First league win for Horsham

It has been over twenty years since Horsham have been as high as Old Colfeians in the league pyramid and this was an important test for the Green and Whites against a side who have finished mid table for the last few seasons.

Horsham coach Nick Stocker said: “It was vital to get a win under our belts otherwise it would have started to affect our confidence. Old Colfeians are a good, experienced mid table side so a positive result was crucial to show that we belong in this league.

Our scrum and line-out did not function as well as in recent times against a lumpy pack. Although we have made a lot of changes we were below par and there is definitely room for improvement.

After last week’s thumping we have worked hard on our defensive patterns, we tackled better and looked a lot more organised.
We looked a lot more threatening running in four tries and they only scored their first try because we took risks running the ball out of defence.”

The match started with Old Colfeians in the ascendancy. Horsham were absorbing a lot of pressure and when they forced a penalty the kick at goal was missed.

When Old Colfeians did finally break the Green and White defensive line Will Bell was on hand to force a knock on in the tackle.
Old Colfeians took the lead with a penalty when Horsham were caught offside in midfield then on 18 minutes Horsham hit back after a fine strike move. Johnny Ordidge made a break and ran hard, offloaded in the tackle to Tom Johnson who attacked the space and found Andy Gray who crossed the line under the posts.

On 24 minutes good set up play and rewind resulted in a try for Jordan Smith running a good line off Liam Brady.
There was then the opportunity to extend the lead on the stroke of half time but the penalty attempt was missed and Horsham went into the break 14-3 up.

At the start of the second half Old Colfeians full back Ed Livett made a superb break to carve open the Horsham defence but then his long pass to his left winger was not held. Minutes later Livett broke through again and executed a perfectly weighted grubber kick however Jerry Downey read the situation and covered across to fall on the ball and clear the danger.

The third quarter of the game was characterised by errors. Horsham brought on their replacements and a yellow card was awarded to each team for cumulative offences. The scoreboard was not troubled until Johnson’s penalty attempt went over off the inside of the post after 68 minutes and then on 72 minutes Johnson made a fine break, bounced off an attempted tackle, powered on again and then passed to winger Dan Crook who crossed in the corner to take a seemingly unassailable 22-3 lead.
Horsham were then guilty of over adventure when trying to run the ball out of defence, dropping the ball in midfield and Old Colfeians were clinical to capitalise on the mistake to score.

Horsham attacked again in search of the fourth try bonus point and when awarded a penalty a good attacking position was created as they kicked for the corner, but when the ball was spun wide a lack of precision passing saw the ball spilled and the opportunity go to waste.

Old Colfeians bounced back to score a try of their own, which if converted would have secured a losing bonus point, but then in the final minute in one last desperate attack James Whiting crashed through several tackles in the outside centre channel and stretch for the line to score under the posts amidst much celebration from the home supporters.

Stocker added: “Jordan Smith is my man of the match. He hit his rucks and tackles, tidied up well in the line out and ran a good line to score his try.

Both of our young props, Kyle Fairs and Liam Brady played well, Ryan Grover showed grunt on his return, Tom Johnson put in a good performance and Will Bell was his usual reliable self.

It was a good win to put under our belts but there is much to improve.”

Horsham next face old rivals Dartfordians away on Saturday 3 October. Both sides know each other well, with Dartfordians having won three out of the last four league encounters in London 3 South East, before they were both promoted together at the end of last season.

Horsham: Bell; Crook, Ordidge, Tom Johnson, Downey (James Whiting 63); James Johnson, Mills; Brady, Fisher, Fairs (Barber 55); Jonny Whiting (Price 55), Grover; Smith, Thompson (capt), Gray