Horsham win the treble

It is the first time that Horsham have played the same side in three competitive matches before Christmas has been reached. The Green and Whites have won all of these closely fought encounters and it is a sign of the recent progress Horsham have made that this fixture used to be lost as often as it was won.

The two sides know each other extremely well, and the familiarity between the teams, and a lack of surprises lead to an unexciting game. Horsham always had the upper hand in the match but were unable to turn their domination into points.

Horsham made their usual fast start, with a strong wind at their backs, putting huge pressure on Bromley but proceeded to miss their first five penalty attempts at goal in the opening ten minutes which prevented a lead being established and allow the team to relax and play free flowing rugby.

Horsham coach Nick Stocker said “We controlled every aspect of the game and played with great composure. Unfortunately our kickers had an off day and missed 15 points before we scored a try.”

With the first opportunity to stretch the Bromley defence a wide pass from Aled Price enabled Will Johnson to commit his man and put Ryan O’Gorman into space but he was tackled into touch.

On 15 minutes Horsham finally troubled the scoreboard when skipper Paul Talbot grounded the ball from a powerful rolling maul and the try was converted by Will Bell.

From the restart Bell was first to react to the loose ball but possession was not cleanly won requiring a Johnson fly-hack and then Bell to use his poise for a long clearance upfield creating the position to slot a penalty.

Jonny Whiting then caught the ball from the kick-off and made a surging break with inter-passing with Jonny Ordidge but this time the upfield kick was misjudged and went out on the full.

The game then lost a little shape as each side lost a player to the sin-bin and at half time Horsham lead 10-0.

After the break the Green and Whites were pumped up to extend their lead as Whiting caught the ball from the kick-off and with a strong run, shrugged potential tacklers aside and then the ball was spun wide as Johnson tested the Bromley defence on both flanks but was stopped short.

Horsham then had a period of being camped on the try line with a series of five yard scrums and although they were shoving the Bromley pack back at a rate of knots the ball was not under control and they were prevented from scoring by fair means and foul before eventually the referee lost patience and awarded penalty try to Horsham which Will Bell converted.

Bromley started to use the strong wind to their advantage and keep Horsham penned deep in their half and sporadic attempts to break out came to nought when Ordidge made a strong break but then lost possession and Johnson followed up his own high kick with a spectacular crunching tackle but then with 15 minutes remaining Bromley scored a try of their own which was converted to give them hope of a victory that had looked unlikely for most of the game.

Price then calmed any Horsham fraying nerves with a penalty on 75 minutes and then after another break by Whiting, hooker and former captain Matt Stone was first in support showing a surprising turn of pace in the final minute of the match but was hauled down short of the line.

Stocker went on to say “We showed a level of domination at the set piece and solidity in the forwards. Bromley are a hard side to score against and to break down and with it being so windy it was hard to score tries and a high level of accuracy was required.

I was happy with the level of control we exerted but we need to be more clinical with our kicking and the opportunities we missed at the back of the scrum. Overall I thought it was a good performance in difficult conditions.

Jonny Whiting is my man of the match. Paul Talbot on his return to the side was clearly suffering with illness yet lead from the front in the tight and made huge hits throughout the game. Giles Barber should be mentioned for his work in the tight and his counter rucking, Matt Stone for his deceptive turn of pace, Will Johnson always looked threatening and Nick Bell for his outstanding tackles.”

Horsham’s next game is the rearranged league fixture at home to Folkestone on Saturday December 21.

Horsham: Talbot (Penfold 54), Stone, Barber; Johnny Whiting, Grover; Smith (Fisher 40), N Bell, Ordidge; W Bell (Rush 65), Price; James Whiting, Taylor, Gibbs, O’Gorman; Johnson