VETS SCORE EIGHT TRIES IN OPENING CUP WIN

by Richard Isaacs | Nov 2, 2025 | Senior Rugby

Tottonians Vets got their John Sneezum Hampshire Veterans Cup campaign off to the perfect start, running in eight tries on a rain-soaked afternoon in the New Forest to defeat a valiant New Milton side 51-21 in Pool D.

NEW MILTON VETS 21 TOTTONIANS VETS 51
Ashley Recretation Ground, New Milton
Saturday 1st November 2025
John Sneezum Hampshire Veterans Cup – Pool D

It was the perfect start for the 2024 Vets Cup champions, despite the miserable conditions, as the strong Tottonians side dominated much of the fixture although did have some cause for concern at times.

Dicky Pye’s electric pace down the wing got the scoreboard ticking after just five minutes when he outgunned his opposing number to scoot over on the right hand side to open the scoring before Rich Colmer hammered over the conversion from the touchline.

But the lead lasted just 90 seconds when the home side produced an excellent passing move to level with a converted try of their own, showing that, despite having just a bare 15 in their squad, they were more than a match for the 1,800+ first XV capped Tottonians outfit.

Skipper Rich Buck, appearing at scrum-half for the first time in his playing career, went over for Totts’ second try on 11 minutes which Colmer converted and when Rich O’Donnell drove over for the visitors’ third, they were beginning to look comfortable.

Once again, that comfort was to be short lived as New Milton went over for the second shortly after the restart as the rain began to intensify, so much so that Colmer added a rare Vets Cup penalty to open the lead again to 22-14.

The industrious O’Donnell was again to the fore when he crossed for the bonus point clinching try on the half-hour when, surely one of the moments of the match was seeing James ‘Pasty’ Angove’s delicious side-step that wrong footed the Milton defence to add Totts’ fifth of the afternoon – it truly was a moment of magic from the erstwhile second row.

Colmer posted the conversion to give Totts a 34-14 lead at the break but a fine team try from the hosts, with some outstanding finger-tip passing made the visitors sweat a little.

With some changes made and a handful of injuries in the home ranks, it allowed Totts some fresh impetus and Colmer’s burst of speed across the field ensured a late Milton resurgence was quelled.

Buck added a second after a blocked New Milton clearance bounced around in goal and the skipper was quickest to the touchdown before Mike Searle put the cherry on the top for the Totts performance as he completed an interception try to trip the score over the half-century.

It was an impressive performance from the visitors, who sit atop Pool D after the first round of games, ahead of the two home matches in the New Year against Ellingham and Ringwood and Trojans.

TOTTONIANS POINT SCORERS:
2 tries – Rich Buck
2 tries – Rich O’Donnell (sponsored by Sail With Heroes Trust)
1 try – Dicky Pye
1 try – James Angove
1 try – Rich Colmer (sponsored by Totton & Hythe Removals)
1 try – Mike Searle
4 conversions – Rich Colmer (sponsored by Totton & Hythe Removals)
1 penalty – Rich Colmer (sponsored by Totton & Hythe Removals)

CAPTAIN RICH BUCK and TRY SCORING RICH COLMER LOOK BACK OVER THE MATCH