Cobham's last home fixture of 2011 was against League leaders Chichester and was preceded by the Club's Xmas Lunch.
As is traditional, Director of Rugby Billy Davison provided an insight to the assembled throng into what the supporters could expect from the match. Billy appeared to sum it up as follows: 'Chichester beat Hayward's Heath by sixty points last week and Hayward's Heath had beaten Cobham earlier in the season by loads and there were some really big guys in the Chichester changing room! That appeared to manage everyone's expectations nicely although given the DOR is 6ft 6ins no one was sure quite what to expect would be running out wearing the distinctive blue shirts of Chichester.
Suffice to say if that was how Billy handled the pre match team talk then what ensued on the pitch would be an object lesson in just how useful reverse psychology can be!
Cobham came into the match having secured two consecutive wins and having improved their league position by virtue of more bonus points than anyone else in the league. They were also able to field 10 of the previous week’s team and 12 of the 15 who played in their last home game. The ability to be able to be to retain some consistency in selection is being reflected in all-round team performances. However with a 20% win record as compared to Chi's 70% it was going to be a big ask.
Alex Crane was in the back row as David Kersey paired with Billy Davison. Tom Harty was back on the wing.
The sheer intensity of Cobham's play in the first ten minutes will have rattled the Blues, who would not have been expecting that much opposition so soon. Indeed it was immediately apparent that Cobham were not going to be phased by the opposition's league position and they were going to take Chichester on up-front and boss them. So it was very much against the early run of play that the first score went to Chichester when number 10 Stuart Pearham, last weeks man of the match, executed a stunning solo run from nowhere to score the first try 0-5. Cobham were on notice just how individually talented this Chichester side are.
The Xmas lunch having finished, the home supporters metaphorically and in some cases literally poured onto the sidelines to see an almost immediate Cobham riposte. Having scored numerous tries this season, from the momentum that the pack can create, the try was completely typical with Doug Rodman driving over in front of the scoreboard 5-5. Owen Ashton converting from far out 7-5 and Cobham were in front.
Cobham continued to maintain the forward pressure and they were releasing the backline to challenge but the next score came from an even more impressive running display, this time from Chichester’s full back Rich Adams who collected on his try line to run the length of the pitch to feed Fijian Manoa Satala for his debut try for Chi 7-10.
Although behind again Cobham knew that they were not being outplayed and as if drawn towards the scoreboard their second try in the same corner saw fly half Luke Flower score with what would be his last play of the game as he collided with a Chi defended in touching down 12- 10. Physio Dave Silver sensing the potential seriousness of the collision appeared from nowhere to secure Flower's head. All was well and Moreton came on as substitute but it’s on these occasions Cobham players know they are literally in very safe hands.
As if to demonstrate just how competitive this first half had been the fifth score of the game, a penalty by Chi's Pearman, meant the lead had changed five times 12-13 but in scoring their third try in front of the Club House just on half time the Blues went six points clear 12-18.
The second half started with the opposition looking to capitalise but were now to be confronted with some equally individual skill. Tom Harty evaded several defenders to secure territory that eventually enabled Cobham to release the ball from the forwards to Chris Moreton who made no mistake in scoring in the corner 17-18. Captain Cowell was next to display his talents just missing an audacious drop kick and then expertly collecting a Kennard kick ahead.
With Ashton securing a penalty soon after 20-18 the home supporters dared to think the improbable - A repeat of the famous Tonbridge Juddians* win? However Chichester are not league leaders for no reason and in a well crafted forward move they provided prop Wheeler with his moment of glory as they drove over from a line out for a bonus point try 20-23.
Cobham came back again and in a sustained period of pressure sought to regain the lead and with just two and half minutes remaining a Chi infringement provided Ashton with a pressure penalty which he took well to make it 23-23. That was looking to be the final result until Chi were awarded their own penalty from just inside the Cobham half. Pearman stepped up to the plate and probably still doesn't know how it missed because for all the world it looked good from the moment he struck it. Shaving the outside of the post the Ref blew the final whistle and it was a end of a compelling match, honours even.
It should be reported that the quality of the game owed much to the excellent Ref and line officials and Cobham came off the pitch with their heads held high having lived up to their Corporate Sponsors name in a match they were expected to lose. It will be very much 'Happy Mundays' for the Principal Sponsors and anyone who wasn't able to be there but reading the report today.
* The last time Cobham had played League leaders at home was against Tonbridge Juddians in October 2010 and that match has gone down in Cobham history when they came from behind to win and bring to an end a 52 consecutive win record.
1 Richard Nunn
2.Chris Gibbons
3.Paul Mayer
4.David Kearsey
5.Billy Davison
6.Doug Rodman
7.Dave Baker
8.Alex Crane
9.Rob Kennard
10.Luke Flower
11.Billy Bates
12.Arran Cowell
13.Kevin Fisher
14.Tom Harty
15 Owen Ashton
Replacements
Ben Joyce
Julian Kunkler
Chris Moreton
Tries
Rodman
Flower
Moreton
Conversion
Ashton
Penalties
Ashton (2)
Match report by Paul Hickson
