If there were any neutral rugby spectators at Portsmouth's Hilsea ground this was a wonderful afternoon's display. For Portsmouth and Cobham this was a 'must win' fixture and their respective spectators witnessed their sides playing rugby that was, alternatively, exhilarating and exasperating in equal measure with a truly nail biting finale.
The match proved to be an Accountant and Statistician's dream with 77 points including 9 tries ( 5 for Cobham 4 for Portsmouth ) 7 conversions and 6 penalties. 40 points scored in the first 40 minutes and a further 37 in the second half and a final score line that left the sides just one try apart. A try that was so near but as we shall see ultimately so far away for Cobham.
It didn't augur well for the Cobham team that their names appeared in the programme under a Guernsey team name who had been Pompey’s last home opposition which they won 36-22. It certainly didn't get any better when Cobham allowed Portsmouth, in front of their enthusiastic supporters, to gain the upper hand by scoring a converted try in the first two minutes and adding two penalties in the next 15 minutes to go 13-0 ahead.
Cobham have used 39 players in 10 games this Season (51 in the whole of last Season) and there were debuts this time for Colin Webster as inside centre and Ryan Saunders on the wing. They continue to bring the average age of the team down and the other 'Young Guns' playing were also making their mark as Cobham finally began to settle and began their incursions into the Portsmouth half. It was whilst they were enjoying some territorial advantage that Doug Rodman broke from the back of the scrum, one of many such breaks during the afternoon, to feed Rob Kennard for a try in the corner 13-5.
This was swiftly followed by Cobham being allowed to play advantage of a penalty, in their attempts to drive over the line, for prop George Donoghue to secure his second try in successive matches. 13-10 became 13-12 with Ashton's conversion and we now had the close contest that the teams' respective league positions had promised.
Having allowed Cobham into the game Portsmouth's back line came storming through to exploit an overlap and put winger Patrick Bion in for their second try 18-12. The lead was further extended when Kevin Fisher was adjudged to have caused an infringement (resultinjg in a yellow card) and the successful penalty made it 21-12.
As was to become the norm for this match Cobham immediately took play back down to Portsmouth half and secured their third try as Sears and Nunn combined for another driven over score. Ashton converting to make the half time score 21-19.
Cobham started the second half still down to 14 men and Portsmouth capitalised when their skipper Greg Hoolihan, belying his front row position, caught a cross kick like a centre and score a converted try 28-19. To compound Cobham's problems they then lost Webster and Nunn to injuries, bringing on Moreton and Andy Alexander from the sub's bench but within minutes another forward driven maul saw Dave Baker go over for the bonus point 4th try, which Ashton in turn converted 28-26.
Then the moment the Cobham supporters had awaited, moving into the lead for the first time with Guy Sears scoring his first try which Ashton converted 28-33. A penalty for obstruction for Portsmouth 31-33 was followed by a missed penalty but their backs then put together a powerful line move that saw another try ( their 4th ), in the corner but very well converted to make it 38-33.
There was still ten minutes left when Ashton secured a Cobham penalty 38-36 only for it to be cancelled out by the last score of the match a fifth penalty for Portsmouth 41-36.
With the clock ticking down and Cobham camped literally on the Portsmouth line they were adjudged to have been held up, not once, but twice and the final whistle was blown. The 41-41 final score, that no one would have argued with, was not to be. 2 points for Cobham 5 points to Portsmouth put them level in the league but with Cobham still looking to break their losing run against Thanet next weekend.
1stxv Squad
1. Richard Nunn
2. Paul Mayer
3.George Donoghue
4.Guy Sears
5.Billy Davison
6.James Green
7.Dave Baker
8.Doug Rodman
9.Rob Kennard
10.Arran Cowell (Captain)
11.Billy Bates
12.Colin Webster
13.Kevin Fisher
14.Ryan Saunders
15. Owen Ashton
16. Andy Alexander
17. Julian Kunkler
18. Chris Moreton
Tries
Richard Nunn 1
George Donoghue 1
Guy Sears 1
Dave Baker 1
Rob Kennard 1
Conversions
Owen Ashton 4
Penalties
Owen Ashton 1
