Bognor edge Chichester in pulsating contest in front of a record crowd

This was the first time the two teams had met at 1st team level for 17 years and the result meant Bognor retained the renowned O’Hagan Sausage Cup, they also moved top of Hampshire Counties 1.

The packed pre-match luncheon added to a fantastic atmosphere, the players running out to the biggest crowd Hampshire Avenue had ever seen. Despite the high stakes involved, however, the match was played out in the best of spirits.

The early pressure came from Bognor, who capitalised on a penalty for a high tackle by kicking to the corner. From the ensuing lineout, second-row James Rimmer crashed over for the first try.

Chichester hit back with a strong run from skipper Tyrese Makasi and, after three penalties, he finished off an overlap on the left touchline by strolling over. A fine conversion by fly-half Tom Mahon gave Chichester a two-point lead.

Chichester were prepared to run from deep whenever the opportunity arose, but Bognor began to put together dangerous attacks of their own, full-back Freddie Hayes beginning to show glimpses of his deft footwork.

After 20 minutes Chichester seemed to be gaining the upper hand but out of the blue, Hayes set off on one of his mazy runs, leaving five would-be tacklers in his wake. Just when it seemed he was going to go all the way he was ankle-tapped and stumbled to the floor.

Somehow he managed to offload to the supporting Connor Herrington who flew over for Bognor’s second try. When Halligan’s conversion hit the crossbar and bounced over, no-one realised how crucial that piece of good fortune would be at the end.

Chichester lost a man to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on and Hayes cut loose again down the right. He was stopped by a fine tackle and seemed to be holding on but the referee allowed play to continue and Noah Flinn made good ground before popping the ball to Simon Billingham. The big prop crashed over near the posts for a try, converted by Halligan.

With the gap now 12 points the visitors had the last word of the half. Aided by another two penalties they hammered away at Bognor’s line but were held up in the goal area. Just before the whistle, full-back Rory Dowling crossed for a fine try which he converted to narrow the gap to five points.

Chichester came out for the second half all guns blazing and the home defence was caught napping as centre Rhys Thompson dummied his way over from 30m out. The conversion meant Chichester had regained the lead.

Bognor fought their way deep into the visitors’ 22 and were held up over the line. Experienced Jack Hornibrook, on at scrum-half for Alfie Spurle, was yellow-carded two minutes after taking the field.

With Chichester well on top, Halligan broke away from inside his own 22 but was penalised for holding on in the tackle when a defender managed to grab his shirt with his fingertips. Chichester rubbed salt in the wound by kicking the penalty to move five points in the lead.

The visitors were using the increasing wind intelligently but another two yellow cards turned the momentum Bognor’s way once again. Herrington finished off a fine move for his second and Bognor’s bonus-point try, and his conversion nudged his side back into a two-point lead.

When Bognor were penalised at the tackle area again, Chichester regained a one-point lead, only to put themselves under more pressure with another yellow card. The three points on offer were turned down by Bognor who opted instead for a scrum in front of the posts. The hoped-for breakthrough failed to materialise and, when another penalty was taken quickly and knocked on by Hornybrook, it looked as if their chance had gone.

With a couple of minutes left, depleted Chichester were hanging on – but a final penalty was awarded to the home team and this time Halligan stepped up to give his side a two-point lead.

Bognor’s outstanding young team, with Jamie Foote receiving his eighth MoM award of the season, saw the game out – and celebrated long into the night.