One point victory over Haywards Heath...
On a great day for The Club with 3 sides at home and all 3 sides winning the 1st XV played their part edging in a tight and entertaining match against Haywards Heath.
Cobham gave final appearance to youngsters Joe Goddard and James MacDonald before they head off to play rugby in Australia and senior players Richard Nunn and Kevin Fisher returned to the starting line up.
Cobham started off from where they finished last week with Cobham on the attack straight from the kick off and almost scoring out wide. The Cobham got a long range penalty but this unfortunately this went wide of the posts.
'Heath' then took their opportunity from midfield to get the ball wide to score a converted try.
Leon was taking the ball up into the heart of Heaths defence and causing them problems with his breaks off the scrum. which was leading to a high penalty count which Cobham took advantage of to brink Cobham within one point of Heath from 2 Luke Flower penalties.
Ten minutes from the end of the half Cobham pressurized the Heath line and, with Heath conceding a number of penalties for offences on the ground, they received a general warning for repeated infringement. Then from a five metre scrum which Heath were penalized for standing up in the scrum and the ref awarded Cobham a penalty try which Luke Flower converted.
Then just before half time Heath scored their 2nd try out wide, the conversion missed.
A half time change saw the introduction of Simon Ackroyd in the backrow for Doug Rodman and Cobham started the 2nd half well and from an attack inside the Cobham half the ball passing through a number of hands for a good try finished off out wide by full back Oli Brown.
The Cobham pack were taking full advantage in the scrums to lay a platform for the backs to attacked. Joe Goddard in his first and final match of the season after coming back from travelling and then heading off after the match to Australia was running the line out well.
Fresh legs were brought on for Cobham, Robbie Kennard who had another good game came off for Will Avery. The Cobham defence was defending well and it wasn't until the 75th minute that Heath got a 3rd try out wide to take back the lead to 20-18.
Cobham didn't panic and got themselves back into the heath half where heath conceded a penalty. Luke Flower kicking deep into Heaths 22 and from the line out heath conceded another penalty which Luke Flower took full advantage of to kick Cobham into a 21-20 lead and win the match.
This was another good performance by Cobham who are learning and gaining in confidence from every match. Next week Cobham have another tough fixture away at Portsmouth. All support welcome ...
1 Andy Alexander
2 Chris Gibbons
3 Richard Nunn
4 Joe Goddard
5 Billy Davison
6 Doug Rodman
7 Matt Johnson
8 Leon Van Niekerk
9 Rob Kennard
10 Luke Flower
11 James MacDonald
12 Arran Cowell (Captain)
13 Kevin Fisher
14 Charlie Rooke
15 Oli Brown
16 Paul Mayer
17 Simon Ackroyd
18 Will Avery
