Romsey 27-27 Southampton

Romsey’s Senior Men’s team kicked off their season with a thrilling 27-27 draw against Southampton, their closest rivals, in what turned out to be a rollercoaster of a match at Ganger Park. Both teams walked away with three points from this opening encounter, sharing the spoils in a game full of drama, quality, and a bit of pre-season rust.

The weather was perfect for rugby, but it was Southampton who started the brighter, buoyed by their recent promotion. The first few scrums were, well, a bit of a nightmare for Romsey fans, with old mates Marcus Coffin and Alex Hill running the show for Southampton. After a tough opening, Romsey’s pack settled, but the teams traded tries like heavyweight boxers throwing jabs.

Romsey's first try came from Jim Lamont, who spotted a gap in Southampton’s defence after a sharp pass from Ioan Elliott, Romsey’s lively scrum-half. Elliott kept the tempo high all day, putting his forwards in the right spots, and Ben Hoad was a pillar of strength in the scrums. Michael Streicher worked tirelessly at loosehead, ensuring Romsey stayed competitive in the set-piece.

Southampton hit back with two quick tries, but Romsey regrouped. A powerful midfield run from Ollie Soundy, one of Romsey’s vice-captains, led to Romsey’s second try. Soundy blasted through the Southampton defence after some slick handling by Ed Davies and Jay Hodges, with Soundy himself dotting down under the posts. His composure in the centre was a constant headache for Southampton.

The second half saw Romsey lift their intensity. Harrison Scott, captain fantastic, led by example, dominating in the lineout and putting in key tackles. Meanwhile, his younger brother Dylan Scott was dynamic from full-back, fielding kicks with precision and turning defence into attack with his elusive running.

Romsey’s third try was a moment of brilliance. Ed Davies showcased his deceptive pace and agility, slicing through Southampton’s defensive line to touch down. Davies was a constant threat, linking well with the backs and proving difficult to contain.

As the game entered its final quarter, Tyler Beardsley and Brad Hughes stepped up in the engine room, putting in the hard yards, while Dan Murrant was a menace at the breakdown, winning turnovers at key moments. Ryan Daly seemed to be everywhere (except maybe onside), and deservedly won Man of the Match for his relentless work rate.

With Romsey trailing by five points in the dying minutes, it was Jim Lamont who once again delivered, scoring Romsey’s fourth and final try after a series of relentless phases from the forwards. Will Davies made the initial break. Lamont, always calm under pressure, darted through a gap to tie the game. He had two difficult kicks to win it at the death, but neither quite found the target.

Southampton, to their credit, came close to snatching the win in the final moments, but Romsey’s defence, marshalled by Elliott Johnson, held firm. Impact players Alfie Lawrence, Pierce Fouch, and Lewis Cartledge added energy and fresh legs when called upon, and all contributed to a strong finish.

The referee deserves special mention for his control of the game, allowing the match to flow and keeping both teams disciplined in a fiercely competitive contest.

With this promising start, both Romsey and Southampton will look to build on their performances. It’s always nice to catch up with our old rivals, even if we’d rather Coffin and Hill didn’t dominate the scrum quite so much! Under new skipper Harrison Scott and head coach Jason Berry, this Romsey side has plenty to offer. Here’s to a long season of success, hard work, and hopefully fewer injuries next time out!