Michael is the real deal

There was a wake up call for Horsham as they were beaten at home by a sharper, hungrier looking Deal & Betteshanger side who now climb above them to third in the table. The Green and Whites attempted to play the more expansive game of the two sides but were let down by handling errors in the windy conditions.

Visiting captain and scrum-half Adam Michael must take the plaudits with four well taken tries as Horsham were slow to react to quickly taken tap penalties several times.

The Green and Whites need to ask questions of themselves such as how the tight defence of last season has become one of the porous in the league, as Deal & Betteshanger helped themselves to six tries.

Horsham head coach Nick Stocker was disappointed saying; “Our defence around the rucks and fielding kick offs was disappointing. We had a lack of focus and concentration at key moments and we were not clinical in attack and defence. They played a simple game and they did it effectively.”

Horsham started the more quickly of the two sides and were soon on the front foot after a strong run by inside centre Andy Gray, when Deal & Betteshanger were penalised for not rolling away at the breakdown, and Joe Wilde slotted the penalty.

Michael Tredgett fielded the restart but received a head injury, and when Deal & Betteshanger received Horsham’s clearance kick they started to use their pick and go to great effect and once awarded a penalty Michael made good yardage from a quick tap running at the heart of the Green and White defence as a sign of things to come.

When awarded another penalty Deal & Betteshanger kicked for a line out 20 yards out and then Michael ran though some weak tackling by Horsham’s half backs to score his first try.

Horsham responded by trying to move the ball wide but the Deal & Betteshanger winger was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on. The Green and Whites kicked for the corner to create the attacking position, and it was actually off a Deal & Betteshanger line out that the ball was moved wide to Gray who saw the gap open up and with a direct run scored under the posts. Following the conversion from Wilde, Horsham lead 10-7 after ten minutes.

Deal & Betteshanger then came back and showed the power of their driving maul sending Horsham back 40 yards followed by their pick and go game. The Green and Whites defended resolutely through several phases until they were penalised for offside and Michael took a quick tap five yards from the try line to score unopposed as Horsham retreated.

Horsham responded immediately when Deal & Betteshanger were penalised for coming in at the side, were marched back ten yards for disputing the decision, and Wilde kicked the three points as Horsham retook a 13-12 lead after 25 minutes.

Deal & Betteshanger were playing with greater zest than Horsham and when the Green and Whites were penalised for feeding at the scrum they took a quick tap and from the next breakdown Michael hurdled a couple of prostrate bodies on the ground to score and complete a first half hat-trick of tries.

A superb covering try saving tackle from winger Sam Shepherd prevented Horsham falling further behind but the half ended with the Green and Whites desperately defending their own try line against a well organised Deal & Betteshanger outfit and went into the half time break 17-13 down.

Jonny Whiting made a powerful break at the start of the second half which was finished off by Gray who bumped off a couple of attempted tackles to score his second try to regain an 18-17 lead.

Deal & Betteshanger responded immediately when their number 8 picked up from the back of the scrum to run blind and feed Michael to round the tackle and run in his fourth try with devastating simplicity, and will make disturbing viewing for the Horsham coaches on playback. Although the conversion was missed, Horsham were never to regain the lead, and Deal & Betteshanger were 22-18 in front.

Wilde narrowed the gap with a penalty but then Deal & Betteshanger winger Luke Armstrong scored a superb individual try when he caught the ball on the full following up the restart when Horsham’s defensive pod was in the wrong place, evaded a couple of attempted tackles and put his side more than a score ahead at 29-21 with the try converted.

The Green and Whites tried to respond and patiently went through several phases but when Richard Tredgett could not hold on to James Johnson’s pass, Deal & Betteshanger hacked the ball downfield, and when Shepherd was tackled trying to run the ball out of defence, he was penalised for not releasing but Deal & Betteshanger missed their attempt at goal.

As Horsham’s attacks became increasingly frantic knowing that they had to score twice, Deal & Betteshanger had a player yellow carded at the breakdown, and from a scrum Johnson delayed his pass to send Gray over for his hat-trick. The try was converted by Wilde to narrow the deficit to 29-28 with two minutes remaining.

Horsham’s defensive frailties were again exposed when from the restart fly-half Connor Moss kicked long, but Horsham full back Mike Watts was indecisive, let the ball bounce a couple of times in the in goal area, knocked it on and Deal & Betteshanger were the first to follow up and dive on the ball to score. Fortunately for Horsham the kick was missed to provide them with a losing bonus point, and the scoreline flattered the Green and Whites with only two out of the six Deal & Betteshanger tries converted.

Horsham’s next fixture is away to Beckenham on 12 December.

Horsham: Watts; Shepherd (Bell 65), Ordidge, Gray, Wilde; J Johnson, Mills; Barber, Grantham-Hill (Stone 70), Talbot; R Tredgett, Whiting; Gaynor, Thompson, M Tredgett (Price 15)