Chobham 98-0 Old Emanuel
In a weekend where Chobham’s stuttering start to the league season finally went ahead, they provided a stunning performance that left the crowd breathless. The Scarlet and Golds dominance was only bettered by the way they stuck to their game plan that Billy Davison and his team of coaches had been working on in the 10 weeks of preseason. Newly promoted Old Emanuel, who from the kick off were under the cosh, kept going throughout the 80 minutes.
New 1st XV captain Guy Mawhood lead an attacking mobile team who within 5 minutes had opened the scoring through winger Blackmur. Mawhood then added the second try soon after for the start of his first half hat-trick. The opening 40 minutes saw additional tries from the Davies, Nell, Rumsey and Hargan.
The second half saw tries from Rumsey, Guy, Davies, Bosworth, Sambrook and Sheppard. Davies boot saw him convert 10 tries on the day, a try hat-trick, as well as a penalty early on in the game on his way to scoring 28 points. Saturday also saw a league debut for utility forward Pat Watts.
Chobham’s pack dominated the game and controlled the scrums and lineouts at all times, respect to OEs who continued to battle and never let their heads down. The home team backs ran with confidence and the few times defending prevented the opposition from crossing the gain line.
Chobham’s next three weeks are going to be crucial if they want to lay their mark out for the season against the three other current top teams, Vandals, Tiffinians and Hove.
After the game head coach Billy Davison was obviously pleased and said “I was proud the boys stuck to the game plan throughout, it would have been easy to get white line fever in a game like this. Great performances from Dan Warren, Justin Rowland and Sam Goddard in the back row kept us controlling the game from start to finish. We still have work ons for next week, but huge credit to the 18 for today.
In over a decade of coaching this is my biggest winning score, a day I will remember for a long time.”
Assistant coach Robbie Kennard said “what a great day at Fowlers Wells, one of my particular highlights was the final try by Sheppard as we kept our shape through multiple phases and used the whole pitch. This is a big result and we must take all the positives into next weeks game against Vandals, we cannot afford to be complacent.
Director of Rugby Harry Norman-Walker said “from the kick off we looked in control and our preparation paid off, huge credit to Billy and the team for the performance. Over the last couple of seasons, it’s taken us a few game games to get going, but today showed we are prepared for this season in this new league. A big positive as well was to come away with no injuries.
As part of Chobham’s legacy, I’m very proud that Robbie Kennard and I have been involved in our two biggest league wins in history – the other was the 111-0 win against Maidstone in September 2008.
Personally, I think the four teams at the top already will be competing for promotion at the end of the season and the next three weeks will be so important.”
The Cannons played a friendly against Whitton Lions, winning 53-10.
Chobham 1st XV: John Rumsey; Josh Sheppard; Tommy Reed; Oli Guy; Ollie Blackmur; Sam Davies; Guy Mawhood (Capt.); Leon Nell; Sean Bellion; Angus Hargan; Chris Kent; Matt Bosworth; Dan Warren; Justin Rowland; Sam Goddard.
Replacements: Pat Watts; Max Sambrook; Joe Mousley.
