The woes continue for Saxon Safety sponsored Andover as they endured a nightmare of an outing away on the South coast last Saturday.

 

Andover made the journey in atrocious conditions with a much changed side and were immediately given a further set back losing Harry Ward to injury in the warm up.

 

Kicking off against howling winds and heavy rain Andover actually played very well in a tight first half.

 

Ball retention was good as was the Andover scrum, where man of the match Stan Pearson was dominant, gave the visitors plenty of ball.

 

At the lineout Tom Waite threw superbly despite the conditions and both Ryan McGealy and Callum Hollinshead were a constant thorn in the Bournemouth side.

 

With skipper Alex Hibdige, Dave Barber and Nic Reed and CJ Feirn all carrying hard as well Andover enjoyed plenty of possession.

 

With a thrown together set of backs however, Andover were always susceptible to the pacey Bournemouth counter attacks and by the time half time was approaching the home side had racked three tries two converted.

 

Undeterred however Andover kept to their game plan with further raids into the Bournemouth twenty two and when good work from Matt Ryan saw Evan Roll finish well in the corner, Andover felt they had literally weathered the storm.

 

It was not to be however as from the restart Andover fielded the ball and were penalised for alleged back chat.

 

From the resultant lineout Bournemouth pressed, but when what seemed a perfectly timed hard tackle by Waite was seen by the referee as dangerous, he saw yellow and Bournemouth increased their lead from a quick tap penalty.

 

Andover lost Ryan McGealy to a rib injury at the break to further their problems.

 

Andover regrouped and with such weather conditions in favour still felt they were in it, but this hope was quickly dispelled when big lock Tom Erskine was shown a red card minutes into the second half in hotly disputed circumstances.

 

His loss didn't deter the Andover scrum however who kept supplying good possession and when Waite returned Andover again looked threatening.

 

A couple of key missed touch kicks didn't help the Andover cause and when Waite was shown a second yellow the game was up for Andover.

 

Andover continued to defend heroically, but with thirteen men the job was too much and when Ryan was also shown a yellow for an offside offence they finally capitulated as Bournemouth scored further tries to run out easy winners.

 

After the game Director of rugby Andy Waite said ' It's been a nightmare week with injury and unavailability, but I cannot praise enough the players who made the journey to play and represented the club with such pride. With Dougie Shaw, Louis Shinton, Callum Barber Starkey, James Wallace and Scott Kay all making huge contributions, skilfully Marshalled by Harvey Maloney, the players can hold their heads high.' 

It doesn't get any easier for Saxon Safety sponsored Andover as they travelled to high flying Farnham last Saturday and once again fell to a sizable defeat.

 

The home side lay second in the league snapping at the heels of leaders Tottonians and were in no mood to let Andover get in the way of their ambition.

 

In truth the two sides were not that far apart and in some areas Andover dominated, but as has happened far too often this season, failing to score when on top and conceding silly tries instead, is allowing teams to get away from them.

 

Over the eighty minutes Andover mostly defended well and with skipper Alex Hibdige  and his front five colleagues in fine form, they dominated the scrum and competed well at the lineout where Callum Hollinshead shone, leading to a lot of possession.

 

But time and again over eagerness and inaccuracy let Andover down in the Farnham twenty two and add to that at least two tries which should not have been from a defensive perspective, and the difference in scoreline is exposed.

 

Man of the match Alex Kane grabbed a brilliant individual reply for Andover to give them hope, but in the end Farnham just kept coming at Andover and although they never really ran away with the game, were able to keep the scoreline ticking, to in the end win by a slightly flattering margin.

 

There were bright spots for Andover in the form of Harvey Maloney, Tommy Lloyd and Bryn Waite, who added pace and quality to the back line but also further injuries to Ioan Gwynne Davies and Roman Barton Knott added to Andover's woes. 

 

Afterwards Director of Rugby Andy Waite said, 'We have had a very difficult run of games against the top sides and we have improved in a lot of areas. This league has now become two leagues and we need to make sure that when we play the sides in and around us, we play as well as we have been against the better sides and we will pick up points. Overall though the club is in good shape with the seconds unbeaten and winning their league after a good win against Tottonians seconds which shows as a club we are making real progress.'

Saxon Safety sponsored Andover welcomed unbeaten league leaders Tottonians to the Goodship ground last Saturday for the first time in seventeen years and once again were left empty handed by some clinical opposition finishing.

 

After an even first half, a fifteen minute spell after the break settled things, when a harsh refereeing call and some ill discipline from Andover, rattled the home side allowing Totts to finally gain the ascendency that they never lost.

 

Playing up the slope the game began well for Andover with Fin Waite winning a penalty from the kick off after a high tackle.

 

Soon after they took the lead from a Matt Ryan penalty awarded when the Andover front five dominated the first scrum.

 

Totts then got an opportunity to come back at Andover and after some phases they found the space to score out wide.

 

The Andover forwards continued to dominate the scrum and when Waite struck against the head despite having slope against, Andover felt they had some real traction in the game.

 

On 25 minutes however Totts kicked to the corner from a penalty and from the catch and drive Andover succumbed for the first time in four matches in this manner.

 

Undeterred Andover continued to pressure Totts and got their reward when giant Lock Tom Erskine crashed over for a try from a lineout, well converted by Ryan.

 

Andover then lost Callum Barber Starkey to a nasty looking head injury and to compound matters then conceded again after failing to clear their lines.

 

At the break Andover were ten points adrift and felt they were right in the game with slope in favour and for the first ten minutes of the half it seemed that way. After a penalty from a catch and drive Andover elected to scrum and again Totts were penalised. 

 

Andover scrummaged again but this time the referee awarded a penalty to Totts and as the feeling of injustice led to ill discipline Totts were able to get back up the filed and take control.

 

Even a yellow card for the visitors could not get Andover back on track and as they imploded Totts raced away with three more tries.

 

Andover responded with a fine try from skipper Alex Hibdige after good work at the lineout from man of the match Callum Hollinshead but it was never enough as Totts scored again to complete what in the end was a comfortable victory.

 

Afterwards Director of Rugby Andy Waite said 'It's very frustrating because we are in many ways nearly there. Considering they are unbeaten at the top there was not much difference between the sides for much of the game and we dominated in certain areas. Even with the injury and unavailability we have, the lads who are coming in are doing really well, it's just that bit of street craft at times that we need to learn.'

Saxon Safety sponsored Andover made the long journey to Chichester last Saturday for their first ever league game against the Sussex club, and despite a topsy turvey performance managed to come away with a valuable bonus point.

 

Played in perfect conditions Andover were caught with a sucker punch from the start where lack of concentration led to a first minute opener for the home side.

 

Andover recovered well however and just six minutes later drew level when man of the match Ryan McGealy caught a lineout and put Tom Erskine in for a try well converted by Matt Ryan.

 

Andover continued to press and were rewarded with a penalty in front for a high tackle, but the referee strangely reversed his decision and Chichester accepted the let off to punish Andover with a try as Andover's kicking game began to cause them issues.

 

On 35 minutes another loose kick and poor chase led to a counter for Chichester to stretch the lead but just moments later Ryan was again successful with a penalty to put Andover back in range.

 

From the resulting kick off however Andover were caught out not clearing a simple opportunity, an error which gave them a mountain to climb in the second half.

 

Andover did give it a real go after the break however enjoying lots of possession from scrum and lineout, where the throwing of Fin Waite was excellent. Callum Barber Starkey was again superb around the park and Stanley North was proving to be a menace in midfield.

 

After fifteen minutes Ryan again narrowed the deficit with a further penalty, but just when Andover looked like they could really get back into it they were again caught napping by a counter, and soon after an error at a lineout saw the home side stretch their lead further.

 

Andover now knew what they had to do to get anything from the game and they set about the task well.

 

Skipper Alex Hibdige charged down a clearance to give Andover their second try, again converted by Ryan, and although Chichester struck again as Andover took more chances, the adventurous spirit soon paid off.

 

From a tap penalty the superb CJ Feirn smashed through the defence for an all important third try to give Andover a shot at a bonus point.  

 

Chichester did score again but were now largely on the back foot trying hard not to allow Andover the prize they were after, but 'The All Blacks' had other ideas.   

 

From another excellent catch and drive Andover went through the phases and after an excellent carry form Nic Reed, Ioan Gwynne Davies fed Stan North and the mighty centre powered over to give Andover the point they thoroughly deserved.

 

Afterwards Director of Rugby Andy Waite said ' Of course we are disappointed overall because this was a game we felt we could get more from, but we did show some terrific spirit and we are starting to score more tries which shows progress. We will work hard again in training this week to address a couple of areas of our performance, but in the end this bonus points like this are vital and we managed the situation well.'

Saxon Safety sponsored Andover produced their best performance of the season so far, to pull off a shock home win against high flying Petersfield.

 

The visitors came into the game unbeaten and as highly fancied title contenders.

 

But despite having comfortably beaten Andover on both occasions they met last term, it was a very different outfit that greeted them at the Goodship ground last Saturday, as Andover showed an intensity and desire that has been missing in the last three games.

 

Playing down the slope in front of a large noisy crowd, Andover showed attacking intent straight away going through phases and making inroads with ball in hand.

 

In defence they were secure with Evan Roll and CJ Feirn to the fore, but one worrying sign early on was a creaking scrum which Feirn did superbly to manage throughout the game.

 

On ten minutes good work from Alex Kane led to a high tackle and gave the returning Matt Ryan a chance to give Andover the lead, but his kick was just wide.

 

Three minutes later however Andover did take the lead. Tom Erskine drove for the line from a loose lineout and when his offload found Callum Barber Starkey, the all action man of the match flanker needed no second bidding, with Ryan this time successful from wide out.

 

Andover looked good for the lead but on twenty minutes a high tackle saw Roll yellow carded. Andover were a player short but weathered the ten minutes well until just before its conclusion when a poor exit from defence gave Petersfield a counter attacking chance that they took neatly to level the scores.

 

Restored to full strength Andover's ferocious defence unsettled the visitors, with Barber Starkey, Tom Waite and Dave Barber all making huge hits. 

 

As a result the Petersfield attack looked unusually ragged and after the impressive Bryn Waite had twice been unlucky with interception chances, Mitch Needham thought he'd have a go and the star fullback sprinted the length of the pitch to restore the Andover lead with Ryan again converting.

 

Before the break Ryan landed another penalty and Andover went in 17-7 to the good.

 

In the second half James Fleet replaced Roll and with slope against Andover expected an onslaught against them. It never really materialised however as Feirn, Barber Starkey and Ryan McGealy continued to win the back row battle. 

 

The Andover scrum just about did enough to keep most of their ball and with the lineout much more secure of late skipper Alex Hibdidge and his men dug in. Ryan's boot kept giving Andover territory and in the end a high tackle gave him another successful penalty shot as Petersfield saw yellow.

 

With Stan North and Ioan Gwynne Davies orchestrating defence and attack in the midfield, Andover looked increasingly dangerous and a great move involving Tom Waite and Needham, Bryn Waite was tackled just short.

 

A mix up by Petersfield at the resultant lineout however saw giant lock Barber dived over for a decisive try again converted by Ryan.

 

Andover brought on the fresh legs of Callum Hollinshead and Fin Waite.

 

With ten to go as expected Petersfield threw everything at Andover and despite more brave defence in the end Andover could not hold out and

the visitors  scored a good converted try, to trail by thirteen with five minutes to go.

 

Andover did not sit back and created two penalty chances of their own, but instead of kicking them to kill the game decided to go for a bonus point try.  The high risk strategy did not work and Petersfield broke with a length of the pitch try, which crucially was not converted leaving them still two scores adrift.

 

With moments left this meant Petersfield could not realistically score twice, but could still get two bonus point of their own. Andover were having none of it however and when a late surge saw the ball held up over the line after another huge defensive set involving Nic Reed Andover gratefully kicked the ball into touch and the celebrations began.

 

Afterwards Director of Rugby Andy Waite said 'We have trained really hard during the week off and really sorted out a couple of areas of weakness and it showed today. The challenge for us is to now carry that intensity forward week in week out. We had some outstanding performances today from many players, personified I think by Barber Starkey and Fiern who were relentless.' 

A much changed Saxon Safety sponsored Andover made the trip down the A303 to Gillingham last Saturday for a game between two of the basement clubs in the division, but came away empty handed despite an improved showing in many areas.

 

As well as injury and unavailability Andover made a couple of tactical changes for this one, with the inclusion of CJ Feirn and Callum Hollinshead in the back row and the return of the influential Alex Kane to the back line.

 

Despite arriving late after a difficult journey, Andover actually started brightly with Tommy Lloyd looking sharp. The scrum looked solid but 

from the outset the lineout was under pressure.

 

On twelve minutes after a spell of pressure Alex Arter broke from a ruck and fed Jake Dixon for a lovely try well converted from out wide by Harrison Pape to give Andover a deserved lead.

 

Andover continued to do well but discipline was an issue as too many penalties were conceded giving away field position.

 

After twenty two minutes North Dorset made them pay. From a catch and drive Dorset not only scored but giant lock Dave Barber was adjudged to have dropped the maul and yellow carded. 

 

The Andover scrum began to struggle and the home side sensed they were on top and soon scored a second try.

 

Andover tried to rally and with Barber restored and gave Dorset some problems, but then came a moment which gave the home side control.

 

Pape was clearly taken out in the air under a high ball which would surely have led to a penalty and yellow card for them, but play was waved on, and frustratingly from an Andover perspective it was they that were penalised. Once again Dorset capitalised to stretch the lead and before the break repeated the dose.

 

In the second half Andover played with more freedom and belief and looked like a side who wanted to play rugby. 

 

Defence was also improved, but again a yellow card to the lively Mitch Needham didn't help.

 

Dorset increased their lead, but Andover were not done. 

 

Ryan McGealy finished off a great spell of pressure after good carries by Kane, Feirn and Stan Pearson and Andover sniffed some redemption.

 

North Dorset tried to kill them off, but Needham now back on the pitch led an incredible counter.

 

Stan North broke superbly, interchanged with Needham, and Kane before setting the impressive Pape in for a try that he again converted well.

 

Andover could sense at least bonus points were possible but again small errors cost them. They looked good and dominated possession but in the end conceded a penalty for the home side to complete their win.

 

After the game Director of Rugby Andy Waite said ' We are looking for improvements in every game and today there were some. We looked after the ball much better and as a result looked much more dangerous going forwards. We have to keep going, work on our weaknesses and keep learning.' 

It was another poor day for Saxon Safety sponsored Andover last Saturday as they suffered defeat against near neighbours Newbury in the first ever league meeting between the clubs.

 

Newbury came to the Goodship having lost their own opening two fixtures giving the 'All Blacks' hope that they could inflict more pain on them, but in the end it was the visitors who landed the vital blows.

 

Andover, behind a dominant scrum and efficient lineout enjoyed lots of possession and spent long spells in the Newbury 22, it was therefore even more frustrating that too often good field position was wasted by some familiar errors.

 

Both sides looked nervous in the opening exchanges but Newbury took advantage of some poor positional play to score a converted try from a grubber kick.

 

Andover came back strongly with their scrum and lineout starting to function despite playing up the slope, but it was to no avail when an interception allowed Newbury off the hook.

 

Four minutes later Andover were caught again and the visitors increased their lead.

 

Andover stayed calm and fought their way back up field with some powerful carries from Nic Reed and Jake Dixon and looked dangerous. But time and again the final pass let them down or a ball was dropped and Newbury again made them pay.

 

In a rare attack they forced a goal line drop out and as Andover fluffed their lines, Newbury accepted the gift gratefully.  

 

Andover looked in trouble but they soon had Newbury on the rack again. Skipper Alex Hibdige and big second row Dave Barber were outstanding as Andover camped in the Newbury 22 with a series of scrums and lineouts, but again they could not get over the whitewash as Newbury  defended well.

 

As Newbury cleared however, Andover won a line out in midfield and when stand off Mitch Needham chipped through the race to the line was on. 

 

Needham sprinted through and hacked again before scooping up the ball to score under the posts. The referee awarded the penalty try and a Newbury yellow card in the process, spotting an early tackle as Needham crossed the line.

 

Soon after, good work from Harvey Maloney and CJ Feirn gave Andover good field position and once again they pressed. A loose pass however again went to ground and Newbury made it to the break with no further damage.

 

In the second half Andover felt they were in with a real chance going down the slope and indeed dominated possession. For fifteen minutes they hammered the Newbury defence, but it stood firm and on the counter the visitors made Andover pay with two further tries.

 

Andover to their credit continued to work hard with Bryn Waite doing well in the air and man of the match Stan North finally getting some ball to go on some powerful runs.

 

Harrison Pape also began to make inroads counter attacking from full back. Then from a ruck, hooker Alex Arter sprinted through a gap and fed Ioan Gwynne Davies to score a fine try converted by Pape.

 

Andover continued to press hoping for at least a bonus point, but in the end try as they might Newbury held them out and then put the game to bed with another try to seal things.

 

After the game Director of Rugby Andy Waite said 'It was another disappointing day, but we showed some signs of improvement. We could have got something from this one which was not the case last week and we had lots of possession. We just need to keep working on a few things that must be done better at this level. Injury and absence are not helping cohesion but the players are trying very hard to put things right.' 

It was a disappointing afternoon and a real wake up call for Saxon Safety sponsored Andover at Winchester last Saturday, as the home side came away with a comprehensive victory. 

 

Winchester are expected to be pushing for the top spot this season, having invested heavily in their squad and they gave the new boys a lesson in accuracy and discipline, especially in the second half.

 

It wasn't all doom and gloom however, as particularly for the first half an hour Andover made a real fight of it with Bryn Waite looking sharp throughout at the lineout and around the park and CJ Feirn leading from the front in midfield.

 

Indeed Andover took an early lead through Roman Barton Knott after great work by Ioan Gwynne Davies and with scrums and lineouts even both sides had a spell of attacking each other and creating chances.

 

Winchester drew level through a catch and drive after a penalty awarded at scrum time and as Andover lost prop Samson Earle at the same time Winchester gained a little more traction. 

 

To compound matters the resultant kick off was poorly executed by Andover and as Winchester countered they were given the freedom of the field to run in their second try in a minute.

 

Undeterred Andover roared back with a sparkling counter attack involving Waite, Stan North and Mitch Needham, but just as they looked certain to score, the final pass went to ground and Winchester survived.

 

They soon made Andover pay for their generosity scoring a second catch and drive, but Andover still looked in it. Tommy Lloyd looked bright and Ryan Mcgealy was tireless around the park.

 

But Andover then received a yellow card for a high tackle by Jake Dixon and the loss of his physical presence was soon felt. 

 

Winchester again went for the corner and were again successful with their drive, but Andover still felt they could come back. 

 

In the last play of the half however Andover once again made a silly error when all they needed to do was kick the ball out and Winchester went in with a commanding lead.

 

In the second half, try as they might, Andover could not get back into the game and struggled against an increasingly confident home side.

 

Callum Hollinshead and Evan Roll entered the fray and both provided bright spots for Andover, but in the end it became a rout as the team tired and Winchester were able to give the score an unrealistic feel in a difficult last ten minutes for the visiting side.

 

After the game Director of Rugby Andy Waite said ' You learn a lot about your side and it's character on days like this and what is important for us is how we react. Even today we showed at times we can play at this level and we have to focus on that and take it forward. We must also quickly learn though, that silly errors and lack of discipline will be punished ruthlessly and we have to concentrate more on looking after the ball, being more confident in what we do in attack and manage the game better.'