10 Try Haul over Ashford

Horsham entertained Ashford at home on the 20th Feb keen to right the reversal of the previous weeks heavy loss to Sevenoaks. Ashford have endured a tough season and would be keen to register their first win this season but unfortunately they came up against a Horsham side that was in fine form and ended up on the receiving end of Horsham’s backlash.
All in all, 10 tries were scored leaving the result the highest score registered by Horsham in this seasons campaign and a much needed 5 points to maintain pressure on the race for 3rd place in the league. Whilst the back 3 caused most of the damage with young winger Declan Nwachukwu scoring a hat trick of tries and Mike Watts extending his tally by a further 2 with Will Bell converting 6, the damage was done by the quality first phase possession delivered by the pack and the quick ball that was used effectively by half backs Josh Mills and Tom Johnson.
The first 5 tries were scored by the 25th minute and demonstrated both the power play by Horsham’s forwards when a catch and drive was finished by Mike Tredgett, as well fine first phase tries from Nwachukwu and Watts. The pick of the 1st half tries was a fine multiple phase try seeing great interplay between forwards and backs and punctuated with good offloads for Arun Thompson to finish.
The second half saw Nwachukwu complete his hat-trick, Arun Thompson complete his brace and Ollie Harcus and James Johnson finish fine tries before the momentary lapse in concentration and defensive structure saw Ashford’s 10 break the line and pop inside to his support to score a converted try on 70 minutes. This stirred Horsham once more and fine move in the backs saw Mike Watts complete his scoring to leave the final score 62-7.
An altogether much better performance that brought together defensive and attacking elements of Horsham’s game that will be tested far more extensively in the next fixture in the RFU cup away to league leaders Tunbridge Wells.