27-19 Defeat of Juddians in Epic Encounter...
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...
Lets start by saying its going to be extremely difficult to do any sort of justice to this rugby match in words.
Those Cobham supporters who were at the Memorial grounds, on the last day of Summer 2010, were witness to an enthralling, tense and ultimately enormously satisfying epic struggle.
Cobham, a side growing in confidence every week met the unbeaten league leaders Tonbridge Juddians and when we use the word unbeaten that is not only the eight matches this Season but in their last 52 consecutive league matches.
Both clubs have made significant investments over the last three years and the emphasis at Cobham has been in developing the links between their highly successful youth and senior sections to support their avowed intention to play high class rugby from a traditional platform.
Cobham have scored tries this season directly from the kick off but on this occasion they were to be on the receiving end as the 'TJs' broke through the Cobham defence to set up a try for winger Jonny Farmer 0-5. Although the try was not converted there was an immediate understanding of why Tonbridge had that unbeaten record however having achieved their own slightly more modest unbeaten record Cobham came back strongly with Richard Jackson taking a quick tap penalty to set up Matt Johnson for a 12th minute equaliser 5-5 which Luke Flower converted 7-5. Tonbridge probably haven't been behind too many times in those 52 matches and with Cobham maintaining their superlative line out ball through the Gibbons/Goddard partnership in a signal that they knew they had a match on their hands Tonbridge made an early tactical substitution.
Cobham were forced to make their own substitution soon after when Director of Rugby Billy Davison came on because of an injury to Leo Coates and as the home team continued to dominate play in the run down towards half time the TJ supporters were subdued as they contemplated losing the first half.
They must have been disappointed when a penalty attempt went wide but immediately from the kick off Farmer completed a brace of tries when he won the race to his kick ahead to touch down. The conversion was from exactly the same place as the previous unsuccessful penalty and number 10 Sam Barnett wasn't going to make the same mistake twice 7-12.
Soon after the second half began Cobham provided as fine example as one would wish to see of a not so much a rolling but steamrolling maul that drove Tonbridge back into their 22 and ultimately lead to a penalty that Flower converted 10-12.
Cobham's confidence was growing all the time and even when a Rob Kennard kick was charged down by TJ number 12 Mr Sykes and converted by Barnett 10-19 you knew that Cobham would come back. Smithers having given 80 minutes in 50 made way for a debut by Leon Van Niekerk who had moved back to Cobham after spending some time at Peterborough.
Although captain Cowell was injured for this match the Cobham backline was being unleashed frequently and when a high tackle took down Andy Flower his brother Luke successfully converted the penalty 13-19 and getting closer. The play was all in Tonbridge's half now and Luke Flower took his opportunity from a tap kick forward to win the touch down and then convert 20-19 and in front.
The Cobham Supporters now sensed an upset and the consecutive win record they were going to bring to an end grew depending upon who you were speaking to and how many pints they had drunk.
However Cobham were not going to achieve this by one point alone they then proceeded to put together the best try of the match with Captain for the day Matt Johnson setting up Andy Flower for a try in the closing moments 25-19 that was converted by his brother to make it 27-19.
The TJ's responded in the last 15 minutes looking to break Cobham's defence and we saw some crunching tackles from everyone but a special mention for Nunnie, Billy and Captain Johnson.
TJ's finally got a chance to reduce the deficit with the a last kick penalty of the match but as the ball went wide Cobham celebrated a wonderful victory
I think the expression is ' the crowd went wild ' as Cobham provided the first major upset in this years league.
This felt like a real turning point for Cobham and a vindication for Director of Rugby Billy in everything he has been looking to do in one of the best games seen at Fairmile Lane for many years.
Team
1 Tristan Lee
2 Chris Gibbons
3 Richard Nunn
4 Leo Coates
5 Joe Goddard
6 Neil Smitherman
7 Simon Ackroyd
8 Matt Johnson (Captain)
9 Rob Kennard
10 Luke Flower
11 Nick Sutton
12 Richard Jackson
13 Chris Moreton
14 Andy Flower
15 Charlie Rooke
16 Leon Van Niekerk
17 Billy Davison
18 James MacDonald
Matt Johnson 1 try
Luke Flower 1 try
Andy Flower 1 try
Luke Flower 3 Conversions 2 Penalties
