Losing run continues for Horsham

LONDON 1 SOUTH
Saturday 7th December 2019
KCS Old Boys 43-19 Horsham
Report by Richard Ordidge

Despite sitting one place above KCS Old Boys in the league table at the start of play the visitors knew that their depleted side with eight positional changes from last week’s starting line-up would be facing a tough afternoon at Motspur Park which proved to be the case in losing 43-19. KCS Old Boys swept all before them last season in winning London 2 South West with a 100% record scoring a four try bonus point in every game, and if they continue to field this quality set of three quarters will enjoy another successful campaign. Horsham have now suffered five successive defeats and will need to return to the kind of form they were displaying at the start of the season otherwise they risk being sucked into a relegation dogfight.

KCS Old Boys raced into a 19-0 lead at half-time with tries from George Taylor, Brodie Wilson and James Houstoun two of which were converted by Gareth Stoppani.

Houston added his second following a charge down from the kick off, then on 51 minutes the Green and Whites troubled the scoreboard for the first time when Jordan Bell won the race to touch down a nudge through the KCS Old Boys backline by Frankie Smith. 26-5.
Following an intercept Theo Alexis scored and when on 58 minutes Taylor completed his brace against the run of play, Horsham were looking down the barrel at 40-5.

The introduction of Josh Earle and Ian Paku seemed to inject a greater energy into Horsham’s play. Good multi-phase play saw the ball eventually reach Christian Squire to score which was converted by Smith, and then Paku scored a stunning solo try beating several defenders along the way to bring a measure of respectability before Stoppani closed out the game with a penalty.

A disappointed Horsham head coach Nick Stocker said after the game, “Another below par performance from us today which is frustrating. We started brightly but when we didn’t make headway immediately we started to go off plan and kick the ball away to a dangerous set of backs. We did not execute our Lineout effectively today, particularly in the opposition 22m where 4 lineout opportunities were missed. We finally woke up after 65 minutes when playing a little tighter and looking after the ball better we sucked in defenders creating space for a couple of good tries, but it was too little too late.

Rich Tredgett was voted man of the match by KCS and other notable performances came from Mike Watts who showed fight throughout, and youngsters Ian Paku and Josh Earle when they took the field. We have much to work on if we are to arrest the current losing streak going into the Christmas break over the next two weeks starting with an interesting match at home to London Cornish where a large crowd is expected.”

Horsham: Watts; Sudder (Condon), Ordidge, Bell J, Squire; Smith F, Linfield; Bell N (Cass), Preston, Barber (Earle); Goward, Tredgett; Cass, Smith J, Redmayne