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Verwood 7 Stoneham Park 15
15th March 2003
This result came as a considerable disappointment to Verwood particularly after their display against Ellingham & Ringwood last weekend.
This was certainly a game of two halves. Verwood dominated the first half territorially but were unable to convert pressure into points. Verwood’s Neil Westerman missed a penalty kick at goal and it was not until the dying seconds of the first half that Verwood’s inside centre Darren Kendall scored under the posts after a series of rucks and mauls in Stoneham’s 22. Westerman added the conversion.
7-0 at half time.
It looked like Verwood had a firm grip on the game. However, Stoneham took the game back to Verwood and certainly stepped up a gear. Verwood were repeatedly penalised in the loose and lost their rhythm.
Stoneham’s first try came from a stoke of good fortune. Verwood were on the counter attack deep in Stoneham’s half. Full back Richard Hunt threw out a wild pass which was intercepted by Stoneham’s scrum half Steven Lines. He ran a full 50 metres to score under the posts. Lines converted. Soon after Lines added a penalty kick.
With ten minutes of the game remaining Stoneham cleared their 22 with a long downfield kick. A cruel bounce was seized upon by Stoneham’s inside centre Andy Stride who scored in the right hand corner. Line attempted conversion hit the upright.
Verwood’s Team Manager, Robin Peirce, felt that Verwood had let the game slip from their grasp. “We failed to maintain our composure and discipline and suffered the consequences”.
Scorers:
Verwood: Darren Kendall
Conversions Neil Westerman
Stoneham Park: Andy Stride; Steven Lines
Conversion: Steven Lines
Penalty: Steven Lines
Verwood 7 Ellingham & Ringwood
15
Match Report
8th March 2003
Cancel the whitewash order. The smell of the stuff had filled Ellingham’s
nostrils before the start but there was nothing but the scent of pride
around Potterne Park when Verwood trooped off the field at the end. Verwood
enjoyed the better of the early exchanges and had the sniff of the Ellingham
line on two occasions after a succession of rucks and mauls. However, it
was Ellingham who scored first on 16 minutes after an impressive counter
attack starting from within their 22. An infringement at the tackle, 30
metres out, resulted in a well struck penalty kick by scrum half Daffyd
Williams.
On 20 minutes, Verwood took the lead following a wayward clearance
kick out of their 22 by Ellingham’s Williams. This was gathered by prop
forward Ian Mackrell who charged up the left to pass outside to Winger
Tim Wynn. From the ensuing ruck Mike Wheatley charged and passed out of
the tackle to Flanker Nigel Brunning who had some work to do before driving
over to score. Lambini converted. In fact, the selection of Brunning on
the open side flank gave Verwood a harder edge than they had demonstrated
in recent weeks. Brunning’s surging charges in this game will be a lasting
memory.
Ellingham squandered two golden opportunities to score before the break. Ellingham’s inside centre and former Verwood player David Brigstocke broke free and looked as if he had the pace to round Verwood’s full back Richard Hunt. With Hunt closing in, his run faultered and, as he panicked, the initiative was lost as was the scoring chance. Soon after, winger Paul Chambers showed great pace in chasing a kick ahead. He gathered 15 metres out and looked certain to score only to find Verwood’s Andy Davies twist him in the tackle in the in-goal area preventing him from grounding the ball to score.
Ellingham scored just on half time. Following a penalty in Verwood’s 22, scrum half Daffyd Williams launched a clever crossfield kick which was gathered by Paul Chambers to score. Williams added the conversion.
7-10 at half-time.
It was the home team that showed the greater passion and commitment
throughout the second half. Good close inter-play amongst the rampaging
Hill, Wheatley and Banks saw Verwood denied scoring on at least three occasions
by fumbling the ball at the final pass. Banks intends to invest in “go
faster cling on gloves” for future matches. Despite all this intensity
and pressure and with five minutes remaining, Ellingham secured good lineout
ball outside Verwood’s 22. A series of forward charges saw flanker Chris
Roberts score in the left hand corner to seal the win.
Verwood’s Team Manager, Robin Peirce, was pleased with the Verwood performance. “We showed in this display that we are playing some good rugby football and Ellingham have gone away knowing they’ve played a game today.”
Scorers:
Verwood: Nigel Brunning
Conversion: Jasepe Lambini
Ellingham & Ringwood: Paul Chambers; Chris Roberts
Penalty & Conversion: Dafydd Williams
Brockenhurst 7 Verwood 36
1st March 2003
Despite the absence of Verwood’s regular front row contingent of Hill and Mackrell, both of whom are still bed bound, Verwood managed to field a full compliment scoring a total of six tries.
The heavy pitch and squally showers negated a flowing game which was error stricken from start to finish. Verwood squandered two early scoring opportunities when on both occasions the final pass was adjudged forward. Then, on 15 minutes, a loose heal at the scrum in Brockenhurst’s 22 saw Verwood’s scrum half Ben Stocken pounce, gather the ball and score in the corner.Westerman added the conversion from the touchline.
Brockenhurst essentially lived of scraps and were unable to supply any decent ball to their exceptionally quick wing Ben Tindall who only had one decent run in the first half.
7-0 at half-time.
10 minutes into the second half Verwood’s right winger Phil Emery finally received a pass which was not adjudged forward. He scored in the corner following good hands along the backline after a ruck 30 metres out. Tim Wynn went over soon after. A scrummage in Brokenhurst’s 22 went against the head. Stocken broke blind to feed inside to Wynn who scored in the left hand corner.
Not long after, Verwood’s veteran lock forward Simon Bank’s, returning to the side after a six week layoff, picked up from a ruck 15 metres out to score. Westerman converted. Fellow lock Mike Wheatley scored a similar try after a series of rucks and mauls following the restart. Emery converted.
Verwood’s new centre pairing of Darren Kendall and Steve Deeble was particularly effective throughout, with good penetrative running and swift distribution to the wings. Phil Emery’s second try resulted from such a flowing, passing movement along the back line.
Brockenhurst managed a breakaway try out of their 22 in the final quarter. Good support play saw inside centre Paul Fisher show good pace to run in under the posts. Peter White added the conversion.
Verwood’s Team Manager, Robin Peirce, was pleased, but concerned about the percentage of handling errors which he eventually conceded reflected, in part, on a slippery ball.
Scorers:
Verwood Tim Wynn; Ben Stocken; Mike Wheatley; Phil Emery (2);
Simon Banks
Conversions: Neil Westerman (2); Phil Emery (1)
Brockenhurst Paul Fisher
Conversion: Peter White
Verwood 5 Kingsclere 47
22nd February 2003
This was a game which was never meant to be. The game had been abandoned on 1st February after 23 minutes following an injury sustained to Kingsclere’s Liam Newnam. It was thought that he may have sustained either a neck or back injury following a tackle and he was taken by Ambulance to Poole General Hospital. Fortunately, the youngster (playing his first season of League Rugby) had only sustained a broken collar bone and was released from hospital later that evening.
Despite the timing of the replay (half-term weekend & the Wales England International), both sides were content to play despite it not being on the best of weekends. Tragically, on the morning of the game, two of Verwood’s Front Row forwards were struck down with a rare tropical illness. Such are the safety requirements of the RFU, Verwood were unable to play contested scrummages and, consequently, this meant that the game was automatically conceded to Kingsclere and technically resulted in a 0-0 away win.
Even so, Verwood were prepared to take to the park with only 13 bodies.
Playing with the advantage of the stiff breeze in the first half, Verwood
took the game to Kingsclere and were camped in their half for the first
15 minutes but could not convert pressure into points. It was inevitable,
that with a two man advantage, Kingsclere would eventually exploit the
overlaps and
they led 27-0 at half time.
Notwithstanding Kingsclere’s advantage, the Verwood team showed good
spirit, despite conceding four tries in the second half. Dave Hockaday’s
try in the corner was controversially disallowed. Second Row forward Mike
Wheatley scored his first try for Verwood following a break by fly half
Andy Hoggins out of his 22. His kick ahead was taken into touch on half
way.
Hockaday had the presence of mind to take a quick throw in to Hillier.
From the ensuing maul Wheatley broke clear and stretched his legs to run
a full 40 metres to score.
Even so, Verwood’s Team Manager, Robin Peirce was visibly upset. “You can cater for most contingencies but not anything like this. All we can hope is that Mackrell and Hill enjoy a speedy recovery and that their illness is not too contagious. We obviously do not want it to spread through the Club”.
Verwood 10 Chineham 10
8th February 2003
An 83rd Minute try, scored by Verwood’s Tim Wynn, secured a draw in
a game which the home side let run away from them. In the past few weeks
Verwood have played with passion and courage and have excelled in protectecting
their own possession which has been the key to their recent success.
Early pressure saw Verwood take the lead on 15 minutes. From a scrum
on half way Tim Wynn, playing at inside centre, intercepted a loose pass
and stretched his legs. 15 metres short of the line he was well tackled
by Chineham’s Gary McGuire but had the presence of mind to feed winger
Ross Wilkinson who scored in the corner. Chineham’s back division always
looked threatening. They faltered only through basic handling errors or
the taking of the wrong option and in particular
failing to make better use of their quick winger Steve Knight.
In the set piece the Verwood scrum more than held its own where the front row of Huckle, Hill and Mackrell made its presence felt. Mike Wheatley was, once again, charging ferociously off the rucks and mauls totting up considerable yardage.
5-0 at half-time.
Despite Verwood dominating territorially, the threat out wide became apparent13 minutes in to the second half. Chineham managed to move the ball wide from a ruck. Second row Richard Avendell loitered out wide and showed good pace to charge down the flank and eventually fed inside to winger Steve Knight who scored in the corner. Chineham later blew a golden opportunity. With a three man overlap centre Darren Walker selfishly cut inside and squandered the scoring opportunity. In the final quarter Chineham scored their second following an unfortunate sliced kick by Verwood’s scrum half Ben Stocken in half way. Walker gathered and fed the speedy Knight who out stripped the defence to score.
Soon after, Verwood’s Number 8 Nigel Brunning broke from the scrum to set off on an impressive 40 metre run handing off both left and right only to be hauled down 15 metres short by both McGuire and Kelvin Davis.
Chineham, with only minutes left and pinned in their 22, had the opportunity to find good field position and run the clock down when they were awarded a penalty. Nonsensically, they elected to run the ball, but knocked on. Despite winning the ensuing scrum against the head, the ball shot loosely back and Chineham conceded a Scrum 5. From this, Verwood’s Ben Stocken ran blind, fed Tim Wynn who scored in the corner. Westerman narrowly missed the conversion.
Verwood’s Team Manager, Robin Peirce, was pleased with the result. “We stuck at the task and our resolve, effort and determination was rewarded in the end”.
Scorers:
Verwood: Ross Wilkinson; Tim Wynn
Chineham: Steve Knight (2)
Portcastrians 41 Verwood 0
25th January 2003
Seven tries, two punch-ups, three sin bins, and more cut and thrust than Gangs of New York. Verwood paid the price in missing six first team regulars and their fate was compounded by the delayed arrival of two players until half-time.
Portcastrians, not having the best of seasons, needed to re-establish themselves and they played some good, fluent football. The early exchanges did not suggest the forthcoming margin of victory. For the opening quarter, the game was finely balanced territorially. Ports first score came after 22 minutes following a wayward clearance kick out of the 22 by Verwood’s Emery. The ball was gathered by full back Davies who ran the ball back at pace and neatly laid off the ball in the tackle to outside centre Ron Franklin who scored in the left hand corner. Ports scored again soon after. From a scrum on half way, the ball was moved left. Franklin hit the gap and showed good pace to score under the posts. Verwood’s restart kick went out on the full. Ports launched another attack following the scrum on halfway when outside half Glen Cummings exploited the overlap on the right. He was tackled short but fed inside to scrum half Adrian Green who scored in the right hand corner. In the final play of the half, clean lineout possession saw Ports move the ball right. Franklin again split the defence to score his third.
22-0 at half time.
Although Verwood now had a full 15, they were reduced to 14 on the hour when second row Clarbull was sin binned for stamping at the ruck. Even so, Verwood’s back row of Hillier, Locke and Davies remained effective in the loose. Ports scored again on 55 minutes. From 15 metres out Green fed Cummings who managed to wriggle through two tackles to score to the right of the posts. Green was in the thick of the action all afternoon. From a scrum 10 metres out his lunge and one handed stretch resulted in his second of the afternoon. Cummings converted. It was the industrious Green who was instrumental in Ports final score. His kick ahead from his own 10 metre line saw Verwood’s Hockaday fail to fall effectively on the loose ball. Franklin had chased and it was he who picked up and scored. Cummings converted.
Verwood’s Team Manager, Robin Peirce, paid credit to the Ports backs. “Although we contested effectively at the ruck and maul, the Ports backs were particularly incisive and penetrative.”
Scorers:
Portcastrians: Rob Franklin (4); Adrian Green (2); Glen Cummings (Tries)
Conversions: Adrian Green (1); Glen Cummings (2)
Verwood 9 Overton 3
18th January 2003
Verwood were undefeated in five matches before this encounter and, despite Overton being second in Hampshire Division 3, the home side were expecting to avenge their narrow loss in October.
Verwood dominated the first half territorially playing with the slight advantage of the wind. The home side set a cracking pace from the start clearly intent on demonstrating that they had put their lacklustre early season form behind them. Repeated offences at both ruck and maul by Overton resulted in two early penalties in easy kicking range. Neil Westerman slotted both of these. He also missed a penalty kick from long range which struck the left right up. After 30 minutes Overton’s full back riposted with a penalty kick 30 metres out. Overton were not without teeth. Just before the half time they Overton nearly scored. The ball was run out of their 22 to reach pacey winger James Gaskill on the left. After a 40 metre dash he was hauled down in the corner by Verwood’s full back Richard Hunt in what may have proved to be a match saving tackle.
6-3 at half time.
Verwood continued to dominate all phases of possession. The home side’s scrummaging was particularly effective denying Overton any real platform to release their backs. Scrum half Ben Stocken sniped at every opportunity. Even so, Overton’s Andy Rowley was able to use the wind by putting in some decent touch finders. But again it was the likes of Huckle, Wheatley, Brunning and Westerman who constantly broke the gain line from charges off the rucks & mauls. Wheatley was the main runner in the loose, where he carried the ball with punishing intent.
Neil Westerman slotted another penalty kick on the hour.
In the last 10 minutes it became clear, with nerves gripping almost every movement, that kicks would settle the game. Overton were effectively locked in their 22, denied possession. It was a huge team effort tenacious in their resolve to hold on to the established lead.
Robin Peirce, Verwood’s Team Manager, said “ This was a vintage Verwood team performance against a powerful and abrasive Overton side. Its a tough time of the year, but we are getting there and being mentally strong is becoming our strength. For me, all of the Verwood players were ‘man of the match’”.
Scorers:
Verwood: Neil Westerman (3 penalties)
Overton: Dan Williams (penalty)
Poole 7 Verwood 43
11 January 2003
A total of eight tries scored in a game where the scoreline belies the contribution which Poole made to this thoroughly entertaining match. The weather conditions were perfect for open running rugby on a sunny crisp afternoon and both sides played the game in great spirit.
In the first
half, Poole elected to play with sun on their backs. Poole’s fly-half,
the Reverend Bill Gates, used this advantage effectively with a number
of tantalising up and unders in the early exchanges, which Verwood’s Full
Back Richard Hunt dealt with effectively. In fact, it was from one of these
that Hunt started a counter attack from deep inside his half resulting
in Tim Wynn bursting over the line from a resulting ruck 15 metres out.
On 15 minutes Verwood scored their second. Again the ball was run from deep with forwards and backs combining well. It was Verwood’s visiting number 8 Georgio Leyrosso, one of two Italian cousins playing for the visitors, who rounded the move off. Poole continued to take the game to Verwood. Number 8 Jay Loftus was ever present charging effectively off the rucks & mauls.
But it was Verwood’s Darren Clarbull’s dominance at the lineout, a solid scrum and the combination of Westerman, Brunning and Wheatley that saw the gain line broken time and time again with scrum half Martin Hillier sniping and distributing well. Verwood scored another three further tries before the break, all from deep positions, through Leyrosso, Centre Gareth Smith and Winger Andy Hoggins. Italian Fly Half Jasepie Lambini played an active role in all three tries with his elusive and penatrative running.
29-0 at half time.
Poole mustered
an early score in the second half when their Captain Colin Horsley intercepted
on half way. For a large man, he showed great pace to score under the posts.
Gates conversion was remarked as being one of the best since that of Saint
Paul. Poole now enjoyed their best spell pinning Verwood in their 22 for
a good 20 minutes. Poole’s Scrum half Russell Dargen varied the play well
and there was some strong running from full back Ian Dorey.
At the end of this spell of pressure Verwood were awarded a penalty
on their 22 which they chose to run. Lambini moved the ball swiftly left
to see winger Phil Emery step inside Dorey to score in the corner. In the
dying seconds of the game Georgio scored his third of the afternoon and
Lambini added the conversion.
Verwood’s Team Manager, Robin Peirce was full of praise for his team after the match. “We played 15 man rugby throughout which is the style of game we are trying to develop”.
Scorers:
Poole - Colin Horsley (Try)
Conversion: Rev Bill Gates
Verwood: Tim Wynn; Georgio Leyrosso (3); Gareth Smith; Andy Hoggins;
Phil Emery;
Conversions: Phil Emery (3); Jasepie Lambini (1)
Verwood 29 Southampton Vets 12
4th January 2003
A rain free day on Friday allowed Verwood’s waterlogged pitch to dry out sufficiently for this game to go ahead which turned out to be thoroughly entertaining on a sunny and bright afternoon.
The game was evenly matched until 15 minutes when Southampton threw caution to the wind and ran the ball out of their 22. The passing movement to the left took the visitors to half way and then good distribution along the line saw right winger Pete Trant over in the corner.
Verwood responded immediately from the restart. Clean possession from a ruck in Southampton’s 22 saw the ball moved left for winger Dan Smith score in the left hand corner. Shortly after Verwood’s NeilWesterman was tackled without the ball denying a touchdown. A penalty try was awarded and Westerman added the conversion
12-5 at half time.
In the second half, Verwood scored tries through Tim Wynn, Gareth Smith and Dave Hockaday, the latter finishing off a particularly good passing movement having entered the line from Full back. No sooner had Hockaday scored when he was lucky to remain on the field having high tacked Southampton’s Dan Jones in the corner. The referee awarded another penalty try which Rutherford converted.
Scorers:
Verwood: Tim Wynn; Gareth Smith; Dan Brown; Dave Hockaday
Penalty try Neil Westerman
Conversions: Neil Westerman (2).
Southampton: Tries: Paul Trant;
Penalty Try Dan Smith
Conversion: Pete Rutherford
Verwood 8 Bournemouth Nomads 7
21st December 2002
Yet another match in which Verwood left it until the final play of the
game to achieve victory. This was a well balanced match, although Verwood
enjoyed a much better platform at the scrummage. Bournemouth’s flamboyant
flanker Enrique Fermien was
particularly effective in the loose. However, the first half remained
scoreless and it was not until Verwood’s Phil Emery added a penalty 10
minutes into the second half that the game finally came to life. Into the
final quarter and following quickly recycled ball at a ruck just outside
Verwood’s 22, Bournemouth moved the ball left. It was the incisive injection
of pace from full back James McHue that saw him over in the corner. Craig
Dean added the conversion.
In the last 15 minutes, Verwood pinned the visitors in their 22. If
second row Mike Wheatley was described as a raging bull last week, this
week he was a man possessed, gaining impressive yardage yet again. Into
the final minute of the game. After a
succession of charges from close to ruck and maul by McCarthy, Lock
and Huckle, the ball was moved wider to see centre Emery crash over from
10 metres out.
Scorers:
Verwood: Try: Phil Emery; Penalty: Phil Emery
Bournemouth: Try: Jamie McHue; Conversion: Craig Dean
Verwood 0 Paxton Pumas 0
14th December 2002
Yet another first for Verwood RUFC. This was the first time in the Club’s
history that a match ended scoreless. Despite this, both sides had their
opportunities. Paxton’s Richard Jones missed two close range penalties
during the first half, one of which
struck the upright. Verwood’s Phil Emery narrowly missed with a penalty
attempt on 60 minutes. Verwood should have sealed the game with ten minutes
to go having been awarded a penalty in front of the posts and 15 metres
out, with only 10 minutes
remaining. Verwood elected to run the ball and Verwood’s Tim Wynn was
held up in the tackle over the line.
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On another dank day in which the weather deteriorated into driving wind and rain, this was never going to be a game of expansive rugby. Verwood dominated at the scrummages, which were aplenty, effectively denying Paxton any quality possession. In the loose, all thought of christmas shopping was put firmly to the back of the mind with some incisive play around the fringes. The front row combination of Huckle, McCarthy and Hill invoked some terrific percussive and revolving forward drives for the home side.Verwood’s second row Mike Wheatley was like a ranging bull gaining impressive yardage throughout the afternoon.
Verwood 32 Alresford II 26
7th December 2002
In a hastily arranged fixture Verwood, despite missing 6 first team regulars, were pleased to entertain Alresford at home in what proved to be a thoroughly entertaining game with a total of 10 tries scored on an otherwise dank December afternoon.
Alresford scored in the first two minutes. Fly half Ben Wallace broke
through the midfield and showed good pace to run a full 40 metres and score
in the corner. Verwood responded straight from the restart. Flanker Tim
Wynn crashed over from short range following a driving maul set up by Clarbull
and Wheatley. On 15 minutes, Alresford’s scrum half Tim Sims broke from
a scrum on Verwood’s 22 and scored under the posts. Sims converted. Alresford
winger Ben Allunet scored soon after. The ball was moved quickly right
and he showed great pace to score to the right of the posts. He added the
conversion. Verwood responded soon after following a mazey run by centre
Gareth Smith who eventually found his way to the Line. Then, just before
the break, Verwood’s Full Back Dave Hockaday put up a somewhat speculative
“up and under” on half way. Hockaday
was unfortunate to parry the descending ball into the waiting arms
of Alresford’s Tim Arthurson
who hit a gap and ran in unapposed under the posts. Arthurson converted.
26-10 half-time.
Despite Alresford’s lead, this was such an open flowing game victory was still available for either side’s taking. Verwood capitalised on early pressure. Debutante scrum half Ben Stocken had sniped all afternoon and his persistence was rewarded when he burst over the line from short range. Straight from the restart Verwood’s Huckle gathered a wayward kick. The ball was moved swiftly left with good interpassing between forwards and backs. With the line in sight, Liam Hacker timed his inside pass to perfection allowing Centre Brendan Murphy to skip in at the corner. Verwood continued to claw back the points. Another darting run by Stocken, this time 20 metres out, saw him through to score his second. Verwood were camped on Alresford’s 22 throughout the final quarter. Second row Simon Banks was denied scoring twice having been driven over only to fumble the ball in the process of touching down.
Into the final two minutes of the game with the home side training 25-26. A scrum in Verwood’s 22 saw the ball moved right. Fly half Andy Hoggins threw a dummy and hit the gap between the centres. He was tackled on half way by Wallace but fed inside to the ever present Stocken. From the ensuing ruck on Alresford’s 22 the ball was moved left. McCarthy fed Gareth Smith who crossed over for his second. Hockaday added the conversion.
Scorers:
Verwood: Tim Wynn; Ben Stocken (2); Gareth Smith (2); Brendan Murphy
Conversion: Dave Hockaday (1)
Alresford: Ben Wallace; Tim Sims; Ben Allnutt; Tim Arthurson
Conversions: Tim Sims; Ben Allnutt; Tim Arthurson.
Stoneham Park 16 Verwood 5
30th November 2002
This was another game to disappoint a Verwood side which failed to capitalise on both territorial advantage and possession. Verwood elected to play uphill in the first half on a considerably sloping pitch providing considerable advantage to Stoneham.
Verwood weathered the early onslaught and were able to work themselves
gradually up field following numerous infringements at both ruck and maul
by Stoneham. But on 15 minutes, Stoneham’s Jason Naylor went over after
the ball was moved left following a ruck in the Verwood 22. This was a
controversial try as Verwood’s full back Richard Hunt appeared to have
held
Naylor up in the tackle.
Stoneham continued to take the game to Verwood. Scrum Half Andy Stride was particularly inventive with strong penetrative running with ball in hand. Stoneham’s Robbie Legge was ever present in the loose. Stoneham scored again in similar vein to their first on the half hour when wing Jay Robins scored on the left hand side.
Stoneham’s outside half Steve Lines added a penalty just before the interval.
13-0 half-time.
With the advantage of the considerable slope, Verwood were confident that the game was for the taking. Mike Wheatly replaced a jaded Simon Banks at Second row at half time. Certainly the Verwood pack were on a roll in the early exchanges, with back row forwards, Westerman and Brunning rampant in the loose. There was a particularly memorable burst down the left wing by 23 stone prop forward Huckle who polaxed Stoneham’s Naylor before being brought down short of the line. Despite dominating at the scrum, Verwood continued to fail to put pressure into points. Stoneham’s Lines added a further penalty kick from 30 metres. Into the final quarter, and Verwood’s Tim Wynn drove over following a scrum 15 metres out. Soon after, Verwood managed to drive over Stoneham’s line from both scrum and maul only to be denied what appeared to be apparent tries by the referee.
Robin Peirce, Verwood’s Team Manager, was visibly disappointed with the result. “This was a League game which we had targeted to win and on the day we failed to deliver”.
Scorers:
Verwood: Tim Wynn
Stoneham Park: Jason Naylor; Jay Robins
Penalties: Steve Lines (2)
Verwood II 14 Fordingbridge II 20
23rd November 2002
In what is believed to be a Guinness Book record, Verwood fielded a front row with a combined age of 167 in the trio of Ken Banks, Robin Peirce and Roy Hammond! A remarkable achievement for them, in what proved to be a thoroughly entertaining game being Verwood’s second XV’s first outing of the season.
Fordingbridge, despite missing the physical presence of club stalwart
John Sanger at inside centre, had the better of the early exchanges. Bridge
were gifted their first try on 15 minutes. Verwood’s Full Back Dave Hockaday
put in a speculative cross field clearance kick from his 22 only to find
the arms of the speedy John Sanger junior on the right wing. He stretched
his legs and comfortably found the corner. Bridge’s second try came from
a quickly taken tap penalty on half way. Number 8 Alfie Birch set of on
a surging run to feed inside to Will Wallace to score. Soon after Sanger
got his second after the ball was moved swiftly right following a lineout
on Verwood’s 22.
Verwood scored just on half time following a lineout outside Bridge’s 22. Fly half Andy Hoggins worked a dummy scissors and popped the ball up for outside centre Gareth Smith who split the defence to score under the posts. Emery added the conversion.
15-7 half time.
Verwood enjoyed the better of the second half territorially. Simon Banks dominated at the lineout and Neil Scarisbrick was ever present in the loose. Verwood deserved their reward after 15 minutes, when, the weighty Phil Huckle crashed over from short range following a catch and drive after a four man lineout. Emery converted. In the end, a lose clearance kick saw the ball run back at Verwood which, after having been spun right, resulted in Stuart Fisher scoring in the corner.
Scorers:
Verwood:
Tries: Gareth Smith; Phil Huckle
Conversions: Phil Emery
Fordingbridge:
Tries: John Sanger Jnr (2); Will Wallace; Stuart Fisher
Oakmeadians II 7 Verwood 14
16th November 2002
Two Eastern European visitors to Verwood made the decisive difference to this match tipping the balance in favour of Verwood. Nosaj Bmal, a talented outside half, and Number 8 forward Egroeg Dnalyel both retraced their roots in their appearance in the black and gold of Verwood.
Oakmeadians took an early lead in the first quarter. The ball was spun wide followed by a kick and chase resulting in a score under the posts. Then, on half-time, Verwood’s inside centre Darren Kendall intercepted on the Oaks 22. With only the full back to beat he took route one and rode the tackle to score. Phil Emery added the conversion.
7-7 at half time.
The second half was a pulsating as the first with good open running rugby from both sides. Lawrence McCarthy and Mike Lock particularly excelled for Verwood in the loose. It was left to Dnalyel to have to the final word. He broke from the back of the scrum 15 metres out and used the whole of his 18 stone and 6'4'' frame to crash over and score. Emery added the conversion.
Verwood’s Team Manager, Robin Peirce, was so delighted with the result that for once he dipped his hand in his pocket and bought all the players a jug of Ale!
Verwood 17 Brockenhurst 0
2nd November 2002
At last, Verwood’s first home game of the season after eight away games due to Wessex Water’s construction work at Potterne Park. Prop forward Phil Huckle had fasted all week in anticipation, shedding a full stone especially for this encounter and weighing in at a paltry 21 stones. The persistent wind and rain was never going to be conducive to open rugby. Nevertheless, this was still an entertaining game.
Verwood’s first try came on 15 minutes. Clean lineout possession on
Brockenhurst’s 22 resulted in a clever back move involving a dummy scissors
and a miss move in the centre. Winger Lee Baker fed to Full Back Richard
Hunt who scored in the right hand corner. Soon after, Brockenhurst came
close to scoring following a breakaway attack out of their 22. Debutante
flanker Mike Lock fed Winger Ben Tindall who showed great pace &
nearly rounded Hunt to score but for a great cover
tackle by Verwood’s Left Wing Dean Cox.
Verwood’s Inside Centre Phil Emery scored just on half-time. He took the ball following an orthodox scissors on half way, straightened and then hit the gap at pace to have a clean run to score under the posts. Emery converted.
12-0 at half time.
The second half proved to be a scrappy affair. Verwood failed to capitalise on territorial dominance. The only remaining score came in the final quarter when Verwood’s Tim Wynn crashed over from short range.
Verwood’s Team Manager, Robin Peirce, was typically philosophical. “We had every opportunity to make the ball do the work but failed to allow our backs to express themselves. Nevertheless, we competed well at all phases of the game”.
Scorers:
Verwood: Richard Hunt; Phil Emery; Tim Wynn
Conversion: Phil Emery
Chineham 19 Verwood 0
26th October 2002
A side having to play its 8th consecutive away game, running up 622
miles in travelling, inevitably takes its toll. Even the return of 22 stone
Prop forward Phil Huckle, at Captain on this occasion, failed to provide
the necessary inspiration. Chineham deserved their victory as they capitalised
and took full advantage of the scraps of possession and limited territitorial
advantage they enjoyed. On 32 minutes, Chieham broke the deadlock. Dave
Floyd at 10 worked his backs to see the ball moved wide and centre Darren
Walker broke through to score. Perkins added the conversion.
From the re-start Chineham seized on a wayward drop out and spread the
ball wide. Forwards & backs combined well to see Walker controversially
score, there being doubt as to whether he had actually grounded the ball.
Perkins again converted.
14-0 at half time.
15 minutes into the second half Chineham’s Adam Workhouse finished
off another attack from deep after Floyd shipped the ball wide following
a stolen lineout on their own 22. Despite this setback, Verwood were camped
in Chineham’s 22 for a good 25 minutes of the second half. Verwood’s John
Hill and Darren Clarbull particularly excelled in the loose.
Alas, a series of penalties in favour of Chineham prevented Verwood from
capitalising on good, hard fought, field position. Frustration led to a
number of niggles and a series of sin -binned players on both sides.
The final whistle could not come too soon in the end.
Verwood’s Team manager, Robin Peirce, did not on this occasion voice his disappointment. “Defensively, our back play was much improved which has been effectively addressed by the coaching team. Unfortunately we were unable to convert our territorial advantage into points.”
Scorers:
Chineham: Darren Walker (2); Adam Workhouse.
Conversions: John Perkins (2).
Salisbury Stones 41 Verwood 15
12th October 2002
Verwood were not the subject of any favours in playing the Stones as both Salisbury's First & Second XV's were without games. Salisbury were clearly slicker outfit in the backs & hence a 24-0 lead at the interval . Two further early tries in the second half from Salisbury suggested that this was going to be a whitewash.
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Kingsclere 31 Verwood 5
12th October 2002
This was Verwood’s first ever visit to Kingsclere who, on the day, were
the better side. Kingsclere scored two early tries. The first followed
a ruck 20 metres out when the ball was moved left. Centre Alan Stoat broke
Smith’s tackle for a straight run in to score. Geoff Curtis added the conversion.
The second came on 20 minutes when the ball was this time moved left from
deep.
Left Winger Matt Stroud showed good pace to score in the corner.
12-0 at half time.
A glimmer of the makings of a comeback looked on the cards for Verwood in the early exchanges of the second half. An infringement at the maul 15 metres out resulted in a penalty. A well worked move saw Verwood’s Number 8 Nigel Brunning drive over to score.
Kingsclere took the game back to Verwood. Number 8 Ian Geoffs was particularly effective in driving forward in the loose and from the back of the scrum. On the hour, a chip over the top by Verwood’s fly half Andy Hoggins was well gathered on half way by Kingsclere’s right wing Barry Cadden who set off on a mazey run showing good pace to score under the posts.
Kingsclere’s full back Neil Brennen scored on the left following a miss move amongst the centres. At the end, the ever present Jeffs picked up from Number 8 when Verwood wheeled the scrum. He threw a dummy inside and ran 20 metres to score unopposed under the posts.
Verwood’s Team manager Robin Peirce again voiced his disappointment. “Our back play has again been found wanting in both attack & defence which must be addressed by the coaching team”.
Scorers:
Kingsclere: Alan Stoat; Matt Stroud; Barry Cadden; Neil Brennen; Ian
Jeffs.
Conversions: Geoff Curtis (3).
Verwood: Nigel Brunning
Overton 34 Verwood 19
5th October 2002
This top of the table contest with Overton lived up to everyones expectations. What a game.Verwood, playing against the wind and slope, dominated in the set piece and loose. However, Overton scored first on 10 minutes. Following a lineout, the ball was moved swiftly left to winger James Gaskell who scored in the left hand corner. Soon after the restart, and following a mix up in the lineout on the Overton line, Verwood’s Tim Wynn gathered the loose tap to score in the left hand corner. Phil Emery added a peach of a conversion from the touch line.Overton scored again on the brink of half time following a clever blind side move from the scrummage. The ball was fed inside to supporting second row Paul Hounsham who drove over to score.
10-7 at half time.
In the second half, with the wind and slope in their favour, Verwood played the territorial Game. Scrum half Liam Hacker effectively probed the blind side. Fly half Andy Hoggins drilled the corners with some exquisite touch finders. Following one of these, Nigel Brunning gathered a miss-throw at the lineout in the Overton 22 to feed the ever present Number 8 Neil Westerman on his shoulder who scored under the posts. Emery added the conversion. Soon after, Verwood’s hooker Lawrence McCarthy retired with a broken rib. Overton were equally reduced to 14 men following the dismissal of Chris Bond for foul play which resulted in a 12 stitch head wound to Verwood’s Tim Wynn. This was a game of “no prisoners”. Mike Locke and Mike Wheatley could be particularly singled out for their big hits.
Into the last quarter of the game. From good lineout possession, a clever miss-move eventually saw Overton winger Andy Rowley score in the left hand corner. From the restart, Verwood kicked long and secured a lineout 10 metres out. 18 stone Prop forward Phil Huckle pounced on a loose tap back to score in the corner.
With 10 minutes to go, Overton led 22-19 and it was anyone’s game. Despite Verwood’s full back Richard Hunt pulling off yet another remarkable try saving tackle, substitute winger Paul McIver finished off a crisp passing movement. Then, in the dying minutes, Overton’s fly half Fraser Smale, following an initial break on half way, showed good support running to finish off by taking a return pass and scoring in the left hand corner.
Robin Peirce, Verwood’s Team Manager, said “ This was a vintage Verwood team performance against a powerful and abrasive Overton side. Despite the result, I have no complaints. It was a truly memorable game ”
Scorers:
Verwood Tim Wynn; Neil Westerman; Phil Huckle
Conversions: Phil Emery (2)
Overton James Gaskel; Paul Hounsham; Andy Rowley; John Hepworth; Paul
McIver; Fraser
Smale
Conversions (2).
Paxton Pumas 12 Verwood 15
29th September 2002
This was Verwood’s first League outing of the season in which victory was only secured in the dying seconds of the game. This time last year, Prop forward Phil Huckle was unable to play having been diagnosed with a rare tropical illness. On this occasion the full weight of his 17 stone frame was imposed in both the tight and the loose.
The playing conditions were perfect on a sunny afternoon with a light breeze. Paxton elected to play with the advantage of the wind in the first half. Paxton’s fly half Richard Jones, as he has done in previous encounters, made effective use of his boot putting in numerous long probing kicks which set up good field positions.
Despite the early pressure, Verwood’s scored first on 10 minutes. This resulted from a poor pass at the scrum to Paxton’s Long. Verwood’s Maidment & Hoggins hounded and it was Maidment’s hack through that saw him win the chase to touch down to the left of the posts. Neil Westerman added the conversion.
Paxton continued to play the territorial game with fly half Richard Jones continuing to kick into the corners. This set up good field positions resulting in two penalties converted by Jones. Neil Westerman kicked a penalty just before the interval.
10-6 at half-time.
The expectation was for Verwood to capitalise on their first half dominance with the wind behind them. Paxton disrupted the anticipated platform raising their game by harrying and hounding, disrupting in the scrum and the loose. Paxton’s Number 8 Colin Cameron's charging runs were particularly effective. Territorially, 80% of the play was in the Verwood half. This resulted in two further penalties landed by Jones and Paxton led 12-10 until the dying minutes of the game.
Verwood refused to give up. Numerous forward charges from the likes of Huckle, Hill and Westerman led to an infringement resulting in a penalty 10 metres out. Rather than taking the option of a kick at goal, the ball was fed to flanker Tim Wynn who burst over the line to score. Maidment narrowly missed the conversion.
Robin Peirce, Verwood’s Team Manager, whose controversial comments after last week’s performance were the subject of much criticism within the club, had to eat his words this week. “The lads did exceptionally well this week, particularly in the first half where our presence was felt in the front five”
Scorers:
Paxton Pumas: Penalties: Richard Jones (4)
Verwood: Tries: Gary Maidment; Tim Wynn; Penalty: Neil Westerman; Conversion:
Neil Westerman
Fawley 71 Verwood 0
21st September 2002
This was Verwood’s first venture in the Powergen Junior Vase and the
Club’s heaviest defeat in three seasons. Although the early exchanges did
not suggest there would be such a margin of victory, Verwood were comprehensively
beaten by the Hampshire Division 2 side. So many Fawley players contributed
to a pulsating performance in which they led 31-0 at the interval having
at that stage scored 5 tries. Verwood were well and truly out of the game
even at that stage.
Even when Fawley lost their shape and Verwood stepped into the holes
that were left, they did not have the personnel or vision to take full
advantage. “We were rubbish” admitted Robin Pierce Verwood’s Team Manager.
“There was complete incoherence in our back play and the three quarters
must mirror the pack’s performance as there were tremendous individual
contributions from our forwards in all phases”
Swanage & Wareham III 45 Verwood
5
14th September 2002
Swanage & Wareham showed their Club’s considerable strength in depth
on a sunny September afternoon in fielding 10 fresh faced youngsters in
their team all about to embark on their magical mystery tour of University
life next weekend. With the sun on their backs and a spring in their step,
it was perhaps not surprising that they were able to run in a total of
7 tries during the course of this fast and furious encounter.
Verwood had the better of the early exchanges and were rewarded when
James Turner, playing at scrum half, broke left from a scrum on half -way
seeing off three or four would be tacklers to score in the corner.
Swanage responded after 15 minutes. Left winger David Price-Jones joined the backline from blind side and hit the gap to score in the right hand corner. Soon after the restart, following a lineout on half-way, Swanage’s outside half Dave Goldsack shot through a gap between inside and outside centre showing great pace to score under the posts. Soon after Swanage managed to move the ball swiftly left on half-way and Price-Jones went over for his second.
21-5 at half time.
Verwood held the youngsters for the first 20 minutes of the second half
but in the last quarter Swanage managed to run in four further tries through
Goldsack, scrum half Trevor Hendies and the speedy replacement full-back
Jonny Blackmore (2).
Scorers:
Swanage: David Goldsack (2); Jonny Blackmore (2); Trevor Hendies; David
Price-Jones (2);
Conversions: David Goldsack (5)
Verwood: James Turner
Puddletown 26 Verwood 26
7th September 2002
Verwood can be suitably pleased with this result having trailed 21-0 at half-time. Playing with the wind in their favour in the first half, Verwood failed to capitalise on good ball retention and field position for the first 20 minutes of the game.
Puddletown scored first after the ball was shipped right following a
scrum in Verwood’s 22. Centre Kevin Voss broke two tackles to score and
Chris Ricketts added the conversion. Following a lineout shortly after
the restart, Puddletown again moved the ball well and centre Kevin Voss
again crossed over with Ricketts adding the conversion.
At the end of the half, another lineout saw Voss again break the midfield
to set up quick ruck ball. Quick hands saw centre Andy McIntyre riggle
over in the right hand corner and Ricketts added the conversion.
21-0 at half-time.
The flood gates failed to open and Verwood took the game to Puddletown. A scrum 10 metres in Puddle’s half saw Verwood’s Number 8 Nigel Brunning pick up & cleverly feeding inside to scrum half Gary Maidment who sprinted 40 metres to score under the posts. Phil Emery added the conversion. Verwood were back in the game.
Soon after the kick off, Verwood’s Phil Emery put in a speculative kick up field from inside his 22. Debutante winger James Turner showed great pace to chase, gather the ball and run around under the posts to score only to see the ball slip from his grasp before he could touch down. Verwood’s fly half Liam Hacker had also followed up the the kick and saved Turner’s embarassment by grounding the ball. Emery added the conversion.
Verwood scored again following a loose pass by Puddletown’s fly half
which was intercepted by Maidment in Verwood’s 22. He fed inside to the
pacey Turner who ran the length of the field to score. Emery missed the
conversion to leave Puddletown two points ahead in the last 5 minutes of
the game.
Puddletown scored following a maul deep in the Verwood half. The ball
was again moved right and Dan Brown scored in the corner. Ricketts’ conversion
hit the upright.
In the last play of the game, Verwood won a scrum in Puddletown’s 22.
Brunning broke blind from Number 8 to feed scrum half Maidment who scored
in the left hand corner. Emery added the conversion to draw the game.
Scorers:
Puddletown: Kevin Voss (2); Andy McIntyre; David Brown; Conversions:
Chris Ricketts (3)
Verwood: Gary Maidment (2); Liam Hacker; James Turner; Conversions:
Phil Emery (3)