Mixed feelings for Bridgman's Gosport & Fareham

Gosport & Fareham had mixed feelings after losing 39-18 against Cobham in London one south at Gosport Park on Saturday.
Gosport & Fareham's Rhys Bingham is dragged into touch. Picture: Keith Woodland (170198-187)Gosport & Fareham's Rhys Bingham is dragged into touch. Picture: Keith Woodland (170198-187)
Gosport & Fareham's Rhys Bingham is dragged into touch. Picture: Keith Woodland (170198-187)

Barry Bridgman saw good and bad in the home side’s performance.

‘To get within 21 points of a team who are in fifth place in the table was better than we have been doing against the top sides,’ said the head coach.

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‘But the players were disappointed afterwards because they felt they could have done better.

‘We went 10 points up early on and then conceded a couple of soft tries.

‘In the second half our tackling let us down and we conceded another three tries in nine minutes.’

Wing forward Will Larkin gave Gosport a dream start with an early try, which was converted by Tom Lewis.

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The two sides swapped penalties and Lewis knocked over another kick before half-time.

Wayne Dugan bustled his way over the line for a try at the start of the second period to bring his side back within two points of the visitors at 20-18.

But that was as good as it got for the hosts as the visitors powered away after to win comfortably.

In Hampshire one, Fareham Heathens powered to a 21-8 win at Chineham.

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Southsea Nomads captain Ben Horrod praised the hard work of his side – despite them suffering a 40-25 home defeat against Southampton in Hampshire two.

The lads put in a real shift and possibly played some of their best rugby of the season,’ said the skipper.

‘Up until the 65th minute the game remained close but then our physical efforts started to show.

‘Even though Southampton surged ahead, the team refused to give up.

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‘The reward for that was scoring our fourth bonus-point try with the last play of the game.

‘Our forwards were great and completely dominated up front to give the backs a good platform.’

The home side started strongly and in their first visit to the Southampton twenty-two Josh Tetaur burst through three tackles to score a try.

Horrod converted but an interception try allowed the visitors back into the game.

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The captain added a penalty but Southampton led 15-10 at half-time.

In the second half, Nomads added further tries through scrum-half Dan Crabb, Joe Beale and debut-making full-back Will Baxendall.

Also in Hampshire two, Locks Heath Pumas went down to a 35-15 defeat at Fawley.