Demolition derby as Trojans thrash Totts (From Daily Echo)

Demolition derby as Trojans thrash Totts

4:58pm Tuesday 1st March 2011 in Rugby By Clive Downton

Trojans’ promotion push took a massive step forward at the weekend when they walloped local rivals Tottonians.

Now, snatching the league title could even be on for the ambitious club after other results at the top of the table went their way.

Recent form indicated Trojans would get the better of Totts for the first time at London 2 South-West level and they did that in style, winning the battle in just about every department on the field.

They ran in seven tries to give themselves a five-point 49-11 victory at Stoneham Lane – but that was not the only bonus of the day.

Leaders Guernsey, who entertain Trojans on the last day of the season, lost out at Old Reigatian and second-placed Guildford slipped up at home to Effingham & Leatherhead.

‘Tremendous’ Coach Barry Bridgman said: “That was a tremendous performance today, we had two players unavailable and the two who came in were superb, it was totally seamless.

“We knew we had to stop Robbie Searle from kicking goals so we had to cut off his supply of kickable penalties and we did, our discipline was good, we knew we didn’t want to keep running into their midfield so we ran round them and it worked.

“I am very, very pleased, it is a long, long time since Trojans won against Totts at first team level and its nice to be the coach who ended the drought.

“It’s also a good feeling to be the fourth best team in Hampshire at the moment, something I think the boys deserve.”

Trojans hit Totts hit early and were 13-0 ahead after 13 minutes with a Jobi Kochanowski penalty and tries from Mark Greenhalgh and Ollie Johnson. Greenhalgh helped increase the lead to 20-3 when crossed the line just before the break.

Tottonians had a chance to put their mark on the game when they were inches from the Trojans line just seconds into the restart. But they failed to take their chance and the confident Stoneham Lane side punished them for it, rattling in another five tries with Rudi Kochanowski and Elliott Culley getting two each.

Totts’ consolation score came from Nick Jones five minutes from time.

Tottonians coach Gavin Williams said: “Naturally the boys are disappointed after losing a derby like that. Trojans have improved significantly and you have to give the players and coaches due credit.”

Delighted Trojans chairman Shaun Magill said: “We have to think about promotion now, we have to be in with a real shout. If we play like that in Guernsey we really will be knocking on the door.”