Horsham Rugby Club vs Brighton

Horsham U’15s played Brighton for their second league match in Division A. Horsham started well and were dominating from the kick-off. This possession lead to great passing from the Horsham backs, enabling Liam McGivern to touch down for Horsham’s well-deserved first try. The try was not converted but at five minutes into the game Horsham were 5-0 up.

Brighton fought back and broke through the defence going clear for the line but Declan Nwachukwu used his speed and determination to make a fantastic covering tackle, preventing the try and keeping the score 5-0 to Horsham. Twenty minutes further into the game Brighton were on the front foot, but with brick wall defence from the Horsham pack, Brighton were still without any points. Eventually though, they found a way through and scored but also did not convert, making the score 5-5.

With the game even, Horsham scored again through Declan Nwachukwu who side-stepped through the Brighton backs from the half-way line to touchdown. Callum Tusler this time converted, so Horsham went 12-5 up. With key player Tom Ayre going off injured, Brighton took advantage with a brilliant converted try, taking the scoreline to12-12. Brighton Blues kept up the pressure and burst through the backline defence again scoring another converted try. At half-time the score stood at 12-19 to Brighton.

From the restart Horsham again dominated possession with a powerful effort from the forwards, but suddenly the ball was turned over leading to Horsham making some desperate tackles. Brighton again found a way through the line and touched down for their fourth try .

With the score now at 12-24 Horsham ‘bounced back’ and were constantly in the oppositions half. This pressure proved too much for Brighton and they had a player sin-binned which gave Horsham a morale boost and they kept control. Horsham were on Brighton’s twenty two metre line when Tom Clayton broke off the back of a ruck after a penalty and was through to score. However he was tackled badly around the neck and Brighton had another player sin-binned. Horsham put this advantage to good use as Milo Harper released Liam McGivern who made a great run around the Brighton defence to score again with five minutes to go. The try was not converted so the score was 17-24. Horsham put their heart and soul into the remainder of the game and ‘left nothing on the pitch’ as they pushed for that elusive fourth try but it wasn’t to be and so this hard-fought match finished 17-24 to Brighton.

Two time try-scorer Liam McGivern said “I scored two tries in my first league game so I’m really happy with that, it was just a shame we didn’t win”. Horsham Coach John Riley also commented “we could and should have won, a few missed tackles and the power and pace of Brighton edged a top class, and very exciting encounter”.

Match report written by Matt Streeter.