On Friday (May 12) night a Hampshire Development team coached by Sandown & Shanklin Director of Rugby, Damien Marriott, was selected to take on their equivalents from Sussex.
This fixture aimed to promote and develop the talent at Level 8 was played at Horsham RFC, and six Hurricanes were selected in the squad; Ben Shannon, Michael Barrett, Jacob Jordan, Sam Rees, Tom Marriott, and Sam Flux who was also named captain of the 23 man squad. Ben, Sam F and Michael started the game, and Sussex started the brightest in a frantic opening quarter.
The hosts ended the first half 10 - 0 ahead, under the floodlights, but with Hampshire playing against the wind, they hoped to find a way back into the game. Early in the second half Hampshire struck back with a penalty from Fordingbridge Number 8, Mark Hammond.
With the momentum starting to swing in favour of the visitors, they managed to get on to level terms with ten minutes remaining.
After a number of phases, a pick and go from Jacob Jordan led to him driving over the line for Hampshire's first try. Converted by Sam Flux, the game was all square in the dying minutes.
With the pressure on Sussex, Hampshire searched for a breakthrough, and they found it after some excellent territorial play from the halfbacks led to the opposition winger spilling possession.
This was collected by Will Marsh from Fordingbridge who darted into the corner to put Hampshire ahead. Flux narrowly missed the conversion.
The Hampshire side held firm in the last minutes to record the inaugural victory in this fixture.
Damien Marriott, SSRFC Director of Rugby, and HRFU Development Team Head Coach, had this to say, after the final whistle:
"I am extremely proud of all the boys wearing the Hampshire jersey this weekend, it is a testament to all their hard work they have put in over this season.
"I am delighted they have been recognised for that and rewarded with honours like this.
"It will give them a huge lift ahead of the start the new season, and only going to lift performances to new levels for all involved." Max Fletcher was again at Fullback for the Hampshire RFU Senior men's team, as they welcomed favourites to the Bill Beaumont County Championship Trophy Cornwall RFU to Havant RFC for the second round in the competition.
Max off the back of his Player of the Match Performance last week, was a presence throughout for HAmpshire, and this week managed to get on to the scoresheet with a try which put the hosts ahead at the time.
Unfortunately Hampshire could not hold on, and were eventually narrowly defeated 20 - 24 against the strong Cornwall side.
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