Horsham face reality check

In their first league game of the season away to Tunbridge Wells, Horsham faced a reality check of what they can expect to face in London 2 South East following promotion. After being runaway winners of London 3 South East the gulf in standard between the two leagues was clearly evident.

In mitigation, Horsham were missing inspirational captain Paul Talbot, as well as Arun Thompson and Andy Gray in the back row who would have tightened up Horsham’s defence.

On this form Tunbridge Wells look well fancied to be in the promotion mix at the end of the season and it has been several years since Horsham’s defence has been shredded so clinically and ruthlessly conceding eleven tries in the process.

There was little sign of what was to follow in the first quarter. The Green and Whites had the edge in the scrums and were competitive at the breakdown but after some poor tackling, Tunbridge Wells showed their pace on the counter attack to open up Horsham’s defence with some precision passing and runners coming at pace from deep for scrum half Chaz Spence to race through under the posts.

Tom Johnson slotted a penalty when Tunbridge Wells were penalised for slowing the ball down and not rolling away, and then on 19 minutes Johnny Ordidge was first to react to a loose ball, after a stray pass from the home side when trying to run the ball out of defence, and run in under the posts from 20 yards. With the try converted Horsham were leading 10-7 and it appeared to be game on.

This brought Tunbridge Wells to their senses. Horsham, who had operated the tightest defence in League 3 last season, found themselves being cut to shreds as they conceded a further five tries in 20 minutes before half time from Tom George, Ben Kennard, Nick Doherty, Hayden Pope and Charlie Harding. Only some brave last ditch tackling from Will Bell and Declan Nwachukwu kept the scoreline down to 40-10 at the break.

Horsham started the second half brightly and after some good handling in the three quarters, Bell and Nwachukwu combined well for Bell to sprint down the left touchline from halfway to score.

The Green and White midfield defence was not functioning with the same suffocating intensity as last season and Tunbridge Wells were quick to exploit missed first up tackles and gaps when they appeared, and played at a pace which Horsham could not live with.

Spence, Harding and Lennin Malifa ran in further tries to the take the score to 61-17 after 55 minutes as Tunbridge Wells chased 100 points.

Horsham brought on their replacements which appeared to galvanise the side and when they tried to move the ball from a good attacking position, Harding was adjudged to have knocked on deliberately and was yellow carded. The Green and Whites turned the screw and forced Tunbridge Wells to concede a succession of penalties and another yellow card, and Simon Gaynor scored from a pushover scrum.

Shortly afterwards Nwachukwu raced through to score from the halfway line for the bonus point try to reduce the deficit to 61-29 but then outside centre Harding returned to the field and fly half Pope both scored their second tries to complete the scoring.

Horsham coach Richard Bell was reflective in defeat. “We started well but we did not read situations and they executed a simple game plan very well running at our weak areas. At times our line speed was slow, and by not going up together they got in behind us and created some good tries. At times I felt we looked flat in the midfield area but Declan, Will Bell and Richard Tredgett stood out for their tackling.

We learned a lesson today. It was the wake-up call we needed and showed we must react quicker. The league will be tough this year and we now know the level that is required.

We haven’t become a bad side overnight. We will work harder at training this week and you will see a different Horsham next Saturday.”

Horsham face Lewisham based Old Colfeians at home on Saturday 26 September for their first home league match of the season with kick off at 2.00pm. Old Colfeians narrowly beat Ashford in their first league match.

Horsham: Bell; Hart (James Whiting 25), Ordidge, Tom Johnson, Nwachukwu; James Johnson, Mills; Brady, Grantham-Hill, Barber (Fairs 55); Jonny Whiting, Green (Plumpton55); Tredgett (capt), Fisher, Gaynor