Despite playing the match during reading week, UCL Men’s Rugby seemed more switched on than their hosts, who had returned to their studies, to secure the away win.
UCL were able to challenge the host’s try-line from the outset. Despite Portsmouth's defence including a very powerful bunch of players, the momentum of UCL’s attack was rewarded when winger, Cass Harris, scored the opening try.
A tricky conversion down the left side of the pitch was successfully taken by fly-half, Elliot White, which enabled the visitors to fire away with a 7-point lead within the first ten minutes of play.
Early on in the game, Portsmouth did look keen to equalise the score, with their front row hammering away at UCL’s try-line. Yet, UCL managed to bundle Portsmouth into touch and deny the hosts a try.
Number 8, Charlie Hallam, frequently challenged Portsmouth’s try-line, and was able to make a dash from halfway and almost touch down before the host’s defence denied him of the impressive feat.
Hooker, Dan Lam, (potentially inspired by Jamie George breaking England’s record for hookers who score tries last weekend) also contributed 5 points in the first half of the game.
Considering this was a Cup game, White’s consistent success with the boot made it an easy decision for the UCL to opt for the 3-point penalty kick when the referee awarded the visitors a penalty, down the middle of the posts to further tally up their score to 15-0.
Before the half-time whistle blew, full-back, Jack Hall, was able to kick the ball from Portsmouth’s 10m line to the in-goal area. Alas, Portsmouth’s defence managed to gain possession of the ball before any of UCL’s attack could catch up to the kick.
The score at half-time was 15-0 to UCL.
After the break, a nice link of passes between Harris and Hallam enabled Bruno Jesney to score, with a successful conversion amounting to 22-0 at 50 mins.
Attempting to capitalise on this momentum, outside centre, Olly Brown, was able to take charge to get the ball back into Portsmouth’s half of the pitch. Though UCL were gaining momentum towards the try-line, with the ball passing through many hands, the referee ultimately called a knock-on and Portsmouth scrum.
However, this would prove handy for UCL, with their powerful set piece winning against the head, and ultimately allowing for Hallam to sprint from the 22m line to score a try. By 60 mins, the score was 29-0 to UCL.
Losing a degree of focus, and now unlikely to win, Portsmouth turned to long range and high kicks in an attempt to get the ball in UCL’s half of the pitch. Flanker, Harry Clayson, capitalised on the low morale of the hosts by teasing their defence with a dummy pass to keep UCL possession of the ball in Portsmouth’s half.
A very hot and cold performance saw Portsmouth only steam on for the final 15 minutes of play. Concessionally, a chain of errors from a UCL scrum enabled the hosts to finally get on the board. Another Portsmouth try at 73 mins was rather in vain, given it was the tailend of the game.
The match concluded with UCL kicking the ball over the dugout, with an impressive turnout of London supporters animated that the visitors were able to win with a comfortable 15-point buffer.
Sympathy must go out to Portsmouth Men’s, who were burdened with a bout of injuries; a concussion within the first five minutes of kick-off was only the beginning, with the host’s team gradually falling in number of in-tact players throughout the course of the game.
Upon reflection, skipper Brown told The Cheese Grater, “The game was tighter than we wanted. But the boys showed real grit to come out on top. Our goal was to play our structure and it really came together in the first 60 minutes.
“Even though the Portsmouth boys came back in the last 20, we shut them out with our fitness.”
In sum, the match was a collaborative win for UCL. A try apiece for Harris, Lam, Hallam, and Jesney, as well as four successful kicks for White allowed for this entertaining 29-14 victory.