New Year - same outcome; Cobham continue their winning run

As wonderful as Cobham has been playing in the first half of the season, most matches have not been close enough to be considered old-fashioned exciting. This match was different and as the final whistle blew, several Cobham supporters were heard expressing the same phrase: “Never in doubt.” They were not saying it too loudly, though because, as they all knew, the final score was indeed in doubt up right up until the last minute of the game.

Furthermore, to add to the tension of this first league match of 2026, Haywards Heath even had a scoreboard that counts down the minutes and seconds remaining, adjusted for stoppage time. So, what happened at Heath's Whitemans Green ground in Cuckfield? Cobham went into the match without Tom Davison but welcomed back Louis Porter to the back row and gave a league debut to number 7 Noah Joyce in the back row, with Ben Joyce playing in the front row and Lewis on the bench.

Haywards Heath, having lost their first three matches of the season, had won six matches on the trot before losing to Hove just before Christmas. Cobham had won the home fixture comfortably (62-35), so went into the match as the favourites and after a series of lineouts, they took the first points after six minutes when Saunders poached a loose ball at a Heath scrum, sent the ball out wide to Dellapina who scored in the corner and then converted from wide out (0-7).

Cobham going on to score a second try within minutes has been a feature of their play throughout this season, but Heath had a different script for this match as, playing up the slope, they camped on the Cobham line and created several phases of play. Cobham were required to provide their best defence to withstand the pressure but eventually it proved too much and full back Jordan Bond was yellow-carded for an infringement on the line and the Referee awarded a penalty try (7-7).

Cobham were going to set a modern-day try-scoring record in this match with a try scored by each member of the front row and Andrew Murphy was first up, weaving his way millimetres above the ground to cross the line following a Cobham attack (7-12). Unfortunately, in the build up to the attack, back row Louis Porter injured his ankle and had to be withdraw, resulting in Tom Incledon coming into the back row and playing out of his usual backline position.

Heath responded once again by immediately taking the ball back up to Cobham's 10 metre line, where winger Toby Vander broke the line to touch down; fly half Oliver Goswamy converted to put the hosts ahead (14-12). Cobham have not been in that position many times this season and it galvanised them to restore the lead within minutes. Jake McQuade controlled the ball at the base of the scrum from 10 metres out and then touched down for a converted try (14-19).

The script said Heath would score next but just to keep everyone on their toes, Saunders spun the ball wide to Joyce who pretended he was in the back line and provided the deftest of passes to winger Will Stephen to step over the line in the corner (14-24). Heath took the game back up to the Cobham line and looked to have gone over for a similar try and, whilst that was not awarded, within seconds centre Ollie Simpson had gone over and Goswamy had converted to bring the score to 21-24 at half time.

Both teams were playing to a very high standard but the large crowd of Heath supporters on the Club house veranda could sense an upset in the second half. The opening ten minutes of the second half had a different feel with the game played out between the twenty-two metre lines, with neither side being able to dominate. Noah Joyce was having a great debut, while Farmer and O'Leary were filling the void in the lineout left by Porter.

Cobham's first chance came from a break by Savill, after a strong run from McQuade ,and whilst it didn’t lead to a try it took Cobham into the twenty-two metre territory. Heath lost their backrow to a yellow card and with the benefit of the extra man, Joyce went over in the far corner unopposed for an unconverted try (21-29). Heath winger Matt Cairns was creating space whenever he got the ball and Cobham required their best defence. Savill and Burnett protected the centre, but when flanker Josh Salisbury broke through, it needed a try saving tackle from Bond. However, the pressure finally told when Ollie Simpson went over under the posts to take the score within a point (28-29) with fifteen nerve jangling minutes left.

Cobham knew that they had to take the momentum away from Heath to retain their unbeaten record. Joyce replaced Joyce and Penfold took over at scrum half, as Saywell came on to the wing with the game now being played at a frenetic pace. Neither side were able to achieve the final pass needed, instead they provided the opposition with the ball. Finally, with just three minutes remaining, the final member of the triumvirate, Captain Lippiatt scored from a lineout to take the score to 34-28. In theory, that should have been a wrap, but Haywards Heath used those final minutes to pressure Cobham and if it had been any longer, they may well have taken the league leaders scalp.

“Never in doubt” it was then but Heath has obviously made significant progress since the Cobham home match and the spectators watched an excellent game of running rugby. Cobham are now unbeaten in their eleven league games and two cup games; they are at home to KCS this weekend (17 January).

Cobham 1st XV Squad:-

1. Chris Lippiatt (Capt.)

2. Andrew Murphy

3. Ben Joyce

4. Hugh Farmer

5. Will O’Leary

6. Louis Porter

7. Noah Joyce

8. Jake McQuade

9. Ryan Saunders

10. Connor Dellapina

11. Rory Penfold

12. Fin Savill

13. Taylor Burnett

14. Will Stephen

15. Jordan Bond

Substitutes:

16. Lewis Joyce

17. Wilf Saywell

18. Tom Incledon

Scorers:

Tries: Dellapina, Murphy, McQuade, Stephen, Joyce B, Lippiatt

Conversions: Dellapina (2)

Man of the Match: Connor Dellapina