Plain sailing for Portsmouth Navy Seahawks as Cents capsize

Rugby League Conference

Southern Premier

Portsmouth Navy Seahawks 54 St Albans Centurions 6

A PATCHED-UP St Albans Centurions side with only four first team regulars on deck were sunk by Portsmouth Navy Seahawks on Saturday in the Rugby League Conference Southern Premier.

The task was huge for the impressive juniors who were thrown in at the deep end to plug the gaps caused by an injury crisis at Centurions.

The Seahawks scored almost from the kick off and were 8-0 up before the young Centurions started to claw their way back into the game with good breaks from John Collins and strong running from Miles Dempsey and John Elvin at loose forward. Experienced players, Oli Fountain and Andy Weldon were also working hard in attack.

Portsmouth added another score before the high point of the day for Cents when Oli Fountain gathered the ball deep in his own half and scored a quite spectacular length of the field try. Matt Sharp added the extra points to make it 14-6.

The Cents very nearly scored again when wingers Courtney Dodds and Alistair Scott made fine breaks but the Portsmouth defence was solid.

Roy Dube, Mark Chapman and Andy Weldon worked hard to stop wave after wave of Portsmouth attacks before the hosts burst through again ahead of half time.

The Junior Centurions had done well to contain a bigger, stronger, more experienced side for 40 minutes but the second half proved a struggle to stay afloat as Warren and Wood scored quick tries for the Seahawks.

Portsmouth added two quick scores after the break, but for Cents there was more good work from winger Dodds, showing great pace and young hooker Michael Singleton who was fearless in defence. Neil Quinn ran well and Shane Rampling did everything he could to muster his troops.

In the last 10 minutes Portsmouth ran riot, adding five more tries to their tally to complete a 54-6 victory that leaves Cents drifting out of contention in the RL Conference table.