Horsham win ugly!

In what is shaping up to be one of the most tightly contested championships in years, the Green and Whites remain top of the table on points difference from Dartfordians. This was a much changed side due to injury, unavailability and last minute withdrawals.

Folkestone are renowned for their strength being in a talented three quarter line and therefore it was a surprise for the spectators to see Horsham being dominated for the first time this season in the scrums and line outs. Particularly impressive were the Stones props, Tom Carvill and Alex Evans, making his debut.

From the Horsham perspective it was fortunate that Folkestone did not use their possession more wisely and indeed despite the home side’s superiority in the tight, the Green and Whites made better use of the ball with fewer mistakes but found the Folkestone defence difficult to breakdown.

Despite having less set piece possession, Horsham dominated the territorial battle and it was from one of the few Folkestone incursions into the visitor’s 22 metre area that, on 25 minutes, Sean Tuhakaraina made an interception and ran 80 metres to score under the posts to put Horsham into a 10-0 lead, which was converted by Will Bell. Bell had already slotted a penalty when Folkestone strayed offside.

On the stroke of halftime Ollie Walton crossed the line for a well worked try when Folkestone engineered an overlap to reduce the deficit to 10-5 and amazingly this was to be the last score of the game.

The second half was largely a stalemate with gaining first phase possession being a problem for Horsham but the defence held firm and whenever Folkestone put the ball over the top, man of the match Will Bell was there to clear up and relieve the danger.

Horsham coach Nick Stocker was happy with the result if not the performance: “Despite the dominance they had at the set piece we fashioned a few openings but our composure let us down and we forced needless offloads.

We did some good approach work going through several phases of play but then coughed up possession when we should have been more clinical.

Considering they had more first phase possession, I felt that we had an element of control, and kept them pinned in their half.
Our defensive structure was good, and from memory the only clear cut opportunity they created was when they scored.

There are no excuses from the changes in personnel and I thought that Will Bell’s positional play at full back was outstanding.”

Horsham’s next game is at home to Gillingham Anchorians on Saturday 22nd November when a reunion lunch is being held for former players.

Horsham: W Bell, Layzell (Downey 70), Tuhakaraina, Ordidge, James Whiting; Johnson, Rush; Talbot (capt), Fisher, Brady; Smith, Jonny Whiting; M Tredgett (Price 58), N Bell (Pirt 50), R Tredgett