HORSHAM U15’S HOST DORKING AND PULBOROUGH IN A FRIENDLY 3 WAY FIXTURE

With the squad growing due to new recruits and a number of boys looking to try out rugby for the first time, Horsham were able to field two separate teams, with the Lions taking on strong Surrey outfit Dorking and a development XV taking on Pulborough.

With a lot to fit in none of the games was the full half an hour each way.
In the first encounter v Dorking, Horsham Lions came up against a big, well drilled team and the early exchanges in the forwards were fairly even. Horsham were initially disrupted with injuries to flankers Tom Ayre and Tom Clayton who both had to leave the field. Replacement flanker Daniel Riley and wing Ben Birch soon followed the two Tom’s off the pitch and into the treatment room. Welcome to the new season!!

However, once Horsham started to secure good ball through strong mauling and rucking particularly by no 8 Michael Watson and prop Jake Mallinder, they began to unleash the handling skills and pace of their backs. With debutant Josh Steggles directing proceedings from scrum half, the ball was moved through the hands to wing Declan Nwachukwu who showed he had lost none of his pace and elusiveness over the summer as he jinked his way through the covering defence to run in the first try from the half way line.

Nwachukwu and outside centre Liam McGovern added further outstanding tries with the ball passing through many hands on both occasions and some of the rugby a joy to behold. However, Horsham saved their best for last with McGovern running out of his own 22 and feeding wing Charlie Blair Rains. Blair Rains rounded his opposite wing before timing his pass perfectly on half way to the looping McGovern who outpaced the covering defence to touch down under the posts. With fly half Liam Ruz converting all four tries, Horsham ran out 28 – 0 winners.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable morning with lots of good rugby against a very fair team, played in a good spirit. It’s good to get back up and running again!