EASTLEIGH won
the Gales Hants
Plate sponsored by
Fullers Brewery in
a hard-fought game
with Farnborough
at Bishopstoke.
The visitors were runners-
up last season and
fought tenaciously to avoid
being bridesmaids again,
only to succumb 15-8.
The game was played in
a biting wind, making
handling difficult, and both
sideswere better in defence
than co-ordinated attack.
Eastleigh attacked from
the start and a driving
maul soon set up a position
near the line.
After five minutes of
continuous pressure,
Andy Dowan drove them
back with a well-struck
clearance, only for a great
tackle by Paul Fudio, who
had a tremendous game,
to put the home side on
the attack again.
With their pack in charge
of the set-piece, Eastleigh
mounted a move from the
halfway. Pete Noonan fed
Dave Craddock, who offloaded
in the tackle, and
Rich O'Donnell raced to
the line before finding the
supporting Wayne Hayward
to score with ease.
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They came close to increasing
the lead when a
driving maul led by Mark
Donaghue went close to
the line and Mick Holmes
was held up just short. A
penalty was conceded and
Farnborough survived.
Having wind advantage
in the second half,
Eastleigh looked to build
their lead but, from a
line-out five metres out,
the ball was blown off line
in the wind and Farnborough
cleared to the 22.
This time, a clean take
got the Eastleigh linemoving
and, despite a pass
going to ground backwards,
Noonan gathered
and fed Hayward on the
burst, and he powered his
way over for a fine try. Tim
Liston converted.
Farnborough continued
to compete but a line-out
steal and break by Nick
Mucci kept them in their
own half.
The visitors' scrum was
disrupting the Eastleigh
heel and Sean Hayes was
struggling to get the ball
away, but his valiant
tackling round the edges
stopped Farnborough
making progress.
At last, a good ball gave
Noonan space and his
long kick was chased
down by Fudio. A penalty
was forced and Liston converted
from wide out.
By now the wind had
veered to across the pitch,
which made lineout
throwing less fraught.
Russ Smith made a fine
catch on the Farnborough
ball, Paul Taylor made an
excellent tackle from the
back of the lineout and the
pressure was kept up.
Rich O'Donnell ran well
out of defence and, from
hid kick ahead, Wayne
Rawlins made a wonderful
tackle on the full-back
to put play in their 22.
Eastleigh gave away a
penalty for not releasing
in midfield were then
taken back 10 to a position
fromwhichDowan kicked
a good penalty.
Eastleigh nerves started
to jangle when a scrum
was taken against the head
andAlanAngell raced away
from the cover to score.
But, thanks to some
great defending, Eastleigh
were able to hang on for
the final whistle.
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