Horsham U'15s v Hove

Horsham U’15 vs Hove U’15 was a table top clash which would help to secure a place in the Sussex Final. Horsham were under lots of pressure by the Hove forwards from the first whistle, but as the Horsham pack retaliated and started to rule up front it was the back’s who made a costly mistake. The ball was knocked on and was pounced on by Hove during the advantage and this led to Hove’s first try which was then converted.

Hove scored another converted try shortly after and with the score at 14-0, Horsham fought back and started to take control into the first half. Great breaks from Sean Richardson, Dan Riley and Harry Blanthorn enabled Horsham to get deep inside Hove’s half, surely a try was soon to come ? Eventually, after being held up once, a great team effort from the forwards forced their way through the Hove defence and James Hebbard was through to touch down deep in the corner. The try sadly wasn’t converted so the score at half-time was 14-5.

Horsham started the second half as well as they had finished the first, and were constantly in Hove’s half for the opening minutes. This effort however was not rewarded as Hove regained possession and broke through the line and seemed destined to score again, but a great run and diving tackle by Declan Nwachukwu kept Horsham’s hopes alive. Horsham were now on their own 22 line.

Pressure mounted on Horsham and it proved too much as a penalty was conceded and an extra three points were swiftly added to Hove’s score. The rest of the game was dominated by Horsham but they couldn’t break through the Hove brick wall defence. Hove turned the ball over and scored another converted try with the last play of the game, 24-5. Horsham RUFC U15’s man of the match was try scorer James Hebbard.

Match report by Matt Streeter