Cobham back to winning ways with bonus point victory over Ironsides

Cobham welcomed Battersea Ironsides to the Memorial Grounds last weekend for their first time since September 2021, having won only one of the five fixtures they had previously played. Like Cobham, Battersea were still looking for their first league victory this season, so there was all to play for. Cobham welcomed back their Captain Chris Lippiatt, together with Ryan Saunders, Tom Davison and Jake McQuade. There was a debut off the bench for Connor Harty, former Mini and Youth player and brother of former First XV player, Tom Harty.

There was nothing between the two sides during the opening 30 minutes. Cobham started strongly but Ironsides withstood the drives and took their own opportunities, but Cobham's defence looked stronger after their lapses over the last two games. It took seven lineouts and nine scrums before there was a scoring chance, a penalty attempt from Ironsides that went wide of the target.

Redknapp had been injured following a darting run that gave Harty his debut. That doesn't normally culminate with your first touch resulting in a try but that’s what happened. From a drop out, Cobham took the ball up field with McQuade making headway and Saywell coming into the line. Harker was held up but from the ruck Saunders passed to Harty and he twisted himself over the line for the score (5-0).

Having broken the impasse, Murphy made something out of nothing having picked up a loose ball, gained territory and achieved a scrum. Cobham had dominated up front and this scrum provided them with the opportunity for McQuade to pick up and charge over. Saywell added the extras to open up a two-score lead at half-time (12-0).

Cobham supporters will have been pleased to have witnessed a composed performance. They will also have been delighted that five minutes into the second half second row Joe Harker scored a try that he and the team will always remember. After taking an offload on the halfway line, he bludgeoned his way through three tackles before scoring, which Saywell converted once again (19-0). Such was Cobham's dominance that they opted for a scrum in front of the Ironsides posts with three points on offer. Whilst that scrum didn’t provide points, the ensuing pressure did and after three more scrums in the visitors' twenty-two, the pack took McQuade over for his second score of the afternoon (24-0).

With three quarters of the match played it was difficult to see how Ironsides would achieve any points and their position was compounded when they received a yellow card. Taking advantage of their extra man, the penalty was rewarded with a run-in try for Tom Incldeon (31-0). Credit to the visitors, as they clawed back a try under the posts (31-7) but Cobham responded immediately with Saywell picking up a loose ball to run over for another converted try (38-7).

Ironsides' heads did not drop and a cross-kick from their fly half put their winger in for a second try (38-14). Two further consolation tries followed to complete the scoring, although the final 38-28 scoreline didn’t properly reflect Cobham's dominance.

Jake McQuade was named Man of the Match.

Cobham are at home again this Saturday (17 October) to Old Elthamians, who came close to defeating league leaders Beckenham, eventually losing 26-20. All support welcome.

Cobham 1st XV Squad:-

1. Chris Lippiatt (Capt.)

2. Andrew Murphy

3. Lewis Joyce

4. Joe Harker

5. Louis Porter

6. Noah Joyce

7. Tom Davison

8. Jake McQuade

9. Ryan Saunders

10. Connor Dellapina

11. Charley Redknapp

12. Taylor Burnett

13. Tom Incledon

14. Will Springett

15. Wilf Saywell

Substitutes:

16. Ryan Aujla

17. Ollie Fielding

18. Connor Harty*

Scorers:

Tries: Harty, McQuade (2), Harker, Incledon, Saywell

Conversions: Saywell (4)

* Debut