Berkshire 28 – 20  Sussex

A new look Sussex side went close to upsetting the odds

A new look Sussex side went close to upsetting the odds in their opening fixture of the RFU County Shield Competition at Reading RFC on Saturday.

Fielding 13 debutants in the 22 man squad, including new centre and second row partnerships, the entire bench and one player, Martin O’Callaghan who was called in at lunchtime of the game due to an extremely late ‘ no show’, they fronted up and matched their hosts in all departments.

Berkshire had not won a county fixture for over six years, but had approached this season with a new vigour. They had numerous squad training sessions, picked from a position of strength, particularly loading the side with representatives from Bracknell and were therefore seen as favourites.

Early exchanges were even, but it was Berkshire who made greater inroads and blew an excellent opportunity when the backs over complicated a simple passing move resulting in Yates dropping the ball with the line at his mercy. It wasn’t long though before the hosts made amends. On 12 minutes, fly half, Shaun Franklin linked with his back row to score a simple try, which was duly converted by Jervis Manupenu.

The score seemed to stir Sussex into life. The visitors dominated the rest of the half. Fine forward play by the pack and quick hands from backs, constantly drove Berks back into their own half.  On 20 minutesFull back Rob Jackson made the score 7 – 3 with a sweetly struck drop goal.

Shortly after, Haywards Heath’s Alex Harle stole away at the back of the line out to gallop in unopposed. Dave Sweeney converted to put the visitors six points clear, but this was reduced to three just before half time when Manupenu kicked a penalty following the harsh sin binning of Ross Fairburn.

Berkshire took further advantage of Fairburn’s ten-minute absence right at the beginning of the second half, when replacement Will Clarke finished off a simple back row move and went over for a try.

With only two points in it, neither team could inflict dominance on their opponents. In an effort to gain the upper hand, there then followed a period of numerous rolling substitutions. This is a new experiment introduced by the RFU. Each side can make up to 12 replacements within a match, allowing players, ala American Football, to come off for a short while, but return at a later stage.

A further penalty stretched the lead for the home side, until Sussex took advantage of a period pressure and O’Callaghan was duly rewarded by crashing over for a well-worked try. Sweeney converted.

At 18 – 20 ahead with less than 15 minutes to play, this looked like it was going to be an excellent scalp, but to Berkshire’s credit, they pressed and a tiring Sussex side were breached on two occasions in the closing minutes by the home side’s outstanding centre, captain Stewart Mackay from Bracknell. Mackay was the difference between the two sides. He gave Sussex problems all afternoon.

In spite of this defeat, the Sussex coaching team were extremely proud of this fine all round team effort. There were impressive performances from debutants 41-year-old Nick Shopland of Chichester and Lewes’ Sam Hutchinson. More experienced team members lead from the front including man of the match Alex Harle. Sam Beckett and Captain Pat Shannahan, who was unlucky not to score when, having moved from flanker to centre made a clean break, only to be hauled down feet from the line when his side were leading into the final quarter.

This was a promising start and Sussex are not out of it by any means. The side showed great character and team spirit. The small mistakes in tactics and decisions making will be ironed out in the next couple of weeks, starting with a visit to Aylesbury RFC on Saturday to plat Buckinghamshire.

Team: Jackson (Haywards Heath), Hutchinson (Lewes),  Fariburn (Chicesheter),  Castleton (Bognor), Sweeney (Bognor), Toone (Bognor), Beckett (Haywards Heath)  Jenkins (Haywards Heath), Watton (Heathfield)  Parker (Haywards Heath), Blount (Chichester),  Harle (Haywards Hetah),  Shannahan (Haywards Hetah) Capt., Ben Pohill (Chichester). Replacements: Cooley (Hethafield),  Giddings (Chichester), Stickland (Bognor), Shopland (chichester), Taylor (Haywards Heath) Tom Pohill (Chichester), O’Callaghan (Chicheter)

Scorers:
Tries: Harle, O‘Callaghan
Conv: Sweeney x 2
Pen: Sweeney
Drop: Jackson