On a dry and blustery afternoon at Fairmile Lane, Cobham and Thanet
Wanderers fought out a high scoring and entertaining London 2 fixture, with a final try-count of 7
to 5.
Though they sit in the lower half of the table, Thanet came
into the game with a run of three victories, including an impressive win at Gravesend. This good form was reflected in the first
minutes of the game through Thanet pressure in the Cobham 22. This early pressure
was relieved by a nice break by Cobham’s scrum half Spencer Franks, who started
this match looking much sharper than on his return to the team last week.
The opening score of the match came after 10 minutes with
Cobham moving the ball neatly to the left and into the hands of wing Tim Green,
who kicked over his opposite number, collected on the bounce, and scored wide
out to the left. Green was unable to
convert his own try. Five minutes later Thanet replied with a try by their
speedy wing, who capitalised on a Cobham break-down in the Thanet half. This was to be the first of several examples
of the pace available in the Thanet threequarter line.
A penalty by Green after 18 minutes restored the Cobham lead
at 8-5.
During the next ten minutes, the Cobham pack came under
significant pressure, several times being shunted backwards as they tried to
secure their own ball. Not many teams in
the division have been able to do this to a Cobham eight. Big Number 8 Andrew
Letts was prominent, with a number of powerful contributions. The Thanet backs
too at this stage continued to threaten and show the running potential that was
to pay dividends in a strong second-half performance.
For the last eight minutes of the half, however, the game
changed markedly and Cobham ran in three converted tries. In effect, the game
was won during this period of sparkling Cobham play. The first of the tries
resulted from a pick up and drive by Jack Davison, a link through the
supporting Franks to Nick Sutton and the score; the second followed a period of
pressure by the Cobham pack, and a five yard scrum which was skilfully advanced
over the line for Franks to score to the right of the posts; the third try
during this crucial period followed a strong run by lock Ben Pickett and an
equally strong drive by hooker Heinrich du Plessis who scored near the posts.
Half time came with Cobham leading comfortably at 29-5. This
score did not reflect the territorial balance of the game, but rather the
incisiveness of the Cobham XV in making and taking their opportunities.
Cobham started the second half on the same note, and after 4
minutes went further ahead following a break in the centre by David MacCallum
and a neat inside pass by Piers Gregory to Davison (J) who scored under the
posts. Green converted, 36-5.
After 12 minutes of the half Mr. Dillon yellow-carded Thanet
number 7 Simon Harris for killing the ball in the ruck; this was the only negative note in an
otherwise clean game, played in good spirit by both sides. No significant advantage
came from the sin-binning, with each side scoring a converted try during the
ten minute period that visitors were reduced to 14 men: Thanet’s try came from
another elusive run from the speedy Tom Ash, and was converted by Richard
Eldridge; Cobham’s from fly half Gregory following good ground gained by the
Davison brothers. The score at this stage was 43-12 to Cobham.
The final twenty minutes of the game were belonged to the
Thanet Wanderers team, which showed the form which has led to their recent string
of good results. During this period they scored 21 points to Cobham’s 7: three
converted tries to one. Despite the fact
that the Cobham pack was beginning to dominate in the tight, Thanet showed a
willingness to run the ball at every opportunity and, further, the skills and
speed to penetrate the Cobham defence; centre Ash and wing Michael Capeling
were particularly prominent and seemed able to take on and beat Cobham
defenders at will. During this period - and against the run of play - Cobham hooker
du Plessis showed great strength in muscling the ball over the line and down
for his second try; but there was no doubt that the spirited Thanet side
finished the stronger.
In the media tent after the game “two-try” du Plessis said
he had found the whole thing very enjoyable, though it was not clear whether he
was commenting about the game or the boerewörst which had been specially flown
in as part of the celebration of his birthday.
So, another win by the Cobham, but one which has not
improved their overall position in the league, for both Basingstoke
and Dorking recorded wins. Cobham played well and showed an instinct to create
and score tries, but will be disappointed to have conceded five tries and 33
points. Their usual very organised and committed defence was breached on a
number of occasions and, although this reflected the enterprise of a spirited
Thanet XV, the coaching team has some work to do over the next weeks to ensure
that Cobham finishes the season with three more wins.
Cobham Team: Cowell; Sutton, Fisher, MacCallum (Smedley 61),
Green: Gregory, Franks; Raikes, du Plessis, Alexander (Nunn 52); Davison (B),
Pickett; Campbell (Creed 56), Cook, Davison (J) (captain).
Tries: Green, Sutton,
Franks, du Plessis (2), Davison(J), Gregory.
Conversions: Green
(6)
Penalty: Green
Thanet Wanderers: Eldridge; Capeling, Ash, Macaulay,
Whittlesea; Brewin, Longdon; Teall, Wakefield, Green; Easter, Etheridge; Massey
(captain), Harris, Letts.
Tries: (5)
Conversions: (4)
