ROMSEY Rugby Club’s first team gave high-flying Bognor a scare on their own turf, but the promotion-chasers eventually ran out 22-15 winners.

Romsey, having won the previous week in the cup, were high on confidence and looking to build on that momentum with a game plan of forwards powering it up field and a strong pack was picked.

The front row consisted of Gerry Francis, Ben Hewitt and Phil Cunningham, while the second row was bolstered by the return of Adam Coe and Darren Hall.

The back row was youthful, with in-form flankers Macca Campbell and Matt Sparks, guided by the experienced captain Graham Lusty.

And the back line had a lot of pace about it with vice captain Dan Penn-Newman in his usual shirt at 9 and Toby Bull completing the half backs. Alex Lee was at 12 and Jed Easton took on the 13 to replace injured Jake Dugdale. A back three of Jim Lamont, Will Farthing and Andy Stewart completed the back line.

Romsey started strongly by earning a penalty which Bull drove in to the Bognor half.

From the line-out Mark Sparks carried from deep hard in to the Bognor 22 and the battle for field position began.

For a long period of the first 30 minutes both teams exchanged possession and field position with both packs making yards and the backs probing to find a chink in the defensive lines. Finally the first break came from Bognor, who worked some space and scored in the corner.

Romsey fought back and to win some field position and get a try of their own.

Jim Lamont took a catch deep in Romsey’s half and he ran it up and then chipped his opposite number.

Lamont was blocked on the way to chase his kick but his wing partner Will Farthing was on hand to fly hack the ball away from the Bognor full-back and toward the posts. Farthing then chased down the kick and dropped on it to get a try under the posts, which Bull converted.

This put fire in Romsey’s belly and they continued to push, with the pack dominating the set piece.

But penalties and a greasy ball made for a lot of turn over ball and Bognor capitalised on this by scoring their second try and kicking a penalty before half-time to go into the break with a 17-7 lead.

The second half saw Sam Dawson come on for Phil Cunningham for Romsey.

Bognor took advantage of some ill-discipline from Romsey and got within striking range on the Romsey line.

Romsey held strong for a while but broke in the end and Bognor got over the whitewash for a try that was unconverted.

Romsey pushed back and got down into the Bognor half with a line-out.

Ben Hewitt’s options were covered and Darren Hall somehow found an opening. Taking this chance, Darren broke through and the pack bound on, forcing him up the park 40 metres before Bognor collapsed the maul and gave away another penalty and lost a man to the sin bin.

Romsey took the penalty quickly and used the man overlap.

Quick hands from the backs saw Stewart get close to the line before the final pass made it out to Lamont to slide in the corner.

Bull missed the conversion but Romsey continued to press home the advantage and earned another penalty, which Bull slotted between the sticks.

Romsey continued to push but could not get over the line for the crucial try.

Romsey came close and will hopefully put together the performance to beat this weekend’s opponents, Solent University away. A win there would leap frog Romsey over Team Solent.