Billy Davison leads Cobham to Surrey Cup victory

This was Cobham's first game in the Surrey Cup and they continued their success in this season with a fine win against local rivals Weybridge Vandals.

With six changes to the side that performed magnificently in the league last weekend, Cobham played very well for most of the game with excellent contributions from the younger players playing their first games of the season in the first team. Miles Taylor, Ben Pickett and Bobby Clouston all had good games and Cobham now have strength in depth in their senior teams that will be improving the chances for exceptional success this season.

Skipper/coach Billy Davison should be well pleased with the sides performance and he himself played a major role in the No8 position to lead Cobham to their victory in this match. After scoring two tries at the start of the match Cobham seemed likely to win by a good margin but a strong response and good play by Vandals either side of half time reduced the Cobham lead of twelve points to a mere two points.

Fortunately for Cobham tries from Mark Cox and Gavin Hart restored a good lead but when Vandals scored a try towards the end of the match there was every chance of extra time if they scored again. In the closing minutes, Dan Taylor scored the final try to secure the win for Cobham by a margin which accurately reflected their performance.

Overall the match was won by six tries to four and Vandals can be proud of their achievement against the current league leaders who now seek to advance their participation in the Surrey Cup.

At the start of the match Cobham were quickly into their stride using their possession well to run through their planned moves and stretch Vandals defence. The Cobham side made good ground, eventually surging through the Vandals 22 with good support play and Gavin Hart was able to finish off the move, diving in the corner for Cobham's first try, Dan Taylor converting.

In the next attack, Vandals appeared to have everything well covered but a kick ahead by Dan Taylor was not cleared and Matt Lawrence picked up the loose ball to sprint through for a try under the posts. Vandals responded well with some good attacks that took play deep into the Cobham 22 and after winning a penalty, took a lineout in the corner, a good catch and drive gave Andy Howe the opportunity to score Vandals' first try.

Good play by Cobham, with a solid run from James Green and then Mark Cox getting close to scoring, soon forced a penalty, and from the lineout Billy Davison secured a clean catch but when held over the line was able to release a pass to winger Mark Cox who plunged over for Cobham's third try. With only minutes to go before half time, Vandals struck back with a pacy attack, Cobham initially defending well with Gavin Hart providing a try saving tackle. The visitors kept up the pressure, pushing the Cobham scrum back when only five metres out from the line and Guy Lovatt dived on the ball for Vandals to score an important try.

At the start of the second half, Cobham stepped up a gear with a series of attacks but a loose pass was intercepted just inside the Vandals half and Jacob Sines sprinted 60 metres through to the line to score Vandals' second try, reducing the Cobham lead to a mere two points. Cobham's Spencer Franks then took control, chipping ahead for Martin Green to secure, and after Gavin Hart had made further ground his pass to Mark Cox allowed the winger to finish off the move with a try to extend the Cobham lead.

Cobham continued to play well and appeared to have scored another try but the observant referee spotted a forward pass. Cobham kept up the pressure, and from a lineout in the Vandals 22 Billy Davison won clean possession allowing the forwards to drive for the line as a strong unit with Gavin Hart scoring his second try to finish off the move.

Cobham were now well in the lead but Vandals were far from out of a possible result and kicked deep into the Cobham half following up well to put the Cobham defence under pressure. The ball bounced awkwardly, the Cobham defence finding it difficult to clear, and Vandals were able to secure possession with Guy Holvey-Clarke sprinting in for a try under the posts to reduce the Cobham lead to a single score. With ten minutes to go to the end of the match there was every chance of extra time if Vandals scored again, but Cobham managed to finish with another score. Ben Pickett charged through at pace in the middle of the field and after the Cobham back row provided good support, Dan Taylor finished off the move with a try under the posts, which he converted.

Cobham now look forward to the next round of the Surrey Cup having beaten a highly competitive side in a good game where Vandals gave them a good run for their money.

Cobham: N Sutton, M Cox, J Oliver , M Green, M Lawrence ; D Taylor, S Franks; T Lee, J Green, C Melton, M Taylor, B Pickett, B Clouston, G Hart, B Davison (Capt)

Report by Tony Maddocks