2nd XV - Lions
Matches
Sat 20 Apr 2013  ·  Sussex "Oranjeboom" League Two West
Bognor 2
24
27
Horsham Rugby Club
2nd XV - Lions
Lions sign off promotion season with last gasp victory!

Lions sign off promotion season with last gasp victory!

Richard Ordidge23 Apr 2013 - 13:07
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Horsham Lions left it until the last play of the final game to regain the lead, and crown a glorious season with victory away to Bognor, the Sussex 2 West title and promotion into the Sussex Intermediate League.

It required a powerful run from outside centre Jonny Ordidge who burst through the middle from 35 yards to crash through several attempted tackles to score the try which sealed the win.

It was a pulsating match where the lead changed hands several times, in balmy, sunny conditions totally unlike those faced in recent months, with both sides attempting to place width on the ball.

Delighted captain Adam Harman said: “Today was about ensuring we approached the game in the right frame of mind and play with the correct spirit having already secured promotion. I am especially pleased for our younger players for whom playing against a strong and experienced Bognor side was a steep learning curve. I blame myself for the lack of a kicking tee, which lead to us missing the kick in front of the posts, and almost losing the game! Over the course of the season we have been successful at capitalising on the opportunities as they have presented themselves and we have been happy to throw the ball around and give it a go whenever possible. I think we are the well deserved champions however to make our mark next season in the league above I am expecting all of my players to raise their game by 10%.”

Horsham applied the early pressure without troubling the scoreboard then on 14 minutes a strong Ordidge break created the position for him to break the deadlock shortly afterwards and storm in from 25 yards leaving defenders trailing in his wake to take the Green and Whites into an early 5-0 lead.

The returning Matt Goodsir to the club mixed up his game well from fly-half, regathering his own clever chip which almost lead to a further score.

The Bognor Number 8 broke through the Green and White defence requiring a tackle from Jake Gates to prevent a certain score and then the home side left winger failed to hang on to a simple pass when a try looked a formality. Bognor finally opened their account with a couple of converted tries and the game seemed to be swinging in their favour despite determined direct running from Richard Henderson and Iain Fisher when the opportunity allowed.

On the stroke of half-time a Goodsir penalty did not find touch but the Bognor defender failed to gather cleanly following pressure from the chasing Alex Ickringnell, who hacked on to gratefully ground the ball for Horsham’s second try and come back within touching distance 14-10 down.

Horsham started the second half extremely fired up and substitute prop Nick Swann scored the easiest try he will ever score when after following up a Josh Chalk chip over the Bognor defence, as a result of the favourable bounce, he just had to catch the ball and fall over the line to see Horsham take an opportunist 15-14 lead.

A feature of Horsham’s play was the powerful tackling and combative rugby of the back row of Tom Gilbert, Jordan Smith and Fisher but Bognor showed the class of their running, handling and support play with two tries from wide positions to take a 24-15 lead.

Horsham still had the stomach for the fight and following good handling along the back-line they counter attacked from deep within their half and moved the ball wide to Gates on the left wing still just inside his own half who pinned his ears back to outstrip the covering defence to score under the posts. Unfortunately for Horsham he missed his own kick, possibly because of the lack of a kicking tee which was significant because with a four point deficit, a penalty would not be enough for victory.

In the final five minutes Horsham’s pressure was relentless as first Fisher and then Harman tried to batter down the Bognor defence by running penalties to secure the winning try, and then with the last throw of the dice in the dying seconds Ordidge broke through to score the winning try.

Horsham: Jones, Fisher, Freeman; Fitzgerald (Swann 40), C Harman; Gilbert, Smith, A Harman; Chalk, Goodsir; Ickringnell, Henderson, Ordidge, McHale (Hoskins 65); Gates.

Match details

Match date

Sat 20 Apr 2013

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

Sussex "Oranjeboom" League Two West
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club Sponsor - Thakeham
Club Sponsor - Benchmark Capital
Team sponsor - Red River Solutions
Club Sponsor - Gardner & Scardifield
Club Sponsor - Christ's Hospital