Sun 6 Oct 2024
Frome RFC Academy 43 - 07 New Milton RFC Colts
Report by James Newbery
The Frome RFC Academy welcomed New Milton RFC, from the South Coast to The Lane on Sunday 6th October for the second round National Cup Fixture. Straight from the kick off, Toby Cassidy caught and passed into Archie Coleman who gassed the defence to find space; then passed unselfishly inside to Cassidy to finish for a 5-0 score line.
In response, there was a brief attack from New Milton, but it was shut down by Captain Bryn Lewis and Seb Smith. Defence turned into attack, Fin Van Gorph put Lewis into a gap, a great barrelling run from the Centre took the ball into New Milton’s half.
Ten minutes in, two dominant scrums from Frome put pressure on the away side. The try line was in sight for the away side, but Lewis jackled to release pressure.
Minutes later, Cam Vince fed Van Gorph, with quick ball, as Frome attacked down the blindside. A great cross field, from the Frome Fly-half, was narrowly missed into touch.
After long delay following an injury to the away side, Frome attacked at scrum time, Harry Greenwood picked up and offloaded. The ball hit the floor, but the loose ball was picked up and the backs spun wide. Zach Sibley finished well from close range for a 10-0 lead.
After twenty minutes, strong carrying from Ollie Andrews and Ewan Cox in midfield made an incision. But the ball was turned over, New Milton attacked and scored under posts.
Moments before half time, New Milton had a defensive line out on their own line. The ball was tapped down and Greenwood pounced and dived over the line to score. He added the extra’s, to his own try. The half time score was 17-7.
HT: Frome RFC 17 - 7 New Milton RFC
The second half began with early pressure for the home-side. They were twice denied a try at close quarters by good defence, with huge carries from Cox and Nick Powell.
With two minutes gone, Archie Pearn dived onto loose ball, he darted in and out of five defenders, before the defence cleared.
Frome were dominant in the pack, but unfortunately the game fell to uncontested scrums, as the away could no longer field a front row due to injury.
Despite this dominance, there was five minutes of away side attack. Strong defence followed and another jackle for Lewis. Will Sharpe kicked deep and in the next attack, Kayden Henley stole ball on floor.
With Frome in the ascendancy, a clean line out gave scrum half Alfie Newbery space, he sent a bullet pass to Sharpe. He popped inside to Lewis, who swerved and finished a brilliant try, from his own half. The lead was now 24-7.
More loose ball followed, Frome were in total control, Pearn found space, Cassidy took the ball and stepped inside to score powerfully out wide. Greenwood got the extras from out wide.
With ten minutes left to play, after dominating multiple breakdowns, Andrew’s picked from the next ruck to crash over, to make the score 38-7.
After a huge run in the loose from Greenwood, which took the ball deep into New Milton territory. Lightening hands from Newbery to Sharpe followed, and Rufus Phelps was in space. The flanker stepped inside and finished for last act of game.
FT: Frome RFC 43 - 07 New Milton RFC
Players of the Match were Harry Greenwood and Bryn Lewis.
A 43-7 win for Frome, meaning the route to Twickenham is still alive.
The home side would like to wish New Milton RFC well for the remainder of the season.
