Cobham winning start to the season continues with cup victory at Basingstoke

This season’s cup competition feature matches during the league campaign, rather than taking place at the conclusion, meaning Cobham's first round match in the Counties Championship was away to Basingstoke on Saturday (20 September). The last time Cobham played Basingstoke was a league fixture in February 2016 where Cobham won 85-3. Stalwart prop Ben Joyce played in that match, so it felt appropriate that for this fixture he was once again part of the squad together with both his sons, Lewis and Noah.

Basingstoke had also won their first two games, so it was anticipated that it would be tightly fought contest. Director of Rugby Billy Davison made several changes with debuts for hooker Louis Wiliby, centre Charley Redknapp and back row George Spires. And it was the Cobham who put themselves in front after seven minutes when Captain Lippiatt drove over following possession gained at the lineout, which Dellapina converted (0-7).

Although Basingstoke had an equal amount of possession in the first quarter, Cobham's strong defence never allowed them out of their half. Indeed, it was attempting to break through that defence that Redknapp intercepted, kicked ahead and collected the ball to touch down for his debut try. Dellapina converted to double the visitors advantage (0-14).

The home side finally enjoyed territory in the Cobham half and their tall second row Chris Williams made space, but no inroads could be made on the scoreboard. Cobham responded with a break from winger Celebidachi and a feed to scrum half Williams, which put Cobham back within the Basingstoke twenty-two only for a forward pass to prevent Cobham going over a third time. Cobham may have felt the half-time scoreline didn't do justice to their dominance and they would wish to turn that into points for the remaining 40 minutes.

And that is exactly what happened within five minutes when Redknapp was given the ball at pace by Tom Davison to secure a brace of tries. Dellapina made it three out of three from the kicking tee (0-21). A fourth Cobham soon followed, after from a drive over for full back Millerd (0-26), before Davison once again offloaded to Porter in support (0-31).

Winger Celebidachi had made some piercing runs all afternoon and from a scrum in Cobham's territory he took the play to the halfway line. Davison fed Redknapp and, looking to reprise his first score, kicked ahead but despite not being able to score, Dellapina was in support to touch down (0-36).

At that stage of the game none of the spectators could have anticipated that Cobham would not continue to add to that scoreline, but rugby never plays out that way and the last 15 minutes saw Basingstoke play their best rugby. Prop Stephen Ansell found himself on the wing to race over (5-36) before full back Drew Paterson took no prisoners in evading the defence for a converted try (12-36).

Basingstoke then took the ball from their twenty-two to Cobham's and looked set fair for a third try, but the ball was lost. However, a kick to touch was knocked down and number eight Adam Richards scored a soft try, which fly half Will Green converted (19-36). As the clock ticked down, second row Williams intercepted a Cobham backline move to score under the posts, which Green converting once again. Final score, 26-36.

There is no doubt Cobham deserved to win the game but they will have been relieved to hear the ref's final whistle. The next cup match will be on Saturday 25 October and there is now a one week break before Cobham travel to KCS for their next league match on Saturday 4 October

Cobham 1st XV Squad:-

1. Chris Lippiatt (Capt.)

2. Louis Wiliby*

3. Lewis Joyce

4. Joe Harker

5. Hugh Farmer

6. Louis Porter

7. Noah Joyce

8. Tom Davison

9. Evan Williams

10. Connor Dellapina

11. Sandro Celebidachi

12. Fin Savill

13. Charley Redknapp*

14. James Edmundson

15. Josh Millerd

Substitutes:

16. Ben Joyce

17. George Spires*

18. Hugh Kennedy

1st XV Debut

12 of the 18-man came up through the Mini/Youth squads

Tries: Lippiatt, Redknapp (2), Millerd, Porter, Dellapina

Conversions: Dellapina (3)