Horsham V Park House - 27 November 2012

Horsham faced Park House at home in the next round of league fixtures and unlike previous weeks where conditions had been glorious, the wind and rain combined to level the playing field and in so doing contributed to a dour encounter that was not a compelling spectacle. Nevertheless, Horsham eventually prevailed and scored 4 tries in the process to maintain pressure on the league leaders and demonstrated a dogged approach to play that will bode well for the wetter months to come. Horsham did however make hard work of the fixture which is testament to Park House’s refusal to lay down. Park House have struggled with availability and injuries, but as they approach their full squad, the experience in the scrum and the half backs will ensure that they push teams all the way and will certainly fight their way out of their current league position.

It was in this vein that starting with the wind at their backs, Horsham started slowly and allowed Park House to gain field position from a penalty conceded on halfway after 6 minutes. The line out was taken cleanly and Park House set up a catch and drive which Horsham did not work hard enough at defending. The result was a try out wide which was well converted against the wind leaving Park House 7 points up after 7 minutes.

This stirred Horsham from their slumber and as the team began to gain possession, Horsham gradually began to use the conditions in their favour and play for territory. The game was a litany of mistakes and interdictions by the referee which did nothing for the flow of the game and the murmurs in the crowd were based on Horsham’s perceived lack of desire. After 15 minutes play, Horsham secured a scrum in the Park House 22m and subsequently secured a penalty. Rather than take the points, the decision to re set the scrum was taken to drive home the dominance achieved here. Over the next 15 minutes, Horsham camped in the Park House 22m and systematically dismantled the opposition scrum achieving penalty after penalty but much to the confusion of the players and supporters, no penalty try. In this period, one push over try was knocked on in the act of scoring, and Park House’s 7 and 9 were sin binned for persistent infringement yet still there was no penalty try awarded. Eventually, on 29 minutes, with the 9 in the bin, Mark Brandon picked up the ball at the base of the scrum and sniped across the line for a try he converted himself – 29 minutes 7-7.

The score remained 7-7 until half time and whilst Park House can justifiably be proud of holding out against the wind with 13 players on the pitch towards the end of the half, Horsham recognised that they should have done better and with the rub of the green would have been awarded 2 penalty tries and a half time lead at the very least.

Horsham required to up their intensity and speed of the game instead of playing to Park House’s pattern. This desire exploded into life in the 65th minute when a multi-phase and multiple hands across forwards and backs saw Rob Clegg cross for a try converted by Mark Brandon 14-7

This set the tone and the Horsham forwards gained the confidence in their fitness and handling ability and despite the weather, strung together multiple phases that created space all over the pitch. On 67 minutes following a trade mark barn storming run from Neal Holden, the ruck was re-cycled left to Scott Price who handled the ball left down the line. Neal Holden showed his considerable gas for a prop and took on the winger getting dragged down just short of the line. With the ruck won, Scott Price was again on hand to offload the pass to a supporting Ryan Grover who crossed for his first try of the season. The kick was missed leaving the score 19-7 after 67 minutes.

After 72 minutes, Horsham forwards were at it again. Following a line break by Johnny Ordidge in the centres, the ball was spun left to Johnny Whiting, Scott Price and Rob Grantham-Hill. Slicing a line from the left into the centre of the park, Rob GH drew the final defender and passed off to Will Bell who scored his second try in 2 weeks. This score was again unconverted leaving the score 24-7 after 72 minutes.

Horsham handling and pace now came to the fore and for the remaining 10 minutes went close to a further score when following yet another fine handling movement, Rob Clegg was hauled down just short and a subsequent infringement allowed Park House to clear.

Although not the best of performances, Horsham were very pleased with the bonus point win. The team needs to start and maintain the intensity and cohesion that glimpses of recent matches have shown. The next few weekends are all huge fixtures that will have a significant bearing on where Horsham finishes in the league this year and whether aspirations will in fact be achieved. Horsham will need to start with a bang against Folkestone away next weekend if they are to record their first win over Folkestone for 2 seasons. On paper it promises to be a good game.