Shaky start no problem for Bognor rugby battlers at Farnborough

The selection team gave the youth of the club the opportunity to make their mark on senior rugby - four colts featured in the first team, including debutant Elvis Millen, while five played in the Royals.

A turbulent start for the first team found them conceding a try and penalty within the first ten minutes. At 8-0, Josh Burgess’ men regathered and went on to surpass the home side and score several tries of their own before the half time break.

At half-time it was 19-8.

Despite dubious officiating at times and the absence of sin-binned players, Bognor continued their scoring ways and proved too much to handle for Farnborough, going on to score nine tries in total in a 55-18 thumping.

Contributions to the scoreboard included a hat-trick for captain Burgess, two for speedster Freddie Hayes, one each for Lee Balchin and Shane Stevens, and two from colt back rower Jamie Foote off the bench.

Five of nine conversions were successfully converted by Jeremy Newton-Young.

Man of the match was returning prop Tom James, who proved he was eager to make a statement and reassert himself in the squad after a lengthy absence.

Bognor: James, Balchin, Voigt, Stevens, Thompson, Castleton, Knight, J Burgess, Newcombe, Newton Young, F Burgess, Burnett, Robinson, Hay, Hayes, Ali, Foote, Millen.

Bognor Royals, with an inexperienced and unfamiliar squad, battled against a well-drilled Hove squad but lost, despite some quality individual performances.

In particular, special mentions must go to all colts who stepped up: Ethan Teasdale, Alfie Spurle, Charlie Jays, Ben Woolnough and Harry Smith.

Young back rower Teasdale was the lone point scorer for Bognor with one try in what was deemed to be a man of the match performance.

Royals: Cox, Sealey, Mason, Orchard, Barlow, Parsons, Teasdale, Barlow, Spurle, Emerson, Alexander, Jays, Taylor, May, Woolnough, Benjamin, Glaister, Smith.