FIVE TRIES TO FOUR NOT ENOUGH FOR TOTTS

by Richard Isaacs | Oct 12, 2025 | Senior Rugby

Tottonians’ Jekyll and Hyde start to the season continued as they lost a pulsating battle to table-topping Winchester by 31-35. Despite outscoring their rivals by five tries to 4, three second half penalties saw the visitors hold on to their narrow lead, and despite late pressure and a contentious late disallowed try, Totts had to settle for two bonus points.

TOTTONIANS 31 WINCHESTER 35
Water Lane, Totton
Saturday 11th October 2025
Regional 2 South Central – match 5
Report by Nick Osman

In front of an expectant crowd, it was the visitors who took control of the game from the off. Good ball retention and use of the boot to turn Totts’ defence meant early pressure in the 22 and the Winchester forwards able to barrel over from short range.

There then followed a strange couple of minutes; Totts gave away two penalties for back chat, the second of which led to a barely believable yellow card for Nic Jansen. The resultant penalty was kicked to the corner and the successful line-out drive meant Winchester lead 12-0 with less than 10 minutes on the clock.

Having not had any possession, Totts were finally able to get hold of the ball and exert some pressure of their own. Successive forward carries up the middle eventually sucked in enough Winchester defence to leave enough space for Leo Tongue to dive in at the corner off a fine pass by Jamie Laing.

The conversion was missed but Totts now had their tails up and came firing back straight from the re-start. The ball was moved wide from the breakdown, Tom Tully got outside his man just outside the Totts 22 and made the break to over half-way. Harry Dolbear took his pass and delayed his delivery superbly to a charging Alex Robinson who sped in under the posts. The conversion tied things up at 12-12 with 17 minutes played.

Things continued to improve for Totts; more impressive driving up the middle, with Scott Rogers to the fore, again caused the Winchester defence to be manipulated and Robinson was able to capitalise on a short ball to give Totts the lead for the first time.

And on 38 minutes a promising Winchester attack up their left wing was halted by an Alex Bolter-Jackson grab, and he put his foot down to gallop in at the right corner for his first try of the season, and the bonus point. Jamie Laing’s fine conversion gave Totts a 24-12 lead approaching half-time.

Unfortunately, there was still time for Winchester to reduce the deficit after a couple of penalties allowed them to set up another close-range lineout which was powered over in the corner. The conversion meant Totts lead at half-time was 24-19.

The second half began much like the first. Winchester kept possession for pretty much the first 10 minutes, this time resulting in two kicked penalties and a try for their outside centre.

The lack of possession and territory was becoming a real concern as Winchester now led by 8.

Jonny Lovell was the first replacement used, coming on for the excellent Will Ingram, and Totts slowly started to awaken from their half-time slumber. Perhaps not surprisingly, it was the two Totts centres who were at the centre of things as, after another sharp break, Tom Tully was able to offload to Alex Robinson to race in for his hat-trick. Laing’s conversion brought Totts to within a point with 20 minutes to go.

A third Winchester penalty on 65 minutes stretched their advantage to four, but Totts were then able to exert real pressure in the Winchester 22.

A struggling line-out meant scrums or tap penalties were taken, but the Winchester defence held firm until Tully skipped past a couple of tackles and stretched for the line around the upright.

Initially unsighted, the referee stated the ball had not been grounded and awarded a knock-on; most in the vicinity disagreed, but Winchester were able to clear their lines. And that was to be as close as Totts got.

Winchester held on for the win and Totts were left to consider what might have been.

Opportunities were there to win it but conceding a total of 25 points in the first 10 minutes of each half is unlikely to cut it against the league leaders.

Next week we hit the road again, to Guildford, hoping to improve on the frustrating draw up there last season.

TOTTONIANS POINT SCORERS:
3 tries – Alex Robinson (sponsored by The Hot Totties)
1 try – Leo Tongue (sponsored by New Forest Architechural Services)
1 try – Alex Bolter-Jackson
3 conversions – Jamie Laing

HEAD COACH and PLAYER of the MATCH GIVE THEIR HONEST THOUGHTS ON THE GAME