Frustration clouds the Day

Sand in the eye, foglights on it the rain, missing try's being scored in internationals whilst taking a leak. Sometimes small things can spoil your day and the circumstances around Saturday contained a number of fly's in the ointment. First there was the move of the location, despite not being able to host two games at home because posts had been taken down, Shoreham wanted the fixture moved and arranged to an earlier time. It was all a little rich really from a side who had only honoured three or so fixtures all season. However I felt that if we were to have a game this was our best chance.

With a 2pm kick off under sunny albeit windy skies Horsham went with the hill and wind. It was they who were playing all the early Rugby and deservedly took the lead when Otto Carlisle playing his first game at Centre powerfully handed off two before scoring. This seemed to enliven Shoreham and maybe Horsham took their foot of the gas a little as they soon found themselves defending their line. this was soon breached as one of the heavy centre parings trundled through and flopped over to set Shoreham on their way. Worse was to come for Horsham as soon they were behind. A kick ahead bannana'd in the heavy wind and bounced in the hands of the chasing winger who crossed to send a few of the Shoreham players delierious with shouts of 'that's what Shoreham's about'. I'm sure they weren't referring to their playing record.

Horsham lifted their game and were continuing to make breaks. Sam Rice playing for the first time at 10 was carrying with intent and narrowly missed collecting a chip over the opposition for what would have been great solo try. Neil Jenkins was also looking a threat and Horsham's response ended fittingly with a try by him following a series of phases involving all the team.

The second half was going to be difficult, with conditions against them and a team who were interchanging replacements with their first team. Horsham BB's were however on their own and when Big Red had to go off with shoulder trouble we needed everyone to rally. Michael Fisher put his hand up to hook and Chris Mallows normally a winger who'd spent the last three days in bed with a virus moved in to second row. Despite these changes Horsham continued to press and following a break by Rob Clegg who was dragged down just short of the line. His blushes were saved as the frustrated support runners built a number of phases before Sam Rice's out stretched arm gave them the lead. Horsham scored again shortly after a kick down field was caught by Sam Lunn who beat several before an interchange of passes saw the ball back in his hands to cap a fantastic try. The BB's continued to carve out openings but sadly the decision making was letting them down and good tackling by Shoreham constantly cost Horsham the killer blow when a simple pass was needed. Horsham would later rue these chances as Shoreham gave them a warning, an offload from a side ways run saw the Shoreham 10 canter away for what seemed a certain score. How he managed to drop the ball over the line I don't know and maybe the eventual result saved him no end of grief. Shoreham did score next though. A series of phases saw them expose an overlap and they were back in it, this got worst a moment later as a line out five yards out was knocked back towards the line, Shoreham crashed through scooped up and dived over for the lead. This gave the battling and tired BB's 10 minutes to save the game and although they did come close the killer pass was missed and Shoreham claimed the narrowest of wins.

Following all the exploits of the season this one was perhaps the hardest to take and the guys were visibly down at the end. When you lose like that it's really easy to focus on lots of tiny reasons why things went against you instead of all the things you should be celebrating about the day. It was great that we responded to the changes and made rearrangements. We can harangue ourselves over the mistakes we made but on the flip side we scored four cracking trys and all the time we're creating opportunities we have a chance. Okay so the Lions weren't able to help us out because of their big game and who's to say how much the efforts the Shoreham 1st team players put in to beating us didn't influence their subsequent loss allowing the Lions to hope over them in the league.

All in all we played the game in great BB's style, respectful to a referee conducting his first senior game and everyone gave their all and lost a game that on another day I'm sure would see a different result. Credit to Shoreham, they didn't give up and showed a good club ethos with the 1st team happy to throw their lot in to help out their 2's. Hopefully this approach will help Shoreham 2's get back on their feet and play more than a handful of games next season.

Back at the end of November we sat down and made a commitment to change the direction this team was heading and I'd like to thank all the lads whether they've played one or all of the games since, everyone one of you has been needed, valued and made a contribution to turning things around. It's been a total honour playing with you chaps and I'm very much looking forward to next season, hopefully you guys will be around for another emotional ride. We are going for a curry on Friday, please make yourself available for this final selection.

Rob