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1st XV fall short but Under 11s enjoy a clean sweep at Hove

Following the last minute defeat to Weybridge Vandals in their last outing, Cobham travelled south to Hove with a view to returning to winning ways. In theory, with Hove having lost their first four matches of the season that should have been possible, but the home team had achieved their first win of the season the previous week against East Grinstead and were benefiting from the return of some key players.


Cobham DOR Billy Davison had to make some enforced changes from the previous game and gave a debut on the wing to Tomsky Sherrington. The match was preceded by the Cobham Under 11’s playing their Hove equivalents. The squad played four matches, coming away with four wins. The boys, coaches and parents had a fantastic day; thanks to Hove for their hospitality.


Hove play at the local recreation ground and on a glorious autumnal afternoon there was a large crowd supporting both teams. However, aside from a couple of passages of play, the home crowd had far more to cheer in the first half.


Hove's first try came after ten minutes when centre Charlie Nicholson broke the Cobham defence to touch down and fly half Lewis converted (7-0). That score wasn't a total surprise as passes had been going astray for Cobham but what came next was a disappointment. The visitors lost possession on the Hove line and the home side backs ran the length of the pitch for left wing Tom Holborn to score, which Lewis converted (14-0).


There was a possible turning point for Cobham after 17 minutes as Hove lost their prop Adi Shergold to a yellow card. From the subsequent penalty, number eight Ollie Fielding picked up from a scrum and touched down (14-7). Looking for the next try, fly half O'Connor broke through and fed second row Harker, only for the ball to go loose. It was Hove who crossed the line next as a kick through was chased down by centre Leo Robertson and Hove had their third try (21-7).


The bonus point try eluded them soon after as a further break by Hove full back Jack Moore resulted in a drop pass with the try line in sight. A penalty for a high tackle enabled Lewis to take the score to 22-7 and with the clock ticking down, the hosts claimed their bonus point try for a convincing and deserved 29-7 lead at the break.


Cobham started the second half stronger, desperately needing the next score and it came when centre Will Stephen burst into the line to collect a pass from O'Connor, taking the ball one handed, breaking two tackles and scoring close to the posts before converting his own try (29-14).


Cobham had finally built some momentum but Hove now looked to take the game out of Cobham's reach as first full back Moore went over, with fly half Lewis following soon after, for two unconverted tries (39-14). It would have been understandable if those scores would have broken Cobham's resolve but in an extraordinary final passage of play, the visitors provided the travelling supporters with some of their best rugby of the season.


Although they had lost hooker Murphy to a yellow card, Captain Lippiatt and centre Burnett were now gaining extra yards, with Will Stephen displaying some great offloads. Lippiatt went over for an unconverted try and then flanker Louis Porter poached the ball from a Hove scrum on their own line to touch down, which Stephen converted (39-26). Cobham were in the ascendancy as Porter scored his second try shortly after, with Stephen adding the extras and cutting the deficit to just six points (39-33).


It was now that Cobham would have benefitted from extra minutes on the clock, but in truth a further score would have stolen the game from the better side on the day. Hove ran down the clock by keeping the ball tight, before the final whistle blew.


Thanks to all the supporters who made the trip and a special mention to Tim O‘Connor who was over from Australia and able to see his son playing at fly half, along with all the Under 11 coaches and parents.


Click here to view the action shots from the match.


Cobham 1st XV Squad:-

1. Chris Lippiatt (Capt.)

2. Andrew Murphy

3. Ben Joyce

4. Joe Harker

5. Hugh Farmer

6. Louis Porter

7. Olly Fox

8. Ollie Fielding

9. Max Franks

10. Knox O’Connor

11. Tomsky Sherrington*

12. Taylor Burnett

13. Will Stephen

14. James Edmundson

15. Rory Penfold


Substitutes:

16. Ryan Aujla

17. James White

18. Joe Yorke


Debut*


Scorers:

Tries: Fielding, Stephen, Lippiatt, Porter (2)

Conversions: Stephen (4)



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