Southampton v US Portsmouth

US Portsmouth became the latest team to come away from Test Park grateful for a win they probably did not deserve. After a terrible first twenty minutes, Southampton were by far the better team and spent most of the match camped in Portsmouth's half.

The game started badly for Southampton, conceding at the first attack of the game when the Portsmouth scrum half darted through a gap to touch down under the posts. The conversion put them seven nil up. They doubled the lead shortly after, when they turned over the ball on the Saints left and attacked quickly through the disorganised defence. Again the conversion was successful and Saints heads were in danger of dropping.

The third try came after 18 minutes, when the Portsmouth right winger found himself with a man outside him and one man to beat. With the defender caught in two minds, the winger stepped inside and touched down wide on the right. The conversion was missed but US Portsmouth had a nineteen point lead and Saints had hardly touched the ball.

But then, everything changed. A big shove from Southampton disrupted the Portsmouth scrum, which seemed to lift the home side and remind them they were capable of matching the visitors. They got on the scoreboard soon after when winger Femi Adeniren was put in on the overlap. He showed good pace to beat him man and touch down in the corner. The conversion was wide but Saints were back in the match.

US could have extended their lead after hacking ahead after a high ball was fumbled, but the player knocked on as he touched down. But after this opportunity, Portsmouth rarely troubled the Saints' line for the rest of the half. The score was 5-19 at half time.

Southampton dominated the game from the start of the second half. Dave Griffiths used the wind to stab a ball to within yards of the US line. The line out was working well too, with Pete Tong and Ian Budd stealing a number of balls against the throw. Rob Greenaway earned his man of the match award by being a constant menace and turning over a number of Pompey balls. The backs were also making good ground, having cut out the wasteful kicking that spoilt some promising first half chances.

Aaron Nelson came close to scoring after cutting through a gap from centre. He was brought down a yard short, before being penalised for not releasing on the floor. He made amends later, finishing off a good attack under the posts. The ball went through the hands to the left, where Ward set up and provided quick ball for Paul Brant. He spun it back inside, where Nelson came through on a good angle to evade the tacklers. Dave Griffiths converted, making the score 12-19.

Griff then brought Saints to within three points when he put over a penalty from 40 yards. But despite their dominance, Southampton couldn't find the points they needed to steal the win. When the ref awarded a penalty at the very death, Saints knew they had to run it and made some good ground. But when the ball was kicked ahead, the Portsmouth full back gratefully gathered and kicked it dead. The match finished 15-19.

It was yet another game where Southampton have outplayed a team much higher than them in the league, but come away with nothing. They never recovered from a shocking first twenty, but then saw themselves dominate in almost every other area of the game. Three more league games left and Southampton must start them with the belief that they can score points and win.