REGIONAL 2 SOUTH EAST
Saturday 25th October 2025
Old Colfeians 33-33 Horsham
Report by Richard Ordidge

Horsham travelled to Lewisham to face Old Colfeians on the back of a thumping win but unsure of their chances because of injuries to key players.

This has always been a tough fixture for the Green and Whites, largely because of the huge pack the opposition are able to deploy.

The fact that Horsham were able to come away with a 33-33 draw and climb to fifth in Regional 2 South East, having been two scores down early in the second half, and securing the four try bonus point, meant the result was viewed in a positive light.

The visitors had been behind the whole game and showed fighting spirit to level in the last play of the game.

Horsham went immediately behind following a missed tackle in midfield but Connor Barnes responded with a great try following some great multi-phase play which was well converted by James Millsom to level the scores at 7-7.

Old Colfeians scored again with a converted try from a driven scrum only for Horsham to respond on 23 minutes with a converted try following a line out attack and strong run from Tom Whittaker to level the scores again at 14-14.

The Green and Whites then conceded a try from a turnover at the lineout which the hosts moved well, and then they scored again out wide, before Aaron Linfield responded with a score from a turned over lineout which was well converted by Millsom to narrow the deficit to 26-21 at half time.

Horsham started the second half poorly with a try conceded from an error in their own half when the better option was to kick downfield for Old Colfeians to take a seemingly unsurmountable 33-21 lead.

But on 74 minutes after multiple phases and attacks, a kick into the Old Colfeians 22 metre area ran dead, and with follow up runners blocking the fullbacks kick, Declan Nwachukwu scores his first try on return from injury, which was well converted out wide by Millsom to make it 33-28.

Under pressure Old Colfeians were giving penalties away and eventually Aiden Plumpton scored to level the scores 33-33 but the conversion to win the game was missed from wide out.

Horsham Head of Rugby Nick Stocker said after the game: “A frustrating afternoon where our error count allowed Old Colfeians to get their destructive scrum into the game from which they built pressure and scores. In a tight contest, dominated by defences, I felt we proved to be more ambitious with the ball but unfortunately couldn’t capitalise on the occasions we built phases. The only time we managed to do this was in the final 10 minutes where we managed to retain possession and draw penalties which eventually lead to tries to snatch 3 points at the death with only a missed kick preventing a win that earlier in the game seemed unlikely.

Man of the match was awarded to Luke Standing following a good impact on introduction, particularly in the scrum against a huge opponent limiting the penalty count which had built steadily in the first half.

With a week off next week, we start a very busy November playing 3 of the top 4 teams in what will undoubtedly be a crucial month towards the season’s aspirations. Next up, Sidcup at home.”