Winchester RFC’s men’s first team lost 33 - 32 last Saturday in a very physical encounter at Bournemouth RFC.

In a match marred by 26 penalties awarded by Hampshire Society referee Jeff Highcock, Bournemouth were first on the scoreboard with a three-pointer kicked by their left-footed fly-half and captain Grant Hancox, making his 200th appearance for his club.

Winchester responded almost immediately with a penalty at the other end kicked by fly-half Tommy Hare.

Mr Highcock awarded another penalty against Winchester, and then marched them back 10 metres for dissent, bringing Bournemouth into kicking distance of their posts. While Mr Highcock explained his decision to Winchester second-row and skipper Matt Golding, Hancox lined up his successful kick for goal, and the score moved to 9-3.

As the first quarter ended, Bournemouth were penalised for a high tackle, and Winchester hooker Jimmy Wallis’s quick thinking saw him tap and go, touching down wide out. Hare’s conversion attempt faded across the face of the posts, but Winchester were only one point behind: 9-8.

Another exchange of penalties took the score to 12-11 before Winchester winger Rhys Thomas scored a try converted by Hare: Winchester took a 12-18 lead into half-time.

The second half started very oddly, with Mr Highcock failing to see the Bournemouth touch-judge’s flag signalling that the kick-off had gone straight into touch. When he eventually saw it, play restarted with a scrum to Winchester on the half-way line.

A further penalty awarded against Bournemouth and a converted try scored by Winchester centre Alex Mawdsley saw the score move to 12-25, but Bournemouth were quick to come back with a try of their own converted by Hancox: 19-25.

The lead changed hands with three more Hancox penalties, but second-row substitute Joe Martin scored Winchester’s bonus-point fourth try, converted by Hare, and Winchester were in the lead 30-32 until the very last event of the match, when the 26th penalty of the match, with the clock in the red, was kicked by Hancox. Winchester had lost 33-32.

Winchester coach Gaz Martin said after the match “Bournemouth are a good side and we have great respect for them. We’ll need to pick ourselves up and respond positively as a squad over the next week. We have some soul-searching to do, but I’ll back our players to come back stronger for experiences like yesterday”.

Winchester will play Bournemouth at home on January 11.