Saints are up and running after first league win (From Daily Echo)

Southampton Rugby are up and running after first league win

9:30am Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in Sport

Southampton Rugby Club’s ‘professional performance’ gave them their first Snows Group Hampshire 1 win of the season.

Saints delivered exactly what coach Mark Flower was asking for: a bonus point home victory with a favourable 27-6 scoreline over Aldershot & Fleet.

He said: “I’m very pleased with the win and the bonus point. It was a very professional performance, the players worked hard with scrum half Matt Lewis linking backs and forwards.”

Saints went behind to a penalty after five minutes but settled when Lewis scored on his debut with a quick tap-and-go from a penalty.

Lewis doubled Saints’ tally when he got the ball down again, forcing his way over from five metres out.

Southampton’s pack controlled the game throughout, stealing plenty of Aldershot ball with the backs looking dangerous every time they got possession in space.

Centre Will Ewitt ran in a try with a great line from a set play and added the conversion himself to put Saints in the driving seat at 17-3 on 40 minutes.

The bonus point came in a period of play that was Saints’ best this season. The forwards turned over Aldershot on the ten metre line and quick ball through the backs saw fullback Julian Robins hit the line and draw the defence for winger Steve Devoy to score from ten metres. Ewart converted and added a late penalty.

Flower added: “We now have to build on that against against second bottom Petersfield next week.”

Hampshire 1 leaders New Milton & District played some disciplined rugby to secure an important away victory against the Isle of Wight.

The New Forest team soaked up waves of attack as they defended their try line from a big and determined Island side.

But there were enough periods of running rugby to allow Milton’s more agile side to outscore their opponents.

A Chris Conacher try, converted by Adam Lavis, put New Milton 7-0 up at half-time and Sam Bew and Simon Mayne went over in the second half, Lavis converting one of them, to earn a 22-17 victory.

Results went in Millbrook’s favour but the Five Acres side could not do their bit to help themselves at Alton.

They were level at 10-10 at half time through a Mike Randall try and a conversion and penalty from skipper Mark Colmer.

However Brook had several regulars missing and the home side went on to win 21-10.

See today's Southern Daily Echo for a full rugby round-up