November 4th  2007

Cobham 31 pts         Esher 0 pts

League One

Playing at the Old Reedonians ground, Cobham kept their cool to score 5 tries in an emphatic win over Esher.

Playing up the hill in the first half, Cobham played most of the game in the opposition half with good driving and a solid scrum helping us keep our position. Mays and Philip held the upper hand and won the first 3 scrums against the head. After a good break and drive the ball could have come right with a 2 man overlap but instead we went left where Clifford did well to drive through and score the first try.

The Esher kick off was good but Cragg stayed strong under pressure and Cobham relieved to half-way. The game was then evenly balanced with the Esher line-out working well and both defences remaining solid, with Hickman in particular doing well. A couple of break outs from the Cobham pack led to good field position on the Esher 22 from where Gazzard cut back and burst through to score a good try well converted by Markham.

More good interplay from the kick-off led to Cobham returning to the Esher 22 and starting to play good all round rugby. The battle for the ball at the breakdown was fierce and Esher started to lose discipline when decisions went against them. From a penalty to Cobham on the 22, Esher were penalised 3 times for verbal backchat to the referee leaving him no option but to award a penalty try.

Half-time 19-0

The second half started brightly with Markham making a stunning break and passing to Gazzard for another try. The linking play then started to work with Koep and Flynn providing support to good moves, and after a couple of drives, Clifford took a great line to break through and pop to Koep for the fifth try, converted by Markham.

After this the game progressed with Esher making a couple of breaks but tackling from Gazzard and Conor holding firm. Then there was further ill discipline from Esher that led to the referee blowing early.

In the backs Markham led the line well and there was some good movement but the passing needs to be more crisp. In the forwards the scrums went well, and the rucking game was generally good when we had enough numbers although we will look at the penalty count. Our own penalties also need improving to avoid Philip being sold his own dummy! Man of the match is Clifford for an excellent all round game.

Most of all though the lads maintained great composure in a tough game when the opposition were losing their heads—well done lads!

Neil McCallum