Senior League Review

So that’s that then. Season done, leagues all wrapped up, and a hard earned but worthy 3^rd place upon our return to London Two, 4 points behind second placed Dorking, and 6 adrift from winners Basingstoke.

Had our away form (W 5  D 1  L 5  F 185  A 170) come a little closer to our home form (W 10   L1   F 321  A 127), then our challenge would have been that much stronger – but all in all a highly successful season, which augers well for our tilt at next season’s league.

Perhaps slightly against expectation (most certainly against Staines’ expectations!!!), home form and perceived advantage counted for nought as Dorking beat Staines 11 – 7 in the London Two play off match at Staines on Saturday, and secured their place in the next flight for next season – the newly entitled National League Three London and South East division.

We wish Ritchie Andrews, Hoady and the Dorking guys well in their travails next season (and of course, League winners Basingstoke). Neither will wish to emulate the 2008 London Two South winners Haywards Heath, who, having gained promotion to this years London One, have returned a record of played 22, lost 19, (plus one further loss in the cup) and despite the re-organisation and re-sizing of the leagues, are one of only two clubs in the whole country being relegated from that level.

With Wimbledon beating Aylesford Bulls in the London 3 play-offs, it leaves our league (to be re-titled 'London One South' next season), as follows:

Three Surrey clubs, two from Sussex and nine from Kent; giving us 26 league fixtures (up from 22 last year).

With no appeals or level transfers apparent at our level, this should be definitive – but given the propensity of the RFU to keep the goalposts on well oiled and ever mobile wheels, nothing should be taken for granted until the fixture lists are issued!

Elsewhere, the “A” XV finished a very creditable 4^th in the Surrey Premier Reserve leagues, which was won by the unbeaten Chobham 2^nd XV, winning 10 from 18 games; and but for a couple of early set backs might well have fared better; and the 3^rd XV won their Surrey Combination league, losing only one match along the way.

Next season should see the end of the worst of the ELV’s – in particular the ridiculous experiment we have had to endure this year with the collapsing of the maul being allowed. Given our current forwards that should be to our favour as next season gets underway; and it could be argued that the game as a whole has been disfigured by that particular law change, and there seem few people who will mourn its passing!

Ian Johnson

Club President - Cobham Rugby

• To see who won the Senior Playing Awards this season please click here