3rd XV Match Report
Andover 7 - Eastleigh II 39 - Reports Chris Cutler
Andover played host to a strong Eastleigh II side, who have lost only one game all season, knowing that they were in for a bruising encounter.
Andover kicked off and from the start knew what they were up against as the visitors moved the ball out wide to use their young, fast backline. As usual, the home side started slowly allowing Eastleigh to score two quick tries and take an early lead. Andover then woke up and stout defence by the centres, Morgan and Salkeld and wingers Foxwell and Earle started to put pressure on the Eastleigh backs.
The game was evenly poised for the remainder of the half but Eastleigh did manage to break the home side’s defensive line twice more before the half time whistle.
The second half proved to be a much closer competition with the home side showing its usual grit and determination. The Andover front five started to dominate the scrums and the back row of Worle, Vandervelt and Barlow caused havoc in the loose.
The pressure finally paid off when Eastleigh had to commit numbers to the ruck to try and stem the Andover forwards attack. This left an overlap in the backs which Snell exploited brilliantly throwing a miss pass to Foxwell who had a clear run to the line. Rogers completed the conversion.
Andover then gave away a soft try from the restart. The final twenty minutes was played at a frenetic pace with the sides evenly matched. With fifteen minutes to go a player from each side was yellow carded for an indiscretion. This left a hole in the Andover backline which Eastleigh exploited to score another try. Eastleigh managed to score one more try before the final whistle.
The game was fought with no quarter given by either side and despite the final score of 39–7 to the visiting side Andover once again showed their fighting spirit to the end.
ScorersTries: Foxwell
Cons: Rogers
Pen: