Second half surge delivers a Cobham win at Old Ruts

Cobham have won their last two encounters at Old Ruts; 24-38 in their final league match last season, and then a couple of weeks later 26-52 in the Papa Johns Cup match. However, after 30 minutes of the first half in this contest, it didn't look as if a hat-trick was on the cards. In freezing temperatures, Max Franks made his first start of the year at scrum half, while Ben Joyce secured his 199th cap. Old Ruts adopt an alternative shirt numbering system to the norm and Cobham looked to be emulating that with numbers 20 and 21 on the pitch in the first half.

Cobham started strongly, as they have all season, and within three minutes Captain Lippiatt had driven to give them the lead (0-5). It looked like the same pattern of the previous games would be adopted, but no-one had given Old Ruts the script. They drew level when some messy defence in the corner allowed their second row to score, which was successfully converted from wide out (7-5). Within minutes, Old Ruts looked to be running down the line for a second score, but Dellapina's tap tackle saved the day before the home side missed a penalty that would have extended their lead.

With both sides playing competitive rugby, Dellapina took the opportunity from a penalty close to the posts (7-8) but within minutes full back Michael Boland responded in similar fashion (10-8). Given the pressure that Old Ruts were exerting, no-one could have anticipated that they would be the last points they would score all afternoon.

The turning point looked to be an offside infringement, which resulted in a backline yellow card for Old Ruts. This provided Cobham with an extra man for the last ten minutes of the first half. Bond will always come into the line when it is needed the most and he evaded the defence to touch down (10-13).

Charley Redknapp was then brilliantly set-up by Burnett and used the gap to charge over, which Dellapina converted (10-20). As the half came to a close, Cobham lost Burnett for an adjudged high tackle but the penalty attempt from the home side was missed, meaning Cobham took a ten-point advantage and the warmth of the dressing room into the break.       

With Cobham starting the half a man down, they then lost Farmer to injury and Spires was substituted but they withstood Old Ruts, meaning Burnett returned to the pitch with no change to the scoreline. A Cobham penalty close to the try line was taken as a tap and Lippiatt reprised his first half score, with Dellapina adding the extras (10-27).

The game was now being played in driving rain, which inevitably had an impact on handling and the majority of the match was orientated towards the packs, with 25 lineouts and 26 scrums. Into the final quarter, Joyce junior came on for Joyce senior, only for this to be reversed when the former was injured. Although Old Ruts initially withstood Cobham's pressure, Davison completed the try scoring for the afternoon and Dellapina added the two extra points. Final score, 10-34.

Cobham retain their unbeaten start to the season in all competitions, having secured seven try bonus points and have created a significant points difference of +229. This Saturday (29 November), Cobham are at home to fourth placed Hove and all support is welcome. 

Cobham 1st XV Squad:-

1. Chris Lippiatt (Capt.)

2. Louis Wilby

3. Ben Joyce

4. Hugh Farmer

5. Will O’Leary

6. Louis Porter

7. Matt Frost

8. Tom Davison

9. Max Franks

10. Connor Dellapina

11. Charlie Redknapp

12. Fin Savill

13. Taylor Burnett

14. Sandro Celebidachi

15. Jordan Bond

Substitutes:

16. Lewis Joyce

17. George Spires

18. Ross Munro

Scorers:

Tries: Lippiatt (2), Bond, Redknapp, Davison

Conversions: Dellapina (3)

Penalty: Dellapina