Hove Hold Out to beat Beccehamian RFC

Hove started this game in 3rd place, full of confidence after their cup win against local rivals Brighton’s ‘second’ team. They knew that they were in for a stern test against Beccehamian RFC, a side that had started the season brightly, but begun to slip down the table after series of unfortunate results, including a narrow loss to Old Colfeians.
Hove started the game cold, with several players appearing to be ‘still on the bus.’ Beccehamian gave Hove a jump start, after some sloppy hands from a number of Hove players failing to recover an up and under, Beccehamian scored in the corner. Conversion missed, 5-0 Beccehamian, 2 minutes gone.
The order of the day for Hove was sloppy hands, with multiple handling errors choking up possession to BRFC around the park. Luckily, Ian Saunders remained calm, and definitely didn’t lose his head at any members of his team throughout the game. After one such incident of poor handling in the BRFC 22, and Ian certainly not berating the guilty party, the home side’s 15 recovered the ball and sliced his clearance straight down Guy Patton’s throat, who fed Alex Parker, for a dot down in the corner. Alex Parker, after at least 5 minutes of practicing kicks on Thursday night managed to stick the kick between the posts, 5-7 to Hove. A Hove penalty quickly followed, and Alex Parker added 3 points to extend Hove’s lead to 5.
What ensued after this try was 10 minutes of each playing between the 10, lines. Both teams were getting into the Christmas spirt, and were eager to gift each other possession. Finally, BRFC made a half break into Hove’s 22. Hove held out for a while, with some gritty defence, but BRFC kept it tight and managed to squeeze over the line, 10-10, conversion missed.
Things went from palpable to a little sour for Hove after the restart when Charlie Watts went down with an ankle injury, he was replaced by the freshly rested Carl Buckland. Carl, after 5 minutes of electric running, tackling, and flash hands injured his knee and had to come off. We give Carl our best wishes, and hope it is not too bad. Hove now with multiple injuries had to readjust, and players had to step up. Alex Maguire did just that, he was a dynamo all day, tackling anything that moved within 12 feet of him, and scrummaging like a younger, much better looking, Ryan Storer.
After a period of readjustment, with Adrian Shergold coming into the row with the now hoarse Ian Saunders, things began to settle down, and Hove began to play their patterns. This period led to a try for Hove, after a solid set piece from the Hove pack, the backs did their thing, and the iceman Guy Patton dotted down. The conversion was added by Alex Carter Parker, 10-17 to Hove. The half time whistle came without much incident, and after a poor start, Hove were lucky to be in the lead.
The second half was tough for Hove, to say the least. BRFC spent 30 of the 40 minutes camped in Hove’s half. BRFC ball retention was good, but Hove’s defence was solid. Hove’s young guns Alex Maguire, Tyler Ray (yee haw), and Toby Brown excelled themselves in defence. They got off the line time and again to knock Beccehamian players back. When Hove did get the ball back, Jack Moore, making his first start for Hove controlled the game, and led the boys in maroon and blue out of danger.
With ten minutes to go BRFC finally found a chink in Hove’s defensive armour, breaking down their blind side, looking certain to score. However cometh the hour, cometh the iceman, Guy Patton made a try saving tackle and bundled the Beccehamian wing into touch.
With 5 minutes on the clock, BRFC were still knocking on the door, but Hove were resolute and would not let them past. Eventually Hove recovered the ball, and Martin Macdonald broke up the wing, he then performed a one – two with Rene Pavlides, who dived over the line for the try. Johnny Parker added the extras and took the score to 10-24.
The scores stayed the same until the final whistle, and Hove took home four points. Although not Hove’s most sparkling performance, they can be happy that they dug in and got a result against a very tough BRFC side, who gave them a real test. Next week, Hove play Haywards Heath, in a top of the table clash, which looks set to be a Christmas Cracker.
POTM: Alex Maguire
DOTD: There were too many to mention