IT WAS a game of two halves for Andover Rugby Club last weekend as they fell to a frustrating 22-7 defeat at the hands of high-flying Winchester.

The All Blacks contested well in the first half but were guilty of a touch of indiscipline in the second period as Winchester too easily ran away with the game.

Andover went into the game without influential stars Tom Waite, Niko Rowe and Sam Froggett.

Ash Gait came in at hooker, whilst Dawson Ratu and Dave Catt returned to the backline and 17-yearold county back rower Jordan Gray was given his first start to replace the still injured Alex Morgan and Sam Fletcher.

Winchester began brightly and eventually broke the deadlock, scoring in the corner to take the lead.

Andover Second XI before their first home game of the season against Bournemouth Third XI Andover began to assert themselves looking sharp in midfield and gaining lots of possession.

But a number of silly penalties prevented them from utilising their dominance and with the normally reliable lineout a little shaky, Winchester seemed to be holding.

Man-of-the-match Kieran Jenvey had other ideas and his superb break led to an offload to Gray to feed Ratu for a fine Andover try, converted by Charlie Waite.

Andover thought they were going into half-time ahead but a penalty kick just before the break gave Winchester the lead.

At half-time Andover lost influential stand-off Alex Kane with a serious ankle injury and Simon Preece with a head injury and as the problems mounted discipline began to lag even further.

The team fought hard but yellow cards to Elliot Copestake and Alex Hibidge in quick succession left Andover with just 13 men and Winchester took full advantage with two further tries and a conversion to stretch away.

Restored to 15, Andover once again showed they can be a match for anyone at this level and the game ended with neither side troubling the scoreboard again.

Coach Andy Waite said: “There were pleasing aspects not least of which was the performance of the lads who came in.

“You need a big squad at this level and I think a lot of clubs would be really struggling with the front line absences we have at the moment.

“You also need discipline, not just in the penalty count, but in the way you play and if we can cut down on penalties and silly errors we can turn narrow defeats into wins.”