Colts run Champions close

Few who witnessed this game could have imagined how high the standard would be. It truly was a pleasure to watch (though a little heart stopping as a coach) and a credit to Sussex Colts rugby. Rarely could a game with just one score have provided such entertainment for the big crowd who turned up on a sunny afternoon at Coolhurst.

It was end to end and by the final whistle both teams had given absolutely everything and dragged themselves off the pitch, battered and bruised but proud of themselves.

Initially it looked like Hove's very powerful forwards and outstanding centres were going to blast their way over the line. However, Horsham's defending in the first 15 mins was nothing short of heroic and they soon reversed the flow of play and had a number of opportunities at the other end. If there had a been a few calm heads Horsham would surely have kicked two penalties from very near the posts instead of tapping and going in search of a try and finding Hove's defence equally as resolute and intense as the home sides at the beginning of the game.

In fact Horsham thought they had taken the lead just before half term when full back George Palmer put in a very clever kick to the corner for fly half Callum Boswell to gather and touch down in the corner. The home side were just about to celebrate when the referee called them back for a marginal offside.

The standard remained high throughout the second half with both defences proving too good for the oppositions attacks despite a ot of enterprising play from both sides. The game reached 60 minutes with no score and it looked as we could have a 0 0 draw. Horsham were pressing in the Hove 22 when the away side turned the ball over and kicked long. In attempting to gather the ball full back Palmer was flattened and as Horsham waited for a penalty, Hove recycled the ball and, despite desperate cover defence, managed to score in the corner. The conversion was missed but 10 minutes remained.

Despite a number of injuries on both sides the quality of play and excitement remained extremely high and the game opened up.
Horsham pressed incessantly and wings Ben Birch and Declan Nwachukwu came agonisingly close to scoring. On two occasions Nwachukwu looked as though he had broken through to score only to be pulled back by the bottom of his shirt. Fine margins!!

As the final whistle blew, the crowd applauded and both teams knew what a amazing game they had been involved in. The Horsham boys were gutted but proud and hopefully it won't be the last time these two teams play each other this season.