1sts beaten at Hove

Late comeback defeats Cobham in penultimate match of season...

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...

You know the Season is coming to an end when you are watching rugby in shorts, you need to wear sunglasses to observe the proceedings and panama hats are on view.

Hove RFC play on pitches on the Recreation grounds and in brilliant sunshine a match between two teams, both having achieved a half century of league points, attracted a large crowd including many Braemar club members who had made the trip from Cobham.

When Hove came to Cobham a couple of months ago Cobham were 20- 8 ahead before Hove's Eubank completed a hat trick of tries for them only for them to still narrowly lose 23-20. Tom was therefore pleased to see that Eubank was missing from the Hove line up on this occasion.

Cobham had Richard Jackson at full back and Sam Waite at scrum half as their main changes from their encounter two weeks and they were hoping to achieve their first win in Sussex having previously lost to Hayward's Heath and Chichester.

Cobham started strongly having been pumped up before the match by Dave 'Shades' Silver but after 15 minutes, Hove having missed one penalty, were successful with the second making the score line 3-0, although the electronic scoreboard showed it as 0-0.

It was always going to be a close fought match, given the league table positions, but Dave was concerned that Hove were 'out motivating' Cobham. Not sure 'out motivating' is a verb or an adverbial phrase for that matter but Captain Cowell understood what it meant and provided the on field encouragement.

Excellent inter passing by the Cobham back line including a break from Richard Jackson put Hove under pressure but strong defending stopped Cobham regaining the lead. After a period of sustained forward pressure it was the forwards who achieved the try that was needed when Doug Rodman took a quick tap penalty to dive over the line. Luke Flower converted and after 30 minutes Cobham were 3-7 in front and soon after Hove having provided some back chat to the Ref, conceded 10 metres, to assist Flower to add a penalty 3-10 at half time. Hove started the second half strongly and a cross kick from their scrum half 'Buddha' Golding was well collected by winger Hale to secure a score in the corner. Well converted by Golding the scores were level 10-10 ( the electronic scoreboard showed 0-0).

Cobham were not to be intimidated and promptly responded with a tremendous drive forwards by Ackers, breaking several tackles, to set up a ball that was fed to 'Fish' for a try under the posts which Flower converted 10-17.

With just 10 minutes to go a penalty was awarded to Cobham which was well converted into points by Flower and the much needed two scores difference had been achieved 10-20.

Everyone thought that was going to be enough, everyone except Hove, because in the space of the last 10 minutes they scored three tries and converted two to secure a comeback victory they had just failed to achieve at Cobham 29-20 ( and the Electronic scoreboard, well, that was still showing 0-0, a score line Cobham would have probably preferred).

Cobham will take heart from the Development XV result winning 32-20 against Hove 2nd XV with four Youth players Richard Philips, Pete Saunders, Jonny Russell and Max Peacock making their senior debuts

With just one home match remaining against an already relegated Tunbridge Wells,Cobham will want to end their Season on a high.

1 Andy Alexander

2 Ed Turner

3 Paul Mayer

4 Tristan Lee

5 Billy Davison

6 Josh Brown

7 Simon Ackroyd

8 Doug Rodman

9 Sam Waite

10 Luke Flower

11 Charlie Rooke