Colts
Matches
Sun 15 Mar 2015
Horsham Rugby Club
Colts
12
3
Chichester
Colts in County Final

Colts in County Final

FIONA ROBISON17 Mar 2015 - 09:26
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Horsham Colts reached the Sussex Colts County final following an epic and pulsating contest versus Chichester.

Horsham Colts reached the Sussex Colts County final following an epic and pulsating contest versus Chichester.

Given how close the league fixture was between the teams this was always going to a very close contest and both teams didn't disappoint for the large Mothers Day crowd.

From the start Chichester continued the strategy from the league game in taking on Horsham up front and hopefully starve the home teams backs of the ball. A series of early line outs in the Horsham 22 set the tone as Chichester pressed for an early score. However, the Horsham pack were ready for the onslaught and repelled the initial drives before turning the ball over and allowing fly half Callum Boswell to clear deep into the opposition half.

The dangerous Horsham backs started to get some ball but kicked when keeping the ball in hand would have been the better option. However, the pressure was on the Chichester line and Horsham thought they had taken the lead when scrum half Josh Steggles took a quick penalty 5 metres out and claimed the score though he was adjudged to have been held up. The tackler was given a yellow card for not retreating so the pressure was maintained.

From a 5 metre line out the impressive Chichester pack looked to have secured good ball to clear their lines. However a miskick from the fly half saw the ball cannon into his forwards who were offside. This time another quick penalty by flanker and captain Tom Clayton saw him drive over the line for the first try of the match. The conversion was missed bu Horsham lead 5 0.

This arm wrestle of a game continued at some pace with both sides tackling fiercely and not giving each other an inch. Chichester made their way into the Horsham 22 and pressed to get the equalising score. A knock on meant Horsham had a scrum 10 metres from their own line. What happened next was outstanding and one of the best tries Horsham have produced all season. When Steggles fed Boswell it looked as if he was once again going to clear deep into the Chichester half but passed to centre Alex Clery instead. With his big left boot the coaching team expected a clearance but when he passed to wing Declan Nwachukwu inside the 22 he beat his man on the outside and set off on a blistering run which took him deep into the Chichester half and though he was tackled as he cut inside, he managed to off load to full back George Palmer who had been tracking his run. Palmer faced a number of Chichester defenders but managed to outpace them and touch down under the posts much to delight of the home crowd. Boswell converted and the score was 12 0 to Horsham.

Chichester forced their way into the Horsham half and when a penalty was given away it looked as if they were going to claw back 3 points but the normally reliable kicker hooked the kick and the the half time score was 12 0.

The second half only saw one penalty converted for Chichester but that only tells half of the story. There were a number of yellow cards on both sides for a variety of infringements and both teams pressed for further scores but the commitment to defence on both teams came out on top. Horsham spent a significant period in the Chichester 22 but the visitors wouldn't give in and for the last 7 or 8 minutes were camped on the Horsham line. What ensued was a sight to behold as Horsham heroically repelled everything Chichester threw at them. The home team were down to 12 players in the last couple of minutes (though Chichester ended up with 14 themselves) but no score was possible. When the visitors infringed at the breakdown fly half Boswell cleared to touch and the whistle went for full time. Both teams were dead on their feet at the end of a truly great game which was enormous credit to both sets of boys.

Horsham now go on to face Hove in the final on the 3rd of May at Uckfield when they will look to reverse the 5 0 league defeat back in September.

Match details

Match date

Sun 15 Mar 2015

Kickoff

14:00

Meet time

12:30
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Shirt sponsor - Mansell McTaggart