Alresford 14 – Winchester 3s 36 [11th January 2025]
Alresford welcomed Winchester 3’s to the Arlebury on a crisp, sunny January afternoon for our first game of 2025.
It was the away team who kicked off the first half, and an attritional first twenty minutes ensued as both teams searched for an opening. It was Winchester who were the first on the board after twenty minutes with a well worked converted try – 0-7.
A second converted try followed eight minutes later as the away teams increased their lead to 0-14, which shortly became 0-19 with a third unconverted try from Winchester.
However, the home team, recharged after the Christmas break, continued with their attacking endeavours and were duly rewarded with their first try of the afternoon just before halftime. The resulting conversion made the score 7-19 at the break.
The second half started in much the same vein, with Alresford continuing to hold at bay a pacy Winchester attack, but it was the away team who made the first incursion of the half with another try, which although unconverted, increased their lead to 7-24. Another converted try followed shortly after with the score now 7-31.
But, as has been demonstrated throughout this season, Alresford are not a team that will give up without a fight, and our second try of the afternoon came after a period of intense pressure, and a superb touchline conversion reduced the deficit to 14-31.
However, it was Winchester who had the last word of the afternoon, with an unconverted try just before the whistle, making the final score;
Alresford 14 – Winchester 36.
The scoreline in fairness does not truly reflect the work-rate and teamwork that kept a strong Winchester team at bay for long periods of the game, and we must take pride in the fact that we are a young, improving team who can only get better in the second half of the season.
We thank Winchester for a great game played in the right spirit and wish them well for the rest of the season.
Our next fixture on 18th January when we welcome Bognor 2’s to the Arlebury..
As ever, thankyou to all those who came and supported the boys today, and we look forward to seeing you again in the upcoming matches.
