LSA kick off 2008 with a win....

5th January 2008

By Matt Aristizabal

Not wanting to let their grip on the top spot slip, LSA faced a difficult trip to the south coast as they took on Gosport & Fareham. Although the Warriors had won by sixty points at home, this promised to be a different proposition as the home team’s recent record on their own ground was excellent and certainly would have wanted to reverse the result of their previous meeting. With the game coming so soon after the festive period many of the South African players had only just retuned home, and the usual half-back partnering was also missing. The rustiness certainly showed early on as Gosport & Fareham took advantage of early mistakes to run in three unanswered tries in the 10th, 23rd and 29th minutes. The Warriors then began to find their form and pulled a try back through a great backs move that allowed Malcolm Mirfin to cut in and cross the line, Jarred Rock getting the extras. Half-time couldn’t come soon enough however as the lacklustre first half didn’t find any more significant action as the first period ended 17-7.

Whatever was said at the interval clearly did the trick as Gerry Kruger ended up at the bottom of a pile on the other side of the line to score LSA’s second three minutes in, Rock again making the kick. LSA went looking for the win, but Gosport & Fareham weren’t going to roll over as both teams fought hard. Just after the hour mark the visitors’ hard work paid off, when Tiaan Visser ran a great angle to score by the posts. Rock’s conversion ensured that Gosport & Fareham needed more that just a penalty to win, but despite rallying in the latter stages of the game LSA stayed cool and held on for the win.

Speaking to Team Manager Trevor Johnson after the game, he was clearly pleased with the win, particularly as much of the team was cobbled together the previous evening. Johnson singled out Gary Johnson as the KWV Wines Man-of-the-Match, for his good performance after stepping to play scrum half for the first time in his career.