Promotion hopes over for another season

The Green and Whites were strangely subdued and clearly did not have the same stomach for a fight as Folkestone who were obviously fired up to reverse their defeat to Horsham in the wet conditions of December.

The forward power, which has been the platform of Horsham’s resurgence this season, deserted them when it mattered most, and the Green and Whites appeared surprised that the Folkestone pack was not going to be bullied across the park as in the previous encounter.

Horsham still have their highest league finish to play for since they returned to the London Leagues in 2007, and the chance of silverware in the Bob Rogers Sussex Final against Lewes in April.

Horsham’s coach Nick Stocker said “I was very disappointed with our performance. We were far below our normal levels of intensity and Folkestone were far more alert and passionate about their game. Jonny Whiting ran some good lines but we were too slow in support.

In summary our performance was not of the standard required against a team that has not beaten us for two years.”

Folkestone showed their intent from the kick-off to enjoy the firmer ground and run the ball whenever the opportunity presented itself, stretching the Horsham defence with ease, and it required tackles from Matt Brown and Will Johnson to prevent certain tries.

Horsham tried to counter when Jonny Whiting picked up a loose line out throw and made a break but his brother James could not gather his pass, as he was being tackled, and then Jonny Ordidge went on a mazy run but he could not find his way into open spaces however the momentum was now clearly with Folkestone who launched an attack from a scrum won against the head, and it required Johnson to make another tackle as the last line of defence to stop a certain try.

Horsham were being pegged back in the bottom corner of the pitch and on 12 minutes from another scrum won against the head, from five yards out Folkestone broke blind for Richie Bowen to score their first try. Straight from the restart Folkestone launched their outside backs to easily outflank the Horsham defence for Richard Dagger to score and take a 12-0 lead.

The game was now end to end and Horsham showed that they could score an excellent try of their own when with good continuity and the ball being passed through several sets of hands going up the hill, prop Giles Barber scored in the left hand corner and Will Bell slotted his conversion from close to the touchline.

Folkestone immediately responded with another try from Adam Tolman following a missed tackle, then Horsham bounced back when Johnson committed two players to put Will Bell over in the left hand corner for the fifth try scored in the last 16 minutes.

Nick Bell suffered a bang on the head which required a reshuffle as Joe Green came on in the second row and Ryan Grover moved to flanker. Folkestone were still in the ascendancy as they missed a penalty and then scored with a later attempt to take a lead of 22-12 into half-time.

Horsham started the second half with a greater intensity playing down the hill. A high clearance kick by Johnson forced a knock on which created the attacking position for two penalty attempts at goal but unfortunately for Horsham they were both missed. This was followed by an opportunist drop goal by Matt Brown which ensured that Horsham came away from this period of pressure with points on the board.

Folkestone’s confident and fluent handling added a further three tries from Tolman, Dagger and Scotty Stewart and Horsham’s cause was not helped when the referee adjudged a James Whiting tackle to be late, and he was sent to the sin bin.

Horsham battled to the end and Matt Stone scored a consolation try after a powerful surge by Ben Pirt.

Horsham’s will be looking to avenge their early season defeat in their next game away to Dartfordians on Saturday March 8th.

Horsham: Talbot (capt), Stone, Barber (Fairs 67); Grover, Goward; Pirt, Bell (Green 28), Jonathan Whiting; Rush, Brown; James Whiting, Ordidge, Taylor; Johnson (Chalk 67)