Tottonians 69 Andover 24 – report

by Richard Isaacs | Feb 16, 2025 | Senior Rugby

Tottonians produced an 11-try demolition on struggling Andover at Water Lane to win 69-24 but there was still a sense of ‘what was left on the park’ despite the comprehensive victory.

TOTTONIANS 69 ANDOVER 24
Water Lane, Totton
Saturday 15th February 2025
Regional 2 South Central – match 18

The game was effectly over after the first half as Tottonians put on a show to shun their doubters after last week’s disappointment, playing out some intelligent and, most of all patient, passages of play that caused the Hampshire All Blacks all manner of trouble.

The home side could have scored twice within the opening three minutes only for a penalty and, after a line-out steal, Alex Robinson’s incisive burst through midfield was fumbled in the 22 and the danger cleared.

But the play remained firmly in the Andover half and, seven minutes in, came the first try. Andover were caught holding on at the 10 metre mark and a superb kick to touch from Rich Colmer, playing in his more familiar number 10 position in the 1st XV for the first time since September 2019 took Totts five metres out.

A catch and drive was set up and, as the hosts went through the phases peppering the Andover line, the ball was spread into midfield where Jamie Laing sprinted through at speed to open the scoring. Colmer made no mistake with the extras.

Totts came close again on 11 minutes when Cam Flint’s excellent break took his side into the 22 once more and swift handling spread the ball out wide but Dylan Kirk wasn’t quite able to get the finish with Andover knocking on the loose ball.

From the subsequent scrum though, Totts made no mistake. Again, they went through the phases, Tom Tully taking the ball back to the left and it was left to prop Bruno Nascimbene to power over next to the posts. Colmer added the conversion.

Try number three followed quickly afterwards. A clever bit of patience from Laing sized up the options and a typically rumbling run from Flint allowed Colmer to flick the ball inside to Tully and he ran in from the 22 for 21-0 at the midway point of the half.

The bonus point was collected within the first 26 minutes and it came from a rare Andover attack which broke down with a penalty concession. Colmer’s kick to touch took Totts to half way and the catch and drive set up more good phase play and it was Nic Jansen – sporting a pink moustache in support of Rugby Against Cancer – that drove over the line.

Just two minutes later and it was a repeat of the previous score. A line-out set up possession in midfield and the ball was swung out to the left where Leo Tongue found plenty of space to cross with Colmer failing to add the extras for the first time.

Andover finally got themselves on the board after 33 minutes following a good attack from the restart. Totts’ defence had held firm until they conceded a penalty which was kicked to touch. A clever quick take to the front let their hooker go in at the corner.

Normal service was resumed shortly afterwards though. A scrum was won in midfield and a superb drive allowed the backs to be released. A delightfully weighted pass from Alex Robinson released full-back Jamie Laing who scythed through unopposed and Colmer hit the conversion with ease.

Totts were continuing to add to their tally with relative comfort and their task was made slightly easier when Andover’s try scorer was sinbinned for a high tackle. From the resultant penalty, Colmer kicked to touch five metres out and the catch and drive worked once more, this time flanker Oli King bundling over from the back of the maul.

The hosts brought up their 50 with the final move of the half. Andover’s lineout was overshot which released the Totts back line. Robinson’s line break took them to the half-way line and some good handling, keeping possession allowed Flint to carry to the 22 from which the play was spread out to the left for Tom Tully to cross for his second.

An interval lead of 50-7, following a superb first 40 minutes of exhilerating play, had supporters salvitating at what the second 40 minutes would hold with many feeling that Totts should go for the jugular to assist their points difference.

What actually transpired was a chastened Andover coming much more into the game and Totts’ going slightly into their shells.

There was no sign of that immediately from the kick off though as Jansen sliced through the Andover back line with ease, taking the play some 50 metres. Although Totts did knock on, Andover were offside and from the line-out catch and drive, Rich O’Donnell was on hand to drop over the line.

But Andover were building a bit of momentum and they went from one end to the other in quick fashion and took a deserved try in the right corner to reach double figures.

And it looked like they were coming again as they kept their passing tight only to find Jansen lurking on the ten metre line and he intercepted for a comfortable run in to the line to further Totts advantage.

At 62-12 to the good just ten minutes in the second half, hope was still high that they could stretch their advantage further but it was the visitors who commanded much of the play over the next quarter.

Their endeavours were rewarded with a third try, which certainly boosted their morale as they scenced a bonus point in the last few minutes.

The hosts responded to Andover’s third with an 11th of their own as Flint once again showed a clean pair of heals and left All Black defenders in his wake as he went over and Colmer added his seventh conversion of the day.

However, the final action of the game saw Andover clinch a fourth try and a bonus point for the efforts, which was reward for their hard work in the second half when heads could have dropped but they took something away from the game.

The final whistle blew and whilst Tottonians were happy with a five points, which keeps them firmly in the mix at the top of the table in third, there would have been disappointment that the second half was only won 19-17 with three tries apiece.

93 points in the game was the joint third highest amount of points scored in a league match at Water Lane (behind 118 – 100-18 v Reading in 2023 and 101 – 34-67 loss to Chichester in 2017).

TOTTONIANS POINT SCORERS:
2 tries – Jamie Laing (sponsored by Mr. Bob Millard)
2 tries – Tom Tully (sponsored by Brewpack)
2 tries – Nic Jansen (sponsored by Wheelers Travel)
1 try – Bruno Nascimbene (sponsored by Mildren Construction)
1 try – Leo Tongue (sponsored by New Forest Architectural Services)
1 try – Rich O’Donnell (sponsored by Causeway Motors)
1 try – Cam Flint (sponsored by TCB Sports)
7 conversions – Rich Colmer

COACH PHIL OSMAN LOOKS BACK ON THE ANDOVER WIN