Cobham head for promotion with an important victory

With yet another victory in their unbeaten run this season, Cobham have now probably obtained promotion from London 4 South West to a higher league.

Skipper/coach Billy Davison in only his second season with club has now accomplished a magnificent achievement, with Cobham playing some of the best rugby ever played at the club and a performance record that may stand for many years. Cobham have not only a strong first team side but there is also tremendous strength in depth as all the players who enter the side from the second team do so with tremendous ability and make excellent contributions to the team's performance. This overall ability will be very important when Cobham enter a more competitive league.

But the match against Warlingham was one of the toughest games this season and it was a repeat of the narrow victory against Warlingham on their ground last October. The match was very even throughout and both sides scored only a single try each in the second half, Spencer Franks scoring for Cobham to complete the best move of the match, and the difference was mainly due to the five penalty goals kicked by Dan Taylor who had another excellent game. Cobham managed a solid performance in attack but possession overall was fairly even and the team can be well pleased with the result that achieves the target for the season.

At the start of the match it was clear that Warlingham were going to perform well as they opened with a couple of attacks that forced Cobham to defend strongly. Warlingham gained possession in the Cobham half but a penalty gave Cobham some relief, and after a good catch in the lineout and a strong run by Tristan Lee, Cobham made ground deep into the Warlingham half Dan Taylor scoring the first points of the match when Warlingham conceded another penalty. Cobham attacked well from the kick off, Jack Davison and Ben Pickett making strong runs, but Warlingham responded well making an advance into the Cobham half and scrum half Ollie Doe evened the score with a penalty for the visitors. At the Cobham kick-off Billy Davison made a good catch and Cobham won another penalty for Dan Taylor to secure the lead six points to three.

Cobham forced their way deep into the Warlingham 22 but despite a good catch at the lineout, Warlingham proved to have a good defensive pack and prevented Cobham from scoring in a drive to the line. A good speedy run by James Dampier then took play deep into the opposition half, Dan Taylor making a break in mid-field and increased the Cobham lead when he scored a good penalty after Warlingham were penalised at the ruck. Warlingham managed to control possession, forcing Cobham to defend, but at the end of the first half Dan Taylor scored another penalty to give Cobham a 12-3 lead after the Warlingham front row were penalised for poor binding in the scrum.

After the interval Cobham attacked strongly and then were forced to defend a deep kick by Warlingham which Matt Lawrence tidied up very well. Cobham attacked out of their own half, Dan Taylor making a sharp break in midfield to beat the Warlingham initial defence and make good ground feeding a pass to Steve Burton who was tackled close to the Warlingham line. The Cobham back row were first to the ruck and maintained possession, Spencer Franks picked up the ball and sprinted into the corner for an excellent try, Dan Taylor converting from the touch line to extend the Cobham lead. Warlingham responded with a series of attacks and started to move the ball well across the threequarter line, moving forward at pace. The visitors were awarded a tap penalty on the Cobham 22 and tall winger Ben Wisemen used his strength to burst through a couple of tackles to score an individual try in the corner to reduce the Cobham lead to 19-8.

Both sides were keen to score again and the play was very even as there was a series of attacks that required good defence, Ben Pickett and BillyDavison getting in solid tackles that were needed to prevent Warlingham attacks aiming at another try. Warlingham continued the pressure but Cobham were solid in defence, Martin Green showing the magnificence of the defenders taking a pass from Matt Lawrence to run out of his own half and then put in a reliving kick to take play to the Warlingham 22.

Cobham won the lineout and drove for the line but again Warlingham were penalised at the ruck to prevent Cobham progress and Dan Taylor finished off the scoring with a penalty in the final minutes.

Another superb victory and almost certain promotion but Cobham will continue to play at their best for the rest of the season with an away game next week against Old Caterhamians and a massive home match against Wimbledon the following week.

Cobham: D Flower (M Green), J Dampier, J Oliver, S Burton, M Lawrence; D Taylor, S Franks; T Lee, M Bennett, A Darroch-Warren, B Pickett, I Keyser, J Davison, M Lockwood (J Green), B Davison (Capt).

Report by Tony Maddocks