7 tries in the second half see Cobham home and dry

Cobham carried on their run of consecutive wins in this season with a fine victory over visitors Winchester.

Billy Davison was back in the side and led from the front to ensure that the Cobham pack was at its best and giving the backs the opportunity to show their paces and skills. For the second week running, Cobham had an emphatic victory over a good side, having total control in a pacy second half after a far more even first half. Despite scoring four tries in the first half, Cobham's lead was reduced to 20-14 as opponents Winchester scored two converted tries but the visitors were unable to progress further to limit Cobham's lead.

Winchester played some good rugby in the first half and if they had managed another score either side of half time they could have proved to be highly competitive in the second half. But Cobham set off at a phenomenal pace in the second half and scored another four tries in quick succession to quickly add another 20 points, putting the result beyond doubt and added another three tries later in the second half. Overall Cobham scored eleven tries in a highly entertaining game, much enjoyed and appreciated by the sizeable spectator crowd.

This win keeps Cobham at the top of the London Three South West league and the performance so far this season will be of interest to the other top sides.

At the start of the match Cobham scored their first try in the opening minute of the game. Winchester were penalised at the kick-off and when Cobham threw in a short throw, Ben Pickett caught it virtually uncontested and sprinted in a full thirty metres to the Winchester line for Cobham's opening try of the game. Cobham kept up the attack and from a scrum under the visitor's posts the ball was spun wide by Martin Green to winger Andy Flower who sprinted in for Cobham's second try. Winchester responded strongly with a series of attacks in the Cobham half, they stretched the Cobham defence causing a tackle to be missed and scored a good try, Richard Kaye going over under the posts and Andy Ashman converting.

Cobham struck back immediately with their third try, the pack driving forward strongly from a lineout in the Winchester 22 and Mark Bennett touched down. Winchester showed how well organised they were with a series of attacks causing strong Cobham defence, and when the play was diverted back to the touchline the visitors scored their second try, Stuart Morton going over and the conversion was successful to reduce the Cobham lead to 15-14. With every chance of the visitors taking the lead if they scored again, Cobham maintained a decent lead with a try just before half time, No8 Ryan Haynes driving for the line following a lineout and forward drive and gained an important score.

With only a six point difference the second half kicked off with both sides able to gain victory but the position rapidly changed in the first five minutes as Cobham leapt into emphatic scoring mode with immediate success. First J-P O'Reilly made a sharp break up the blindside of a scrum and his dummy pass to Andy Flower broke the defence, resulting in an excellent try. In the next Cobham attack open space was easily found and after a series of passes Ben Pickett ran in over 30 metres to score another try, expertly converted by Paul Hichcliffe. Cobham were now totally in control with both the backs and forwards at the top of their form and Winchester found it very difficult to defend given the pace and support play of the attacking players.

Another speedy move upfield was finished off by Nick Jones in the form of a pacy try and moments later Cobham defended well against a kick down field by Winchester and ran the ball back at the opposition, Ryan Haynes finishing off the move with a 30 metre sprint to score yet another try. As a result, Cobham had scored four tries at the start of the second half and notched up a 42-14 lead to put the result beyond doubt. Winchester, to give them credit, continued to attack with vigour when they had possession but were unable to score and it was Cobham that were able to carry in with their impressive intersections of the opposition defence. J-P O'Reilly scored another try, beating three men in his dash to the line, and then Nick Jones scored a second try, running in on a Matt Hahn pass. Finally Cobham scored their eleventh try of the match, Hamish White finishing off the move that had gone end to end on the pitch with nearly all players involved.

Cobham: N Sutton, A Flower, M Green, P Hinchcliffe, L Bendall ; N Jones, J-P O'Reilly; R Nunn, M Bennett, A Darroch-Warren, B Pickett, B Davison (Capt.), J Davison, J Green, R Haynes

Report by Tony Maddocks