League and cup double secured!

The game was a fascinating gauge as to how Horsham might fare when they join Crowborough in a higher league next season.
Both sides were missing key players through injury and were having to delve deep into their squads with Horsham fielding four colts from the last two seasons.

Captain Paul Talbot, powerful back row Michael Tredgett and top try scorer Jamie Gibbs were all unavailable, and influential centre Sean Tuhakaraina following a leg break in February was making his comeback on the bench.

In a show of appreciation for their efforts over the last two seasons Ben Rush and Tuhakaraina lead the side out in their final game before returning to New Zealand.

To reach the final Crowborough have battled through some tight encounters with Lewes and Haywards Heath over the last few weeks but nothing will have prepared them for the intensity of Horsham’s early onslaught.

Stand in captain Richard Tredgett caught the ball cleanly from the kick-off and counter attacked, as he was to do many times over the course of the game, to find fly half Tom Johnson who sliced open the Crowborough defence with a 40 yard break but as he committed the final defender his pass was not held.

From the first scrum with the technique of Giles Barber, Matt Stone and Liam Brady in the front row to the fore, and the power coming from Jonny Goward and Joe Green in the engine room of the second row, Horsham drove back the opposition pack but Crowborough were able to get the ball away. Crowborough then tried to put some phases together but were penalised for holding on in the tackle and Johnson put in a long kick to the corner.

Following the line out, after going through several phases, the ball was then spun right and Arun Thompson broke through a gap out wide and stepped his man to score the first try which was converted by Johnson, and after 5 minutes Horsham were leading 7-0.

Straight from receiving the kick off following slick hands along the three quarters, James Whiting followed a great pick up with a 30 yard break to pass to Declan Nwachukwu but he was immediately stopped by a high tackle, and Johnson slotted the penalty.
Horsham were playing with a pace and intensity which Crowborough could not handle. Jonny Whiting picked up from the base of a wheeling scrum, and scrum-half Ben Rush committed the back row defence to put Nwachukwu in the clear who outpaced the cover and side stepped the final defender. Johnson’s conversion attempt from the touchline bounced back off the posts and after 12 minutes Horsham were leading 15-0 and looking set to run riot.

Crowborough though were not going to go down without a fight and having built a succession of good positions deep in the Horsham half it required some great tackles by Johnson, Thompson, Tredgett and Johnny Ordidge to repel the attacks.
Horsham then regained the ascendancy playing with great continuity. Ordidge made a jinking run which was carried on by Nwachukwu but when the ball was spun right the final pass was not held. From the next attack Will Bell went close to scoring in the right hand corner. From the ensuing line out Horsham launched a catch and drive which was finished by Rush, and after 27 minutes the Green and Whites were leading 20-0.

Tredgett fielded the restart enjoying the space within which he was allowed to operate and made good ground but the ball was knocked forward in the next phase. When Crowborough spilt the ball in the tackle Johnson was the first to pounce and the ball was spun wide to Josh Mills who made good ground with a grubber kick. From this position James Whiting ran a direct line off a delayed pass from Johnson to score under the posts.

Horsham were making a clear statement of intent against a higher ranked side in the league.

A tackle from Thompson stopped the next Crowborough attack in its tracks, and after deep kicks for position by both Johnson and Bell, James Whiting straightened the line and broke through the defence with another forceful run but Horsham were unable to add to their score as they reached half time with a 27-0 lead.

With the game appearing to be won Horsham were able to make a number of changes from the bench. Johnson was penalised for blocking and Crowborough kicked for a line out deep in the Horsham half, but when they knocked on under pressure, it was advantage to the Green and Whites and Johnson made a great break up the wing. He then chipped his man and regathered the ball but Will Bell could not hold the final pass for what would have been a stunning try.

Tredgett made a break when the scrum was won against the head but was penalised for not releasing in the tackle. Crowborough countered and this time Jonny Whiting was penalised for not releasing the tackled player and after a break up the wing it required a fine tackle from Nick Bell to snuff out the attack.

Johnson then broke through and when faced with just the full back to beat he floated a long pass out to Nwachukwu who scored his second try in the corner.

Horsham now started to play with an end of season panache more commonly seen in a Barbarians game. After Tredgett had made a great break, Nick Bell flipped the ball through his legs with no other option available and Kyle Fairs made a great pick up and the attack was carried on by Scott Price.

From the next attack the ball was spun wide with the side playing with confidence and this time Mills reverse passed through his legs as he ran out of room knowing that the support would be there as Horsham’s handling skills were put on display in perfect end of season conditions showing dexterity following long hours of handling drills in the winter months.

Nwachukwu made a fine break following up a grubber kick by Will Bell but was tackled by the last defender. Tredgett then made a break and the ball was spun wide to Will Bell who was tackled by the final man and offloaded inside but Crowborough kicked to clear.

Horsham were then penalised for a deliberate knock on but Crowborough did not take advantage when the long kick went dead and a scrum was awarded to the Green and Whites back in the middle.

On 63 minutes Iain Fisher scored after a spectacular diving flip back inside by Johnson as he was going out of play, following an Ordidge break off turnover ball which was carried on by Thompson, to take the score to 37-0.

Horsham were soon back on the attack. The ball was spun side, James Whiting straightened the line and when Mills passed back inside it went to a Crowborough player.

Crowborough scored a consolation try through Gus O’Grady as Horsham briefly fell off a few tackles but Horsham were determined to finish strongly with fresh legs from the bench.

Fairs made a great tackle and after that showed tremendous pace for a prop and then the Whiting brothers linked well to carry the ball on before James Whiting spilled the ball in the tackle over the try line.

Nwachukwu gathered a loose ball and showed great speed to outpace the defence but was tackled by the last defender.

Finally Joey Walker came on at fly half and delayed his pass to draw the defenders on to him and allow Sean Tuhakaraina to burst through to score under the posts to take the score to a resounding 44-5.

Horsham coach Nick Stocker said “It was a great way to end the season. At the beginning of the season the job was to get promoted and retaining the cup was the icing on the cake.

I asked the players to play with fire, passion and confidence, and they certainly put on a show. I feel very proud to be associated with these guys.

It was a full squad effort however if I had to single out three players who were exceptional it would be Tom Johnson for his sprinkle of stardust, Arun Thompson for his outstanding athleticism and Richard Tredgett for his control and the hits he made.
There were great performances from across the park. It was a great way to finish the season and thanks to all the boys.”

Horsham: W Bell; Nwachukwu, James Whiting, Ordidge, Mills; Johnson, Rush; Brady, Stone, Barber; Green, Goward; Tredgett (capt), Thompson, Jonny Whiting. Replacements: Fisher, Fairs, N Bell, Smith, Price, Tuhakaraina, Walker