Hove vs Bromley (H)

Hove vs. Bromley (H)

I would like to start off by thanking Alastair Bourne for sponsoring the match and to Andrew Lee for Sponsoring the match ball. The support of the sponsors and spectator's alike enables us to keep training and playing throughout the year, and we cannot thank you enough.

Another dry day on the south coast saw Hove entertain a Bromley side looking for their first win of the season. After last week’s win on the road at Beckenham, belief was high in the Hove camp.

Hove kicked off with the slight breeze behind their backs and from the first minute Hove were looking dangerous in the wider channels running back loose kicks from the Bromley backs. With the pressure mounting, a quick tapped penalty found its way into Ryan Morlen’s hands and some neat footwork saw him go in at the corner. Carles Galindo adding the touchline conversion with ease and Hove had the perfect start; 7-0.

Like buses with one came another. Again Ryan Morlen shrugged off some wanting Bromley defence to go in for his second with Galindo again adding the extras; 14-0. Whether it was complacency or a lack of killer instinct, Hove seemed to take their foot off the pedal as Bromley started to get a foothold in the game.

Multiple ‘dumb’ penalties at the breakdown led to the Bromley first five hitting the uprights with his first shot at goal, but after Morgan Griffin was sent to the bin after not rolling away, he gave Bromley their first points of the afternoon; 14-3.

Hove should have extended their lead further after Sam Whiting and Guy Patton combined down the left, but the final offload to Phil Dugard was knocked on. The only other score of the half came from another Bromley penalty, again after a ruck offence from Hove; 14-6. As the half time whistle went, Bromley probably felt pretty happy to only be 8 points down after the Hove onslaught.

Frustrated by their penalty count and not turning their opportunities into points, Hove started the second half in perfect fashion. Jack Silcocks was taken in the air from the kick-off and the penalty was taken quickly. Slick hands from Ryan Morlen and Phil Dugard found Sam Whiting who went over to put Hove thirteen points clear. Galindo pushed the conversion, but now Hove had the cushion to push on for the bonus point fourth try; 19-6.

Bromley however had other ideas and after a penalty had hit the post, a solid scrum created space out wide for the winger to go in. The shot at goal again came back off the upright, but Bromley had their tails up; 19-11.

Given the tightness of Bromley’s previous losses, they are not a side to lie down and accept defeat and so it proved again as a well worked move saw the winger go in at the corner. The conversion was sweetly struck to leave Bromley just the solitary point behind at 19-18.

Back again came Bromley sensing their first scalp of the season and they took the lead with eight minutes to go as another breakdown penalty was kicked to the corner. Hooker and jumper combined in tandem and shoved the Hove eight back to take the lead for the first time in the game. The goal kicker again couldn’t find his range to add the extras and Hove went into the final few minutes of the game down 19-23.

Cheered on by the large Hove faithful, this seemed to galvanise the home side into playing their best phased rugby of the game. ‘Pick and Go’s’ from the forwards and direct running from the backs at tired Bromley defenders became profitable as Hove closed in on the Bromley line. With a big overlap out wide Ian Saunders picked and went blind by himself and was driven into touch.

This Hove side is maturing and as such back they came, patiently waiting for the opportunity to arise. With two minutes left on the clock it came, as Guy Patton picked a lovely line to go in at the corner after the Bromley winger had received a yellow card for a high tackle. Conversion was missed but Hove had retaken the lead at 24-23.

The final few minutes were played out and after an attempted drop goal never threatened the posts, the final whistle went to give Hove back to back wins for the first time this season.

A disappointing performance from Hove, but a four try bonus point can never be frowned upon especially after coming from behind in the final few minutes. A much needed rest week for Hove to recharge their batteries and shake off any niggles before the league campaign starts again.

Man of the Match went to Ryan Morlen.

Hove: van Gelderen, Peake, Andrews, Saunders, Woollard, Ward, Silcocks, Griffin, Biggs, Dugard, Patton, Galindo, Morlen, Walker, Whiting © Subs: Wallace, Pavlides and Lemahaute.