Lewis Murray kicks a conversion for Vectis. Picture by Jennifer Burton.
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RUGBYUnder-15s: Vectis 7, Fareham Heathens 13
UNBEATEN Fareham were made to fight every inch of the way before clinching the Hampshire League Division 2 title.
They came up against a resilient Vectis, who had Heathens on the back foot from the start, and were unlucky not to score after Wightlink forwards man of the match Keith Wallace was held up on the try line.
Against the run of play, Fareham went ahead with a penalty kick but straight away Vectis created chances to go over and eventually did so after some great work in the back line, particularly from BAE Systems backs man of the match Ben Buckingham, who help to construct Robbie Southwell’s try after some neat work and a handoff from Will Marsh.
Lewis Murray duly converted to give the home side a deserved 7-3 half time lead.
Fareham came out in the second half with a point to prove and went over after a powerful run to take the lead.
Unluckily, Murray hit the upright from a long-range penalty kick, which would have put Vectis back in front.
The away side then spent ten minutes trying to break Vectis’s formidable defence and eventually did so with an overlap to extend their lead.
It was nip and tuck for the remainder of the game with good runs from Fretwell and Robinson unable to penetrate the excellent Fareham defence.
At the final whistle the fans of both sides deservedly applauded the effort of the teams and Heathens were congratulated after their game for their title-winning victory.
Vectis: Clarke, Penner, Wallace, Ridley, Gadd, Bilton, Murray, Overton, Gregory, Jones, Law, Hatch; Nicolson, Robinson, Buckingham, Southwell, Marsh, Tutt, Fretwell, Marriott.
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