Tunbridge Wells

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...

Match Report Cobham First XV v Tunbridge Wells

Cobham began their 2010/11 season in warm sunshine at Tunbridge Wells RFC on Saturday 4th September.

It wasn’t just the First XV who had made the trip because Cobham A XV were also running out with them at the St Marks ground and will shadow them all season as they play their equivalent team in a new London South 1 reserve league.

To therefore see 40 Cobham shirts emerge from the Clubhouse and jog in formation across the pitch was an impressive sight to behold.

It was only as the teams lined up and the match programme consulted however was there a full appreciation of how much change had been effected during the summer months. It was one of those ‘Don’t policeman look young these days’ moments as it became clear that Cobham had adopted a extensive rejuvenation of the squad with 4 under 21s, a second row comprised of an 18 and 20 year old and only three players over 30. The AXV had eight under 21s.

Cobham have lost their first match of the last three seasons and it was obvious from the start that new Captain Arran Cowell and Director of Rugby Billy Davison were not going to allow that to happen again.  Within the first 20 minutes Cobham were playing extensively in the TW half and the first score went to Matt Johnson driving over after the first of a number of displays of forward power which had TW literally on the back foot.  The Ref was awarding numerous penalties to Cobham as TW struggled to come to terms with the speed and force being exerted by these Cobham Young Guns.  A large group of Cobham supporters including ex players had made the trip to Kent and were already commenting ‘how glad they were that they weren’t playing their rugby these days’.

Alex Crane (20) and Joe Goddard (18) were the new second row pairing and they were making the presence felt in the scrum; line outs and the loose play with some bone crunching tackles. They were being supported by a new look back row as well, where Charlie Pope and Neil Smitherman were joining Matt Johnson for the first time.

New hooker Chris Gibbons, previously of Sutton and Epsom, was having success in the front row and with his line out throwing and new boys Kennard and Binner enjoyed their back line opportunities.

It was however the sheer keenness to achieve that was preventing the successful conclusion of some moves. With Billy providing guidance from the touch line the ‘patience’ that was being called for paid off as after a couple of disallowed touch downs were deemed to have been held up ‘Smithers’ made a point to the ref with an emphatic push over try. Olly Brown the new number 10 returning to Cobham from Chobham converted to make it 12-0

When TW did find some space to break through it was another 18 year old, winger Charlie Rooke, who was not only tackling but turning over ball.

Patience paid off again when a further Cobham scrum enabled Smithers to obtain his brace of tries for the first half and Cobham finished 17-0.  With the AXV finishing their first half on the adjacent pitch 19-3 all was set fair.

The second half was something of a disappointment for Cobham as injuries forced substitutions and Cobham lost their momentum. However stiff resistance prevented TW scoring and a debut try from Charlie Pope meant all the Cobham tries came from the back row ensured a bonus point for scoring 4 tries. Captain Cowell’s conversion made it 24 points –Nil

After the first League matches Cobham are the only side who have not conceded a point. With the A XV winning 31-10  it was good start for Cobham’s new look sides but this will be a tough season with harder fixtures to come.

After many long years of attempting to achieve the breakthrough the much sort after linkage between the youth and senior sections has now been made. Credit must be given to all the Mini and Youth committee Chairmen and Committees, especially Steve Heard, who over the years have worked to effect this, and to Tony, Billy and Greeny for having the courage to make in happen.

Paul Hickson