Cobham repel Vandals fight back to take unbeaten run into the New Year

Cobham's final game of 2025, against league leaders Weybridge Vandals, was eagerly anticipated. Both teams were unbeaten in the first half of the season, with just a try bonus point separating them. Furthermore, their last game in January 2025 on 'the Island' had been a 19-all draw. Cobham had a slightly changed squad with Louis Porter and Jordan Bond unavailable. Wilf Saywell and Tom Incledon were on the bench, having returned from University.

Cobham benefited from a full clubhouse as a consequence of their excellent Christmas lunch, but it was also well supported by Weybridge Vandals and as the match progressed, more Vandals supporters arrived to cheer their team on. With excitement in the air Cobham kicked off and Vandals took the ball downfield. Defence was going to be key all afternoon and Davison, Burnett and Joyce put in some early tackles to lay down markers.

After six minutes, a penalty kick to the home side went wide but within minutes and from a Cobham scrum the backline worked together. Saunders fed Dellapina, to pass to Burnett, Stephen came into the line and timed his pass immaculately to Penfold, who had crossed over from the opposite wing to create the extra man and the opening try, which Dellapina converted (7-0).

Strong carries in the midfield from back row Jake McQuade were a feature of the afternoon as were centre Fin Savills tackles, as Cobham withstood pressure that Vandals now put them under. A relieving kick from Saunders provided respite and for the next ten minutes the play was played out in scrums and lineouts within both side's ten metre lines.

From one of those scrums, Cobham were awarded a penalty for offside and Dellapina kicked into touch on the Vandals' try line. Murphy's pinpoint throw found Davison and from the resultant maul and rucks Saunders passed to McQuade who powered over to touch down, with Dellapina converting once again (14-0). Cobham were converting their chances and another nearly came for Charley Redknapp, but the Vandals' defence smothered the ball.

Just as Cobham were building the pressure, a loose pass was intercepted by centre Harry Reed who ran 60 metres to touch down under the post and winger Karl Hoade converted to wrestle the momentum away from Cobham (14-7). Frustrated by that score, Cobham immediately replied when Dellapina broke the defence, passed to the ubiquitous Davison, who slipped the ball to Saunders to touch down and Dellapinna added the extras (21-7).

Just before half-time Burnett evaded tackles and gained territory and from the resulting ruck, Saunders spun the ball to find Redknapp, who had emulated Penfold in coming across from his wing to score in the opposite corner for the fourth and bonus point try (26-7).

That was not the anticipated half-time score and Cobham knew that Vandals would respond strongly. Aside from one Cobham incursion that was exactly what they did and after 15 minutes of pressure winger Henry Gulliver strode over the line and Hoade converted (26-14). Within minutes, full back Thomas Bolger had sucked in the defence to give number eight Cameron Edgar the space to run in and score (26-19). With the conversion going wide, it was just a converted try difference going into the last quarter.

With the visiting supporters making their presence felt, thumping the sponsorship boards, the atmosphere was electric in the bright December sunshine. Penalties for Cobham were treated as if they were tries, such was the tension. Director of Rugby Billy Davison had previously made one substitution with Incledon coming on in the centre and Burnett going to back row to replace flanker Ben Yorke. He now swapped Penfold for Saunders and brought Saywell onto the wing and Aujla on for Joyce.

Having been on the backfoot for 30 minutes, Cobham were now threatening and the frustration for Vandals come through in a yellow card for a high tackle. With their scrum depleted and a certain pushover try impeded, the referee awarded a penalty try (33-19). The collective 'sigh of relief' was reflected in huge cheers from the Cobham supporters. In addition the penalty try resulted in a further yellow card for Vandals, who were now down to 13.

Cobham wanted one further try to reflect their resilience and that came when for the third time in the match a winger, this time Saywell, popped up on his opposite wing to run down the touchline and score in the corner, making the final score 38-19.

Vandals' fight back in the first quarter of the second half came close but ultimately Cobham were the better team on the day and provided the supporters with an early Christmas present.

(With thanks to Tommy Schofield) You have to go back to the 2006/07 campaign for the last time Cobham were unbeaten in the first half of the league season; they went onto win that league undefeated. That said it was London South-West 4, a couple of leagues lower than this level and Cobham had been defeated in a cup match that season, whereas this season they are unbeaten after two rounds.

Cobham’s next cup fixture will be on 31 January against Weybridge Vandals. You can only but imagine how keen Vandals will be to avenge this defeat when that game comes around. In the league, Cobham have a two-week break before travelling to Haywards Heath on 10 January.

Cobham 1st XV Squad:-

1. Chris Lippiatt (Capt.)

2. Andrew Murphy

3. Ben Joyce

4. Joe Harker

5. Will O’Leary

6. Ben Yorke

7. Tom Davison

8. Jake McQuade

9. Ryan Saunders

10. Connor Dellapina

11. Charley Redknapp

12. Fin Savill

13. Taylor Burnett

14. Rory Penfold

15. Will Stephen

Substitutes:

16. Ryan Aujla

17. Wilf Saywell

18. Tom Incledon

Scorers:

Tries: Penfold, McQuade, Saunders, Redknapp, Penalty, Saywell

Conversions: Dellapina (3)

Drop Kick Brewing Man of the Match: Tom Davison