Long trip blamed for plate defeat

HAMPSHIRE'S hopes of reaching a debut County Championship Plate final were narrowly ended by Eastern Counties on Saturday.

Coach Martyn Humberstone admitted the disappointed team came away from Norfolk wondering "what might have been" after going so close to a historic achievement.

Although they fought back from a 20-7 half-time deficit to make it 20-15 with 20 minutes to go, the lengthy trip on Saturday to the semi-final venue at Diss RFC ultimately proved Hampshire's undoing.

Having left Hatch Warren at 10.30am, Hampshire did not arrive until about 2pm, which was not conducive to positive preparation, as a rush to get ready ensued.

And it was costly. Inside 16 minutes play, ring-rusty Hampshire trailed 10-0, a margin that backs coach Humberstone felt was crucial and would not have happened had they not been delayed.

The ex-Basingstoke fly-half said: "The long journey didn't help and it wasn't surprising that we started as slowly as we did when we were so late arriving.

"I always say you have to compete from the kick-off and in those first 20 minutes, but we conceded two unconverted tries in that time.

"You do wonder what might have been. Before their first try, Russell Osman created a gap, got five metres from their line and tried to off-load but we got turned-over.

"Eastern Counties clear their lines and go and score five points when we could have had seven and made it a very different game."

Eastern Counties scored twice, on 12 and 16 minutes, through North Walsham winger Tom Holt, one of 11 players in the squad from the National Three South club.

Saffron Waldron fly-half Tom Hughes missed both conversion kicks but nailed a 34th-minute penalty to make it 13-0.

Straight from the restart, following sustained territory and solid forward play through the phases, Hampshire hit back through Portsmouth winger Oge Ofuasia, who eluded two tacklers to cross and score.

Chris Ashwin converted to make it 13-7 but then unfortunately missed a penalty soon afterwards, dragging his kick left of the posts.

"That would have put us right back in it," rued Humberstone, who felt the team "switched off" collectively to gift Eastern Counties their third try, scored by Tom Groom and converted by Hughes, in first-half stoppage time.

He added: "After we gave away a penalty, we thought they'd kick to touch, but they tapped from 15 metres and ran on through, made a couple of off-loads and scored.

"There was also an injury while the tap happened, and I think the boys thought that would be the end of the first half."

Nevertheless, Hampshire rallied in the second half and the stakes were raised when both team's hookers were dismissed for yellow-card offences after violently clashing.

Rosslyn Park's Martin Pearse replaced Tom Drewitt - who had been eye-gouged - to maintain the full pack and, after keeping a presence inside the Eastern 22 and recycling effectively, Hampshire scored on 53 minutes through a pick-up-and-go try from Havant prop Tom Wells.

Ashwin missed adding the extras but converted a 60th-minute penalty to make it 20-15 and take Hampshire ever closer to overhauling their hosts.

A super break from replacement full-back Ben Stuart and off-load to centre David Byett, who passed on to dangerman Ofuasia, almost yielded reward, but the winger was tackled on the line and the chance lost.

Despite further pressure over the closing stages, Hampshire's riposte was ended when fly-half Hughes converted two late penalties to seal Eastern Counties' victory.

Humberstone said: "We kept it tight inside their 22, but we either went one phase too many in the forwards to give Eastern Counties turnover ball or didn't quite get the pass out wide quick enough in the backs when there was a gap.

"Had Oge scored, I think we would have gone on to win, because apart from the two early tries and the try right before half-time, we defended well, did compete, played well and dominated phases of the game.

"Considering we're up against 11 players from North Walsham who have national league experience, and are playing young guys like Richie Buck and Luke Richardson, who are only 18 and 19 years old, we've done brilliantly.

"Everyone involved has worked hard and put the effort in."

Under new team manager John Byett, Humberstone and forwards coach Jason Ford, Hampshire reached the last four for the first time since 2003.

Humberstone said: "It's not an easy job - to get players at the end of a long rugby season is hard - so we gave ourselves three years when we decided to take the job.

"To win the group and get to the semi-finals in the first year is very pleasing.

"It's restored Hampshire senior rugby and is a stepping stone for next season, which is one we're looking forward to."

Hampshire's defeat means Eastern Counties will now face Durham, who beat Sussex 39-13, in the final and must make the long trip to West Hartlepool RFC for Sunday's fixture.

The RFU's decision to move the final away from Twickenham and deny players the chance of fulfilling a dream by playing for a trophy at the home of English rugby was criticised by Hampshire captain Ross Stirling and manager John Byett.

Friday's edition of Rugby Times reported on the story, featured by The Gazette, under the headline "Hampshire skipper slams RFU".

Humberstone endorsed the pair's views and added: "It's by the by, but if we had won and had to go all the way to West Hartlepool, we could have lost three days of the bank holiday - travel up Saturday, play Sunday, stay over and come back Monday.

"It's wrong at this stage of the season to expect that and is asking a lot for amateur guys to do that.

"A final at Twickenham only takes a day."

Hampshire: Grant Murdoch (rep Ben Stuart 48min); Richard Buck, Russell Osman, David Byett, Oge Ofuasia; Chris Ashwin, Grant Morris; Neil Young, Tom Drewitt (rep Martin Pearse 50min), Tom Wells; Ross Stirling, Ian Thatcher; Chris Williams (rep Alex Scarrett 48min), Tom Bolland, Luke Richardson. Not used: Danny Drake, Jason Ford, Andy Byett, Phil Pearse.