1st XV Sutton and Epsom

This season match reports continue to be authored by Paul Hickson who is a Partner at Seniors' sponsor Menzies, to whom we are as ever hugely endebted. If you like Paul's creative writing, you should also try his creative accounting...

It wasn't too taxing writing a match report for last week's away match to Thanet because only five men and a dog could dispute the accuracy, however when you are writing a match report following the largest lunch Cobham have ever laid on,(149 sitting down ) attention to detail might be required, depending of course upon how much those 149  had drunk.

Sutton and Epsom started the match with the same number of wins but their league position was two places higher as they had gained more bonus points in their games. With Cobham now finding themselves in the relegation zone bonus points were starting to take on some significance.

This was always going to be a significant fixture but the RFU had elevated its status even further by providing an International Ref from Treviso, Italy and two linesmen, both male. Would the laws be lost in translation? Would the offside rule cause any controversy? Would any pundits resign?

Alex Cook was making his first start of the season and Tom Webb only his second in an otherwise unchanged line up, bar the return of Rookie to full back.

Cobham started well, driving a ruck into Sutton territory and after just 5 minutes Captain Cowell had points on the scoreboard with a well kicked penalty 3-0 but before you could say, mamma mia, S & E had engineered a quick riposte with a well taken Matt Whiitaker try swiftly converted by number 9 Steve Munford 3-7. Reflecting there was nothing between the teams Cobham came straight back and although Oli Brown's drop kick hit the upright and Andy Alexander just failed to drive over the line, a charge down on the S & E 22 enabled Brown to capitalise and edge Cobham in front 8-7.

Cowell wasn't able to convert the try but we  had 15 points on the scoreboard in 15 minutes, suggesting this could be a high scoring game. With the rugby being played end to end neither side were able to break through the others defence in the reminder of the half.

The forwards had been sizing each other up but were perhaps aware that the Ref was known for showing a 'cartilleno rosso' or two so there were very few penalties being given but when Cobham did transgress

Steve Munford took advantage to regain the lead for S & E just before half time.8-10.

Swiftly after the second half started a Munford, Richens, Burrell break away combination was thwarted but the subsequent penalty enabled the lead to be extended by Munford 8-13. The tackling was as tough as you would expect it to be in this sort of encounter and Cobham made injury substitutions for Jackson ( Avery playing out of position in the centre ) and Webb ( Leon van Van Niekerk ).Without anyone else on the bench Tom was looking to pull Josh Brown out of the second XV match if necessary.

S & E centre Middleton was making some fine breaks and only Rooke's tackle prevented a score. Under pressure the Cobham pack wheeled the scrum to gain the advantage and from that possession for the next ten minutes they camped out on the S & E line. However they could not achieve the score they needed and instead Munford kicked a long range  penalty to take their lead to more than one score 8-16. For the home side supporters it then got worse still when second row Symonds put fall back Richens in for an unconverted try 8-21.

Cobham did not want their Ex Players to go home with that score line and in a final burst Leon restored pride by driving over 13-21 and Captain Cowell ensured a losing bonus point by converting 15-21.

As we said a fond arrivederci to our Ref there was a reflection on how crucial that bonus point may prove to be for Cobham in the weeks ahead.

With next Saturday's opponents Chobham just narrowly missing out on their first victory of the season against Thanet, Cobham's rescheduled match against Wimbledon on February 26th may well now prove to be the key fixture for the remainder of the Season.