BOB ROGERS CUP FINAL
Saturday 7th May 2022
Horsham Lions 29-20 Haywards Heath 1st XV
Report by Richard Ordidge

Horsham’s 2nd XV, otherwise known as the Lions, beat Haywards Heath’s 1st XV 29-20 to win an exciting final played in glorious sunshine at Crawley Rugby Club.

The Green and Whites have now won the Bob Rogers Cup for the seventh successive time stretching back to 2014, allowing for two seasons when the cup was not awarded due to Covid.

This is the most senior cup competition played for in Sussex. On the previous six occasions it was won by Horsham’s 1st XV but following promotion to London 1 South in 2019 they are no longer eligible to play in this competition and so the Lions picked up the baton and demonstrated the playing depth at the club. On the route to the final they received a walkover against Pulborough 1st XV and defeated Brighton 2nd XV 25-19 in the semi-final.

Horsham started strongly when after early pressure in the opposition 22 metre area Ben Murphy crashed through a couple of players to score from five yards after 4 minutes. Heath responded with a penalty conceded from the kick-off then Horsham’s backs showed their class with a step and break from Oli Joels to put Joe Wilde away to outpace the defence and score to take a 10-3 lead after 14 minutes.

Heath responded immediately with a well-executed converted try from the kick-off with a catch and drive off a line-out to level the scores.
The game was an excellent contest ebbing and flowing. The Green and Whites exerted considerable pressure but failed to score following breaks from Joels and Taylor Morris which were stopped by resolute defending then Heath went up to the other end of the pitch to kick a penalty and secure a 13-10 lead.

Horsham’s Hayden Quigg was yellow carded on 35 minutes for a high tackle but going into the break it was the Green and Whites applying all the pressure but failed to score.

The Green and Whites greater depth became apparent in the second half when the replacements took the field and Heath started to tire. George Howard scored on 51 minutes from a catch and drive which was well converted by Jake Fisher, then despite only having 13 players on the pitch following yellow cards to Joels and Imi Lewis for high tackles, winger Eddie Grogan scored for Horsham to stretch out and take a 22-13 lead on 65 minutes.

Heath immediately responded with a try from a charge down converted by their fly-half who kicked well all afternoon to close the deficit to 22-20 and set up a grandstand finish.

Horsham then used their big game experience to tighten up and hammer away at the Heath defence through powerful runs notably from Morris before scrum-half Fisher scored from a sniping run and then convert his own try and seal the victory in an exciting cup final.

Horsham’s Head of Rugby Nick Stocker said after the game: “With the Lions winning the Bob Rogers Cup, Horsham have retained this now over the last 7 years of competition given the interruption due to Covid. Always good to end the season with silverware which was earned in a good tight match, played out in fine conditions between two committed sides. A credit to community rugby. Both sides had a young feel to them which bodes well for the future and with a good crowd offering vociferous support, will have granted both teams valuable experience. With the game being the third cup final in succession on a busy day of rugby, it was a fitting way to end a successful season.

Ultimately our bench made the difference as Heath began to tire and fall off tackles, an indication of the strength in depth that we are currently enjoying. Testament to the hard work that all are putting in to get three senior men’s sides out on a weekly basis. Our man of the match went to Charles Newey who was physical throughout the 80 minutes at the coalface.

We now enter a period of well-earned rest and planning ahead of next season. Before that however we have the inaugural joint awards night for our ladies and men’s teams on 25 June. It promises to be a great evening of celebration to what has been a great season across the club”.