Green and Whites return to winning ways

The Green and Whites returned to winning ways with a 36-17 triumph on Saturday, despite incurring three yellow cards.
Stocker said: “This is a team which has frightening potential. We have aspirations to go up into London 1 in the next two years. A lot of our players were in the second team last year. One third of our team are teenagers and another three or four are in their early 20’s. It shows the quality of our coaching is providing the building blocks for the future.”

Tom Johnson ran a straight line to crash through after 6 minutes which he converted. Johnson was then yellow carded in controversial circumstances when the referee adjudged that he had deliberately knocked the ball on, and Alleynians went on to level the scores. This however did not deter the Green and Whites and with 14 men on the pitch, Will Bell took over the kicking duties to slot a penalty, and a sniping run from scrum-half Josh Steggles led to a try after a turnover from the line-out, and Horsham led 15-7.

Johnson returned to the fray and then Rob Grantham-Hill was yellow carded for a similar knock on offence, but Horsham again made light of their numerical deficiency and following a great drive from the line-out, Andy Carvell ran a fine line to score, which was converted by Johnson. Alleynians came back with a try from a driving maul on the stroke of half-time and Horsham went into the break leading 22-12.

The Green and Whites scored their fourth and bonus point try on 63 minutes when Giles Barber crossed the line following a series of great offloads by Nick Bell, Adam Clarkson and Michael Tredgett, and then a fine counter attack going the length of the field involving Bell, and Declan Nwachukwu lead to Steggles scoring his second try. Johnson converted both scores.

There was still time for Horsham to incur their third yellow card when Dan Crook was sent to the bin and Alleynians came back with a consolation try in the final minute.

Compared with previous weeks there was greater precision in attack and improved ball retention. The set piece was dominant, especially the line-out, where Ryan Maguire and Clarkson stole lots of opposition ball. Tredgett also made a real impact when he came on in the second-half with repeated carries over the gain line.

Stocker was delighted to see Ryan Maguire, 18, make a successful first team starting debut as he carried out excellent set-piece play. He said: “This was an 80 minute performance. We were much better than we were for a number of weeks. We exerted control, dominated and scored tries.”