned and an excellent turnover by Trim saw Verwood awarded a penalty and the excellent kick averted the danger.The away side began to apply their own pressure and this resulted in a Kingsclere centre being sent off for his second yellow card. Coy converted the penalty to bring the score to 12-10.
Verwood began to string some good passages of play together and from yet another Kingsclere infringement, Brian Thompson took a smart, quick tap, drew the defence and slipped the ball out wide to Trim who crashed over for a well deserved try. Coy converted well from distance.

Kingsclere threw everything at Verwood with the clock taking an age to tick round but every drive was repelled. When the final whistle eventually came Verwood were able to reflect on a good away win, which might help kick start their season.

Mention has to be made of the all round talents of the Verwood backs who showed great determination in defence and great inventiveness in attack. The front row and the newer forwards also deserve to be picked out as their performances week in week out show increasing ability to cope with bigger more experienced packs and may soon be able to start dominating in their own right.
Darren Kendall was released home once stable late Sunday evening but will not play again this year.  Everyone of course wishes him a speedy recovery.

Report by Michael Cockram

Chineham 27 Verwood 46
25th October 2009

Score line flatters visitors

High flying Chineham came to Potterne expecting an easy victory but Verwood showed real character and only lost because of basic errors gifting their visitors three tries. Five minutes into the match and Verwood took the ball into a ruck and allowed Chineham turn over ball which was moved quickly to their number 10 who went straight through the defence to score under posts.  Converted - 0-7 to Chineham

Chineham scored again a few minutes later when Verwood again failed to clear their lines and lost the resulting ruck for another turnover which the Chineham scrum half popped  to the right winger who scored under the posts.  Converted  - 0-14

Just to make things worse as well as gifting turnover ball to Chineham, Verwood were also giving away penalties in the loose and the away side took advantage of one of these to extend their lead. - 0-17

Finally Verwood pulled themselves together and started to play attacking rugby of their own and after some sustained pressure were awarded a penalty which David Coy kicked - 3-17

Straight from the kick off the young Verwood forwards piled into their opponents which resulted in a lineout on the right hand side of the field which was taken well by James Chisholm, followed by a quick ruck and for Matt Pike to run an excellent line from centre to score under the posts - 10-17.

The spectators were cheering wildly now and Verwood, upped their game again to claim a penalty just outside the 22 which the captain correctly decided to kick - 13-17.  The game settled and Verwood dropped their level of intensity and gifted Chineham a penalty by not releasing in the tackle -13-20

With just minutes to go before halftime Verwood were awarded a penalty on the 22 which was quickly taken and even though it was a bad pass to Charlie Cockram he recovered , stepped and accelerated on a weaving run to score. Converted by Coy. - 20-20 at Half time

The crowd were expecting great things in the second half with the introduction of Verwood’s forwards stalwarts Phil Huckle and Ian Mackrell but almost immediately Chineham scored a try under the posts -  20-27.

Then a crocked feed at the scrum saw Chineham run the ball from the free kick, work a  dummy scissors move to score another try - 20-34 - followed by a scrum inside the 22 which saw Chineham’s scrum half go blind, feed his winger who scored in the corner - 20-39

Verwood never give up and centre Matt Pike finished off a fine move by stepping inside to score just to the right of the posts. Cockram converted - 27-39

The home spectators now believed they could see yet another comeback but this was not to be as  Verwood - trying to  force the game in their own half - saw Chineham’s No 8  intercept to score under posts

In the end, a most entertaining game.

See  Match Pictures
The clip below is Matt Pike's well finished try late in the second half to take the score to 27 -39 following Charlie Cockram's well struck conversion from the right touchline

Verwood 7 Nomads 53
10th October 2009

No report available. See  Match Pictures

Verwood's try was scored in the last quarter of the game after a good ten minute spell of possession. The scorer was scrum half David Kerley and the conversion was by David Coy. See video clip below.

Stoneham Park 26 Verwood 29
26th September 2009
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On a glorious autumn’s day better suited to cricket than Rugby, Verwood edged this thriller despite having a number of players unavailable through injury and many playing out of position.

Early exchanges were fairly even until the twentieth minute when James ‘Nug’ Chisholm picked up from the back of a loose ruck, drew the fullback and sent a lovely pass to Matt Pike who evaded any tacklers to score. Hutchinson converted 0-7.
Five minutes later, Will Trim stripped the ball from a maul to feed David Kerley , playing his first game at scrum half, who gave a quick pass to  Charlie Cockram who glided through the gap between the No8 and prop forward in front of him popping a lovely soft inside pass to Roberts for him to score under the post. Hutchinson converted 0-14.

Following a lineout on Stoneham’s 22 Will Trim secured the lineout and the ball was moved swiftly through the hands of all the three quarters for the right winger, Jonny Rhoades to score out wide. 0-19.
Then, on the stroke of half time Verwood forwards secured quick ball from a ruck which was passed out quickly by the scrum-half Kerley to Cockram who drew his man before putting Will Trim in to score.

0-24 at half-time.

The second half saw the introduction of Verwood’s 34 stone prop forward Ian Mackrell and Stewie Dixon making his debut on the left wing.
Stoneham Park are perhaps the gutsiest team in the league and what they lack in skills is more than made up for with effort and determination.
Their forwards tore into Verwood and scored almost immediately through their centre Tiernan Simmons which was converted 7-24. This seemed to put the away side off there game and errors began to creep in. Losing the ball at a ruck inside there opponents 22 resulted in  Stoneham’s fly-half kicking the ball back to Verwood and their right winger showed good pace to gather the ball to run 50 metres to score .14-24.

After almost continuous pressure for fifteen minutes Stoneham scored again through their large prop forward (nearly as large as Mac) who crashed over under the posts. 21-24.
This finally woke Verwood up and, again, Will Trim stole the ball in the maul which started an excellent three-quarter handling movement which saw Jonny Rhodes score out wide. 21-29

The away support was shocked again as Stoneham came straight back and their Macker look alike scored again  taking the score to a nail biting 26-29.

The final whistle was greeted with cheers and relief by Verwood’s large away following, although tarnish by injuries to both Jensen brothers.

The video clip below is (blink and you'll miss it) Jonny Rhodes' first half try - scoring in the right hand corner

And the clip below is Will Trim's first half try - Stoneham's winger is not pleased!!

Matt Pike makes a clean break down the middle and races in to score

Verwood 12 Lychett Minster 24
19th September 2009
 See Match Pictures
Verwood were a little disappointed to have lost this first home match of their season particularly after a bright start on a glorious autumn day. With their young front row gaining the upper hand early on, opportunities were later squandered by the team which proved costly as the final result shows.

The first score came after 20 minutes with Verwood’s forwards driving inside Lychett’s 22 and a fine break by the young scrum half, Joe Walsgrove, who crashed over under the posts - Paul McGuffie converted. Regrettably, however, during Lychett’s defence of this try scoring drive, their centre sustained a suspected broken leg and the match was delayed by an half hour as paramedics were called to the scene.

On the resumption of the match Verwood lost much of their early drive and vigour and Lychett edged there way back into the match scoring a try in the corner right on half time. Worse was to follow for Verwood with the dismissal of their blind side flanker for over robust play. Half time score Verwood 7  Lychett Minster 5.

Down to fourteen men Verwood’s young side was exposed by the heavier and more experienced visitors and basic errors cost them as three tries were scored by Lychett in the second half.

Verwood managed the last word when, after some spirited driving play by the forwards, Tom McGuffie went over for a fine try, unfortunately too late to change the result.

If  Verwood can eliminate basic errors in this introductory phase to the Hampshire 2nd Division, and the squad’s current absentees become more available, they will achieve far better results as the season moves on.

Report by Robin Peirce
Photos by John Edgar

Isle of Wight 36 Verwood 5
12th September 2009

See the match report on IOW County Press on-line. See  IWPC
See also  IOW RFC's Report set out below:

The Island opened their new Hampshire Division 2 campaign with what eventually turned out to be a comfortable victory.

From the off they applied pressure on their visitors with driving forward play and the ball moved rapidly down the three quarters but it was left to a Gareth Paisley penalty to open the scoring after 5 minutes

 After fielding a high ball, James Curran launched an attack, and with quick ruck ball secured, the ball was moved to Nathan Tombleson to charge at the Verwood line and crash over. Paisley added the conversion

The outstanding Lymington Precision Enginering Man of the Match Adam Leal made an outstanding break to set up a scrum close to the visitors line. From this scrum Andy White crashed over, with the conversion added. Keeping on the pressure, the Island continued to attack Verwoods line, but the half ended in farce. After another 5 meter scrum, Nick Puckett picked up and was held up short. White picked the ball from the ruck and crashed over, the try initially being awarded. An altercation broke out, was halted by the referee and one player from each side harshly given a yellow card. The Island players went back to the half way, ready to receive the ball from the kick off, to see Verwood taking a penalty from their own line after the try was cancelled, all to the ignorance of the Island players.

This seemed to galvanize the home side as the start of the second half saw a rampant Island nearly add to their score from the off. A Neil Brading break, supported by Leal, set up Nick Puckett. Paisley added the kick. At this stage the Island seemed to lose some focus while Verwood upped their play. Verwood gained reward for their continued efforts with an unconverted try through Will Trim.

With 10 minutes to go the home side seemed to rediscover their focus as Ian Rock scored after a well worked backs move. This was followed by a break from half way by Puckett, supported by Leal and finished off by debutante Sandy Wilson. Despite there still being a way to go in the development of the Islands game, this was a pleasing performance. Richard Crossland showed promise in his first outing in the front row, while league debuts were given to Colman Cotter, Anthony Lillington, Ali Gates, Curran and Wilson.

IOW squad v Verwood:
R Crossland, M Newnham, A Brown, D Church, A Thomas, A White, A Leal, N Puckett, C Cotter, N Brading, I Rock, G Paisley, N Tombleson, J Curran, A Gates, A Lillington, S Wilson, D Metcalfe