Hat-trick hero Vince has the artillery to pin down H.A.C.

LONDON 1 SOUTH
Saturday 4th January 2020
Horsham 55-24 H.A.C.
Report by Richard Ordidge

Horsham completed the double over H.A.C. with an impressive 55-24 victory which consolidated their hold on eighth place in London 1 South. This was a third successive win for the Green and Whites who look increasingly comfortable in this league.

The Honourable Artillery Company based in the heart of the City of London, has an illustrious history, with its rugby teams originally comprised solely of members of the Regiment. H.A.C. finished fifth in London 1 North last year but are having a difficult season, playing sides south of the River Thames following a lateral transfer enforced by the geographic locations of teams in London & South East being promoted and relegated.

Horsham made a good start with several phases of possession which saw a penalty awarded and converted by Joe Blake. Great linking between the old Colts combination of Aaron Linfield and Blake then saw tremendous strength from Vince Everitt to hold off several tacklers to run in and score from 40 metres out. Following this some excellent multi-player, multiple phase play from an advantage at the scrum saw Everitt finish well for his second try with a fine line off a ruck which was well converted by Blake, and after 10 minutes Horsham led 15-0.

Lack of concentration saw a try conceded from a scrum which was turned over ball but Horsham soon bounced back following some great ball retention across the pitch which was eventually finished by Jonny Goward and well converted by Blake for the Green and Whites to lead 22-5.

In an open game providing good entertainment for a large crowd in the first game of the New Year the sides were alternating their try scoring, and this continued when missed tackles in the centres saw H.A.C. score a try out wide and Horsham responded on the stroke of half time with a try scored from a good attack structure with Johnny Ordidge prominent with his carries. His offload inside to Marcus Condon saw him finish well for the four try bonus point which was well converted by Blake and Horsham went into the break leading 29-10.

The Green and Whites started the second half strongly. Great multi-phase possession saw the ball retained very well and eventually found Declan Nwachukwu to finish, then Blake stepped his man and broke through the middle to score and convert his own try to put the game beyond H.A.C. at 41-10 after 45 minutes.

Horsham were then able to ring the changes to bring on their bench but went 25 minutes without adding to their score. Meanwhile H.A.C. who had some dangerous runners never gave up and added two further scores to secure their own four try bonus point. During this period the Green and Whites went off the boil as they were disrupted by an injury to Blake and yellow cards to Condon and Will Grief, forcing them to play for 20 minutes with fourteen men and a makeshift backline.

Once they were back to their full compliment they finished the half as strongly as they started it with man of the match Everitt completing his hat-trick following a Nwachukwu break converted by Harrison Sims, and then Sims completed the scoring to convert his own try after a dominant scrum.

A delighted Horsham Head Coach Nick Stocker said after the game: “A pleasing return to league action following the Christmas break. We started at an incredible pace and made very few mistakes that belied any rustiness which combined with the ball retention meant we pressured H.A.C. from the start.

Some of the multi-player and phase tries were excellent to watch and it was pleasing to see the players deliver on their hard work in training.
We had a wobble for 20 minutes after half time which is attributable to fitness and a raft of enforced changes due to some knocks but having weathered that storm, finished strongly to record a pleasing bonus point and our first result over 50 points this season.

Again the front row were excellent today with Dan Cass monumental with his carrying and defensive work whilst Johnny Goward and Jack Osgood had strong carrying games consistently getting us on the front foot.

Our young half backs were excellent today with speed of service and running threat throughout and in Joe Blake, had another contender for Man of the Match until his unfortunate knock.

Johnny Ordidge was a handful all afternoon offering another carrying option and the threat posed by the outside backs was clearly shown at every opportunity.

With the back row everywhere today, the man of match was eventually awarded to Vince Everitt for his all-round performance capped off with 3 excellent tries.

Next week we have a tough away match to Cobham who are one of the form teams in the league and we need to be at our best to get a result. On this performance, it promises to be an exciting game.”

Horsham: Bell J (Sims); Nwachukwu, Condon, Ordidge, Squire; Blake (Grief), Linfield; Bell N, Preston, Cass (Barber); Osgood, Goward; Redmayne, Smith J, Everitt