Bognor's revival comes to abrupt halt

After the previous week’s outstanding performance against Guildford, Bognor started with great determination to avenge their defeat at Teddington earlier in the season.

An early attack saw David Sweeney driven over the line by his forwards, but the try was disallowed by the unsighted referee.

Bognor continued to apply the pressure and were rewarded with a try from Armandus Morgan.

Teddington realised they would have to work a lot harder to overcome this much-improved Bognor side and they replied with a converted try and another try to make the score 12-5 with a few minutes to go before half-time. Then came a real turning point. Teddington’s No8 drove for the line only to be tackled by David Sweeney, Bognor’s man of the match, who found himself yellow-carded for allegedly using the tackled player to propel himself forward.

From the penalty Teddington kicked for goal making the score 15-5 at half-time.

The second half began with Bognor down to 14 men. Teddington put on the pressure but determined defence kept them at bay.

Sweeney returned from his yellow card and was fed the ball on the halfway line. Teddington missed two tackles and with the defence stretched, Sweeney scored under the posts and converted his own try.

Bognor captain Lee Balchin had to retire through injury and this reduced Bognor’s strike-power.

Despite Jack Tompkins disrupting the Teddington lineout, Bognor were unable to build further attacks on the Teddington line.

Teddington’s much larger pack began the dominate the set-piece with several driving mauls which sapped the strength of the Bognor forwards who had worked so hard.

This led to Teddington scoring 21 unanswered points to take a much-needed five points.

Bognor play their last home game of the season this Saturday when London Cornish visit (3pm).

BOGNOR: Morgan, Mitchell, Broome, Tompkins, Misslebrook, Groome, Balchin, Barlow, Legge, Sweeney, Brock, Riggle, J Burgess, Stevens,

B Archer, Howard, Greenslade, N Archer.