Horsham V Bromley – Away 20th Oct 2012

Horsham travelled to Bromley for the next league fixture, returning to a ground where we have never won. This season there is greater focus to the senior squads with Lions and 1st Team players fighting hard for the shirts and in so doing providing much needed competition for places. This has translated into performances on the pitch and as such Horsham held high hopes of recording their first win over Bromley away from home.
The game started well with Horsham pressuring the breakdown and establishing good field position. From a scrum, Johnny Ordidge who has been playing very well at centre carried hard into the defensive line and gained a penalty in front of the posts. Will Bell slotted this with ease leaving the score 0-3 after 2 minutes.
In a repeat of last season’s fixture, the next attack belonged to Bromley. With Horsham securing the kick off, an unnecessary penalty was conceded which Bromley’s lively scrum half took quickly. Creating quick ball from the ensuing ruck, the Horsham backs flew up in a disjointed fashion and in so doing left men over for the right wing to score an unconverted try after 4 minutes. 5-3
Almost immediately, Horsham pressured the Bromley catcher from the kick off and Will Johnson returned the clearance kick setting up play in the middle of the park on the Bromley 10m line. Rob Hoskins spotted the gap and darted to the right of the ruck and broke the defensive line. Will Bell in support took a simple pass and sprinted over the try line to score. He did not manage to convert his try leaving the score 5 – 8 after 6 minutes.
Horsham continued to pressure down the slope but were not reaching the levels of cohesion seen in earlier games and despite being in control were not making the most of the chances. A missed penalty and Adam Day going close to a try suggested that the Bromley hoodoo may strike again. On 18 minutes. Will Bell converted his second penalty to put some breathing space between the scores only for a Horsham infringement granting Bromley an easy shot at goal. After 22m the scores stood at 8-11 which was to be the score for the rest of the half.
Horsham needed to vary the game more. Opting to play with more penetration and vary the line out which proved an effective source of possession all afternoon, Horsham commenced the second half conscious that they had not capitalised on the opportunities created in the first half. Playing up hill against a large pack, Horsham would have to show their defensive mettle. Although Bromley had phases of possession in Horsham’s 22m, the waves of attack were well defended with points coming from a well taken drop goal after 43 minutes leaving the score 11-11
Horsham were not able to get out of 2nd gear. Despite appearing comfortable in possession, The Bromley defence and subsequent clearance kicking kept Horsham pinned down at the bottom of the hill. Following another Horsham attack, Matt Brown’s kick for field position was well chased by Martin Tomlinson and Johnny Ordidge and when the loose ball returned to Matt Brown, his pass released Johnny Ordidge who handed off two defenders and powered through a third to maintain his impressive scoring streak. The try was unconverted leaving the score 11-16 after 65 minutes.
Horsham continued to keep Bromley in the game through their indiscipline such that 2 penalties were converted on 70 and 73 minutes respectively leaving the score 17-16 in Bromley’s favour. Horsham were potentially going to rue the profligacy of the first half unless they started to play to the levels that they are capable of. This indiscipline had resulted in a yellow card and the last 10 minutes of the game needed to be played with 14 men
On 76 minutes, Horsham produced 3 minutes of play that came close to the levels of intensity that they have produced in other fixtures. Rucking increased in intensity, the ball carriers such as Neal Holden and Johnny Whiting carried with more purpose and were well supported by the evergreen Rob Clegg and young Tom Gilbert. Mark Brandon, on at half time for Rob Hoskins was spreading the ball to his runners and the penetration that had been missing all game suddenly appeared with a vengeance. Multiple phases eventually saw the ball spread along the line and Will Johnson on the right wing burst through and released his fullback Tyler Aitkin who beat the defender on the inside and crossed for an unconverted try – score 17-21
From the subsequent kick off, the ball was caught and returned by Will Johnson back into the Bromley 22m. Under pressure the winger fielded the kick and punted the ball up field. Iain Fisher initially juggling the ball popped the ball to Neal Holden arriving at pace. With pace befitting his roots as a converted centre, Neal barrelled his way through a gaping hole in the Bromley defence and scored a try from the Bromley 10m line to put the game beyond doubt and secure a 4 try bonus point. Final score 17-26
Horsham had ground out a tough victory on a ground that had never granted much return. The manner of the victory will have disappointed Bromley given their ability to stay in the game and indeed take a lead within the final 10 minutes. However, with dominance at scrum, a slick lineout and more threat in the backs, Horsham were the better team and deserved of their win. It was however not pretty and Horsham will need to get back to the levels of intensity and work effort that saw them dominate bigger sides in recent weeks if the team is to realise its potential. However, 5 points away from home in this league are always welcome and sets the squad up well for next week’s visit of Bromley’s near neighbours Park House.