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Sat 27 Feb 2016
Tunbridge Wells
1st XV - Men
20
10
Tries: M Stone, A ThompsonYellow Carded: M Tredgett
Cup Run is Over
Nick Stocker29 Feb 2016 - 12:29
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Horsham run Tunbridge Wells close in a tight game where rub of the green went with the hosts.
The Regional Quarter finals of the RFU Intermediate Cup saw Horsham draw league rivals Tunbridge Wells away in what on paper would undoubtedly be a tough day at the office for Horsham. Boasting a 100% league record and focussed on trying to “do the double” Tunbridge Wells are an excellent team. Playing a confident side on their own patch is always a challenge – especially as every supporter probably thought a repeat of the opening day heavy defeat Horsham suffered was to be repeated.
Horsham however had not read the script and although eventually succumbing to defeat, made life extremely uncomfortable for Wells from the start. Dominating both the set piece and the contact areas throughout, with the back row trio of Mike Tredgett, Thompson and Gray to the fore, the final whistle left Horsham with a sense frustration of what might have been had they got the rub of the green with some decisions.
Horsham lost the toss and kicked off up the slope and into the strong wind and seemed to settle immediately into their stride moving the ball well and making good ground through both forwards and backs. With both sides feeling each other out, the early exchanges were predictably tense. Despite the elements in their favour, Wells ignored the obvious kicks for territory and in the face of a disruptive aggressive defence were harried into mistakes and turnovers. Within the first 10 minutes, a lapse in concentration from the aggressive line speed saw Horsham drawn offside and Wells ignoring the kick at goal selected the catch and drive option. This confidence was misplaced when the Wells drive was disrupted and the ball cleared giving Horsham confidence that they were getting the better in the tight exchanges. On 15 minutes, the mistake was not repeated and a penalty in front of the posts was converted by TW’s fullback Pope. 3-0
This became the pattern of the 1st half with most of the play centred between the 10m lines with occasional forays into the Horsham 22m due to penalties conceded by the defensive line. Horsham’s aggression at the breakdown, typified by the tackles and ruck clearances by the likes of Richard Tredgett and Paul Talbot disrupted Wells’ attacking shape, and with the set piece also creaking, Wells were restricted to chipping the ball into space. On 21 minutes, a chip over the aggressive defence bounced kindly allowing the Wells second row to make good ground before being tackled 5 meters short. With the support of numbers and the first time that Horsham’s defence was disorganised, Tunbridge Wells scored their first try through a short pop and crash over the line from close range by Doherty for a try converted by Pope – 10-0
The game continued in the same vein for the remainder of the half and with the Horsham backs looking threatening when turnover ball was moved and the pack continuing the disruption of the breakdown, the half ended with Horsham only 10-0 down and everything to play for with the slope and elements in their favour.
The second half kicked off and immediately Horsham secured good field position and looked for the catch and drive only for the throw to be blown off course by the stiff wind. With TW now restricted to playing in their own half, ball was turned over and moved wide through excellent hands by the Horsham forwards including Talbot, Barber, Rich Tredgett and Harcus who released Stone to score wide on the right. In tough conditions the kick was missed, but Horsham were back in the game with the score 10-5 after 43 minutes.
Horsham dominance in the scrum and lineout continued with TW showing all their experience by beginning to wheel the scrum or feed the ball in attempts to secure possession. Despite suffering from a lack of quality first phase ball, TW did however make two forays into the Horsham 22m both of which yielded tries on 53 mins and 60 mins respectively. With the dominance of the Horsham scrum, these scores were sorely felt given the way both originated from scrums that were both suspiciously fed and wheeled. On both occasions, Horsham expected the turn over only for the momentary hesitation to be capitalised upon by Spence who scampered through to score TW’s 2nd try and for the 3rd, the TW 8, picked from the wheeling scrum to drive very close to the line and with quick ball releasing the backs for replacement centre, George to score. With both kicks missed, the game entered the final quarter with Horsham losing 20-5
Thereafter it was all Horsham. With the ball kept in the TW half and more often than not in the TW 22m, Horsham moved the ball and established field position from which to launch attacks. On 62 minutes, a catch and drive was well executed with Thompson bursting off to score in the right corner for another unconverted try. 20-10
With additional chances going begging through the combination of desperate TW defence and the difficult conditions, the game entered the final 5 minutes with Horsham chasing the game. A chance of 3 points was ignored to go for the corner only for the kick to find touch in goal and yet another let off. In the final act of a tight game, Horsham continued to knock on Wells’ door and despite protestations were not awarded a clear try when Gray once again barged over in the right hand corner. It was all too little, too late and much to TW relief, the ref called time on a thrilling match. Horsham will look forward to channelling their disappointment in the final league game of the season when TW visit Coolhurst.
Although the result was disappointing, Horsham’s performance was much improved and should Horsham achieve these levels consistently will prove a challenge for any team in the league for the remainder of the season. Defensively the line speed led by James Johnson cut down the space for TW’s backs and with the Horsham back row in the ascendancy in the contact area, TW were denied the chance to get their game going. With the Horsham front row of Talbot, Stone (Grantham-Hill) and Barber dominant and the work rates of Harcus and Rich Tredgett in the second row ensuring dominance in the lineout, the Horsham half backs of Mills and Johnson ensured pressure was maintained throughout. There were a number of contenders for man of the match and given the fine performances by numerous players, this was eventually narrowed down to the back row and ultimately given to Andy Gray whose tackles, carries and work rate at the contact area saw him narrowly pip his back row colleagues.
Horsham however had not read the script and although eventually succumbing to defeat, made life extremely uncomfortable for Wells from the start. Dominating both the set piece and the contact areas throughout, with the back row trio of Mike Tredgett, Thompson and Gray to the fore, the final whistle left Horsham with a sense frustration of what might have been had they got the rub of the green with some decisions.
Horsham lost the toss and kicked off up the slope and into the strong wind and seemed to settle immediately into their stride moving the ball well and making good ground through both forwards and backs. With both sides feeling each other out, the early exchanges were predictably tense. Despite the elements in their favour, Wells ignored the obvious kicks for territory and in the face of a disruptive aggressive defence were harried into mistakes and turnovers. Within the first 10 minutes, a lapse in concentration from the aggressive line speed saw Horsham drawn offside and Wells ignoring the kick at goal selected the catch and drive option. This confidence was misplaced when the Wells drive was disrupted and the ball cleared giving Horsham confidence that they were getting the better in the tight exchanges. On 15 minutes, the mistake was not repeated and a penalty in front of the posts was converted by TW’s fullback Pope. 3-0
This became the pattern of the 1st half with most of the play centred between the 10m lines with occasional forays into the Horsham 22m due to penalties conceded by the defensive line. Horsham’s aggression at the breakdown, typified by the tackles and ruck clearances by the likes of Richard Tredgett and Paul Talbot disrupted Wells’ attacking shape, and with the set piece also creaking, Wells were restricted to chipping the ball into space. On 21 minutes, a chip over the aggressive defence bounced kindly allowing the Wells second row to make good ground before being tackled 5 meters short. With the support of numbers and the first time that Horsham’s defence was disorganised, Tunbridge Wells scored their first try through a short pop and crash over the line from close range by Doherty for a try converted by Pope – 10-0
The game continued in the same vein for the remainder of the half and with the Horsham backs looking threatening when turnover ball was moved and the pack continuing the disruption of the breakdown, the half ended with Horsham only 10-0 down and everything to play for with the slope and elements in their favour.
The second half kicked off and immediately Horsham secured good field position and looked for the catch and drive only for the throw to be blown off course by the stiff wind. With TW now restricted to playing in their own half, ball was turned over and moved wide through excellent hands by the Horsham forwards including Talbot, Barber, Rich Tredgett and Harcus who released Stone to score wide on the right. In tough conditions the kick was missed, but Horsham were back in the game with the score 10-5 after 43 minutes.
Horsham dominance in the scrum and lineout continued with TW showing all their experience by beginning to wheel the scrum or feed the ball in attempts to secure possession. Despite suffering from a lack of quality first phase ball, TW did however make two forays into the Horsham 22m both of which yielded tries on 53 mins and 60 mins respectively. With the dominance of the Horsham scrum, these scores were sorely felt given the way both originated from scrums that were both suspiciously fed and wheeled. On both occasions, Horsham expected the turn over only for the momentary hesitation to be capitalised upon by Spence who scampered through to score TW’s 2nd try and for the 3rd, the TW 8, picked from the wheeling scrum to drive very close to the line and with quick ball releasing the backs for replacement centre, George to score. With both kicks missed, the game entered the final quarter with Horsham losing 20-5
Thereafter it was all Horsham. With the ball kept in the TW half and more often than not in the TW 22m, Horsham moved the ball and established field position from which to launch attacks. On 62 minutes, a catch and drive was well executed with Thompson bursting off to score in the right corner for another unconverted try. 20-10
With additional chances going begging through the combination of desperate TW defence and the difficult conditions, the game entered the final 5 minutes with Horsham chasing the game. A chance of 3 points was ignored to go for the corner only for the kick to find touch in goal and yet another let off. In the final act of a tight game, Horsham continued to knock on Wells’ door and despite protestations were not awarded a clear try when Gray once again barged over in the right hand corner. It was all too little, too late and much to TW relief, the ref called time on a thrilling match. Horsham will look forward to channelling their disappointment in the final league game of the season when TW visit Coolhurst.
Although the result was disappointing, Horsham’s performance was much improved and should Horsham achieve these levels consistently will prove a challenge for any team in the league for the remainder of the season. Defensively the line speed led by James Johnson cut down the space for TW’s backs and with the Horsham back row in the ascendancy in the contact area, TW were denied the chance to get their game going. With the Horsham front row of Talbot, Stone (Grantham-Hill) and Barber dominant and the work rates of Harcus and Rich Tredgett in the second row ensuring dominance in the lineout, the Horsham half backs of Mills and Johnson ensured pressure was maintained throughout. There were a number of contenders for man of the match and given the fine performances by numerous players, this was eventually narrowed down to the back row and ultimately given to Andy Gray whose tackles, carries and work rate at the contact area saw him narrowly pip his back row colleagues.
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