Scarlet & Golds Win Frenemies Derby
Weybridge Vandals 15 – 27 Chobham
Chobham travelled to Brownacres last weekend for the first time in 18 league years to face frenemies 4th placed Weybridge Vandals, there are two changes from the squad that ran out against Warlingham due to injury, Dan Warren came in for Magnus Barber and Sam Thirlwell replaced Angus Hargan.
From the kick off a deep kick by Sam Davies was sliced into touch by Vandals and setting Chob up for an attacking line out 10m out. From a great throw in by Sean Bellion to Sam Goddard a great driving maul that was set, 2m out the host pulled it down and with the advantage the Scarlet & Golds went open and a deft cross field kick by Davies was collected by Ollie Blackmur to score a converted try with 2 minutes gone.
Midway through the half from a scrum penalty on the visitors 22, an organised home team moved the ball wide fast and with the numbers overlap Robinson scored in the left corner. Play moved to the other end and this time Vandals offended, giving Davies the chance and he converted a penalty. A couple of minutes later as the play was back in the Scarlet & Golds 22 Tommy Reed played the ball on the ground and was sent to the sin bin, allowing Wellden to give Vandals three points.
With only a few minutes left in the half another 5m driving maul from a line out saw Max Sambrook score, but the last action of the half saw Vandals Phair score another in the left corner. At half time it was 15-13 to the visitors following a very stop start half.
The second half saw the continued dominance of the Chobham pack, the coaching team had to be proud of how they totally dominated most of the line outs. Unfortunately, Vandals had not learnt their lessons of the referees requests and quickly were under the wrath of the man in the middle. Just inside the half a dominant scrum won Chobham a penalty, kicking for touch they had a line out 15m out on the hour mark. Chobs platform set up a driving maul that saw them go the 15m and as more layers joined the maul it was wing John Rumsey who dotted the converted try down.
Chobs bonus point try came from a Vandals defensive 5m line out, the visitors collected a loose ball and Bosworth went over for the last score of the game. A relieved Chobham won 27-13 on the day and had achieved 5 league points.
The upset of the weekend in Counties Surrey/ Sussex 1 saw Hove lose 27-15 to Twickenham, with three games left it now looks like a run to the line with league leaders Old Tiffinians for Chobham. The next two weeks for Chobham see them travel to Trinity, and the opportunity to jump Tiffs with our game in hand, then the big game at home on 11th March against Hove for what may be our league decider.
The Womens team travelled to Chinnor Kites and came away with a great 35-14 victory to cement their mid table position.
Head coach Billy Davison said “The Chobham 1st Team, all 18, showed again today that the group is still developing. This is no more evident than in a growing edge to their play – a determination to stop the opposition, and to exerting patient pressure on the defence. Saturday’s match versus a strong Vandals team saw a dream start and an early try. The rest of the half proved a tight affair with Chobham ill-discipline hindering the team’s ambition. Better was to come and, playing into the wind, the players rolled up their sleeves and worked hard for a fine victory.
With the end of the season coming into focus it is clear that with continued hard work, and a little more bite, that the ultimate competition reward may be within the team’s grasp.”
Harry Norman-Walker said after the game “We achieved our target of 5 points, but all credit to Vandals who made us work for 80 minutes, typically the second half has seen us go clear recently and they kept us within touching distance the whole way. Vandals are a young team who will have a big impact on the league next year.
Today we saw some great performances from Thirlwell, Bosworth, Goddard, McCain and Benton who dominated in the tackle.
We are close to achieving our target of promotion and must not drop our focus. The next three games.”
Robbie Kennard, assistant coach, said “After a slow first half. The Chobham boys were excellent in the second half. We dominated possession and territory and came away with a well-deserved 5 points against a strong Vandals side. The line out and scrum were excellent again. Three games left and everything is in our hands.”
Chobham:
Leon Nell; Sean Bellion; Pete McCain; Dan Benton; Matt Bosworth; Dan Warren; Max Sambrook; Sam Goddard; Guy Mawhood; Adam Peever; Josh Sheppard; Oli Guy; Sam Davies; Ollie Blackmur; Tommy Reed
Replacements: Harrison Jones; Sam Thirlwell; John Rumsey.
Harry Norman-Walker
Director of Rugby
Chobham RFC