First half onslaught sees Cobham secure away win at Trinity

In the equivalent fixture last year Cobham secured a notable victory over Trinity, in atrocious weather conditions, against the then league leaders, winning 0-25. Whilst there was no rain this year, the high wind provided the kickers with advantages and disadvantages all afternoon in what proved to be an emphatic display of running rugby from Cobham.

Trinity had recently lost to London Cornish so Cobham came into the match as favourites but no one could have anticipated their three-try blitz in the first ten minutes. The first came after three minutes of sustained pressure, sealed by a tap penalty from scrum half Saunders, feeding Tom Davison and then Louis Porter, for Joe Harker to touch down, although Dellapina lost out to the wind in the conversion attempt (0-5).

With the Trinity kick-off going straight into touch, Cobham had the advantage of the scrum. Davison picked up from the base, passed out to Saunders who then fed full back Jordan Bond. He kicked ahead for Rory Penfold to chase down and score in the corner. This time, kicking against the wind and with a little help from the cross bar, Dellapina secured a great conversion make the score to 0-12.

To increase Trinity's woes, a Bond kicked ahead that Dellapina ran onto also saw the Trinity centre sent to the sin-bin for an infringement earlier in the move. Cobham took the resulting penalty close to the line, with a scrum allowing Davison to pick-up and power over for the third try, which Dellapina converted (0-19).

For a second time, the kick-off went straight into touch. However, this restart saw Cobham penalised at the scrum, meaning for the first time Trinity had some possession and territory. They turned that into points when a great take in the lineout was turned into a rolling maul, resulting in a try for second row David Williams, which Kimmins converted (7-19).

Trinity scrum half Rhys Gormley was bossing play now and Cobham's strong defence was needed. Out of nowhere, a loose ball was picked up by Dellapina and although he was caught close to the line, Harker was in support to claim his second try. Dellapina converted (7-26) this bonus point score and wrest the momentum back.

On any afternoon where the wind was creating an extraordinary atmosphere for kickers, Kimmins slotted a long-range penalty (10-26). Soon after, a Trinity backline pass went astray, allowing Dellapina to kick ahead, chase hard and touch down, although his conversion hit the post (10-31). As the first half ended, Dellapina came close to reprising his try when he charged down two kicks. Saunders was hurt in the melee and was substituted at half-time, with Penfold switching to scrum half and Will Stephen coming on.

Just after the half restarted, Bond kicked a 50-22 in the extraordinary conditions but from the resultant lineout hooker Louis Wiliby picked up an ankle injury that forced him off, with Ryan Aujla coming on as Cobham's second substitute. Cobham continued to create pressure on the Trinity line and although Redknapp was denied a cross kick try within minutes, another Davison pick-up at a scrum created the extra man for Penfold to put Redknapp into the corner for an unconverted try (10-36).

Matt Frost's dislocated finger in the first half eventually forced him off as well, so Cobham used their final substitute with Ben Yorke taking to the pitch. A Redknapp penalty hit the posts but from a short lineout, a Yorke breakaway from over halfway breached the Trinity line, with O'Leary in support for a great try that Dellapina converted (10-43). From the restart, Davison passed to Yorke who again exploded into space and Trinity were fortunate to snaffle the kick ahead.

The final quarter was balanced and it was only when Cobham lost Davison to a yellow card that Trinity took advantage of their extra man, as full back Adam Sheehy dived over for the last try of the match. Final score, 15-43.

Cobham remain unbeaten and retain their top of the league position with 423 points for and a points differential of +268, which is 99 more than second place Weybridge Vandals who also unbeaten. The two sides meet at Fairmile Lane on Saturday 20 December, after a week’s break.

Cobham 1st XV Squad:-

1. Chris Lippiatt (Capt.)

2. Louis Wiliby

3. Ben Joyce

4. Joe Harker

5. Will O’Leary

6. Louis Porter

7. Matt Frost

8. Tom Davison

9. Ryan Saunders

10. Connor Dellapina

11. Charley Redknapp

12. Fin Savill

13. Taylor Burnett

14. Rory Penfold

15. Jordan Bond

Substitutes:

16. Ryan Aujla

17. Ben Yorke

18. Will Stephen

Scorers:

Tries: Harker (2), Davison, Dellapina, Penfold, O’Leary, Redknapp

Conversions: Dellapina (4)

Click here to view the Match Gallery courtesy of the Trinity photographer.