Andover 29 Milbrook 15
Match Report By Andy Waite
Saxon Safety sponsored Andover suffered a cruel blow in the defeat of Milbrook at the Goodship ground last Saturday, when star flanker Kieron Bush sustained what looked to be a nasty ankle injury.
The incident looked an innocuous one, but the outcome looks to have potentially ended Bush’s season in what will be a huge loss to the home side.
‘Kieron has been in sparkling form so far and he will be sorely missed in the back row and for his lineout jumping, but also his character on the pitch’ said Director of rugby Andy Waite.
Played in awful conditions with Andover playing up the slope Andover began well.
Early pressure saw some great phases before Stan North and Evan Roll combined and man of the match Samson Earle took a marvellous line to open the scoring, with Roll converting.
Andover continued to dominate but a lack of concentration gave Milbrook a penalty chance that they happily accepted.
With slope in favour this seemed to give the visitors impetus and when Andover were slow to react in defence, the big Milbrook runners created the space to score a try and take the lead.
This was the cue for the well drilled Andover pack to take the initiative. From a lineout catch and drive Andover went through the phases with young prop Leighton Myhill prominent, and when the ball flashed wide from scrum half Alex Kane skipper CJ Feirn galloped over for a lovely try.
Back in the lead Andover were soon at it again. Feirn ran the ball at the Milbrook defence before fine hands from Harvey Maloney, sent Roll away for another lovely score.
The Bush injury then intervened and broke proceedings up for a while, but when the game resumed, Andover seemed even more determined and when Maloney instigated another move involving slick hands from Bryn Waite and Harry Ward, Callum Hollinshead gratefully went over for a try superbly converted by Roll.
At half time Andover lost Waite to injury and had to reorganise with Isaac Demesi returning to action, as the visitors took advantage to add a second try.
The game drifted for a while as both teams saw a yellow card for a fracas and Milbrook then saw a second yellow for a deliberate knock on.
As conditions worsened it became difficult to play any running rugby, but Andover tried and were eventually rewarded with the last try of the game when Nic Reed and Kane sent Maloney away for a very popular try.
Afterwards Andy Waite said’ Obviously our thoughts are with Kieron and we hope it’s not too bad. But in the end the lads did him proud and kept try to play in the face of the storm and in the end came away with a bonus point win.’