Horsham run riot in second half try blitz!

The Kent side have been something of a bogey side to Horsham having won four of their five league and cup meetings since their return to the London leagues.

The Green and Whites won the ball back from their own kick off and launched a multi-phase attack which was turned over by Gillingham who countered down Horsham’s blind side requiring a good tackle from Will Bell to prevent a breakaway.

Horsham were hammering away at the Gillingham defence with good link up play between Richard Tredgett, Arun Thompson and Sean Tuhakaraina, then Bell fed James Whiting who almost broke through on the left wing.

Thompson was stealing Gillingham ball at the front of the line-out and it was from one such turnover that Horsham went through several phases of attack before Jamie Gibbs was brought down just short of the line.

Finally on 10 minutes after the point of attack had been switched both ways, Richard Tredgett fed his brother Michael, who was supporting on his shoulder, and burst through the gap to run in from 25 yards, with the try converted by Bell. Minutes later Bell extended the lead with a penalty when Gillingham were penalised for offside.

Horsham were playing to their patterns with good continuity, support runners making themselves constantly available, probing for gaps in the Gillingham defence, and it seemed only a matter of time until the scoreboard reflected the quality of their play and territorial dominance. But Gillingham were defending resolutely and would not lie down playing off scraps of possession and always posing a threat on the breakaway. The amount of tackles Gillingham were having to make took its toll and several players left the field with injuries causing them disruption as the game went on.

Jonny Whiting straightened the line, crashed through several tackles but was held up on the try line and although the second quarter became a battle of Horsham’s attack against Gillingham’s defence the Green and Whites were unable to turn their pressure into further points, and at half time Horsham were leading 10-0 which did not reflect the balance of play.

The second half was a different story as Horsham ran in a further five tries. Thompson again stole line out ball, and after a powerful drive from the forwards Richard Tredgett crossed the line to score. Further tries were added from Johnny Ordidge after good phase play, Thompson with an interception from inside his own half, Ben Pirt racing in from 25 yards having been put through by Kyle Fairs, and Matt Stone showing great athleticism to round the cover defence. To complete the scoring, Bell slotted a further three conversions and two penalties.

Gillingham came close to scoring on occasion in the second half but Horsham were unyielding in defence of their line, and when Anchorians kicked over the top, Gibbs was first to race back to ground the ball and force the 22 yard drop out.

Horsham coach Nick Stocker said “We got into our patterns quickly and dominated the game in terms of territory and possession. Other than at kick offs in the first half they only got into our half once when they missed a kick at goal. We have been creating a lot of opportunities in recent weeks but we have tried to force it when we get close to the try line.

At half time I said we needed to refocus and be more composed in the crucial phases especially when we get into the red zone.

All in all it was a better performance in terms of attitude and approach. We looked a well drilled cohesive unit, defended our try line well to shut them out, and throughout the game limited them to a few individual breaks.

I was encouraged by the performance of our two young props. Kyle Fairs was back at tight head after injury and Liam Brady came on in the second half giving us strength in depth and they will be an asset to the club in future years.

Arun Thompson was my man of the match closely followed by Will Bell, Sean Tuhakaraina, Richard and Michael Tredgett, and Tom Johnson who controlled the game well from fly half.”

Following a week off Horsham’s next game is away to Beckenham based Old Dunstonians on Saturday 6th December in the league.

Horsham: W Bell, Gibbs, Tuhakaraina, Ordidge, James Whiting; Johnson, Rush; Talbot (capt), Fisher (Stone 43), Fairs (Brady 65); N Bell, Jonny Whiting; M Tredgett (Pirt 59), Thompson, R Tredgett