Whilst the last nine games for the Cobham first team squad, DOR Billy Davison, the management team and supporters have undoubtedly been great, we possibly didn't realise that we had missed some excitement. Cobham's rearranged fixture away to Weybridge Vandals yesterday (25 January), resulting in a tense 19-all draw, provided that excitement in what could only be described as a pulsating, frenetic and breathless game of rugby, which the supporters of both clubs will have thoroughly enjoyed.
With Cobham as league leaders and Vandals just two places behind them, both having won 11 games each, the squad knew this was going to be a different level of rugby to what they had encountered in recent months. As this was a reconvened match on what would have been a free weekend several players were not available and that provided the opportunity for a debut on the bench for centre Josh Millard, Ed Jackson in the second row, George Moule his second cap on the wing and Joe Yorke coming in at scrum half.
Soon after the kick-off, it was apparent that Vandals would match Cobham's defence prowess and they were going to have to play a different attacking style of rugby to circumvent - more of that later. The first few minutes saw Cobham driving forward but to no avail and the Vandals number eight broke the line, before a steal in their own half by centre Fin Savill allowed Cobham to build an attack. Fielding provided support and the ball went wide to winger Henry MacQuire. He gained 40 metres down the touchline, linked with number eight Tom Davison on his outside who, on seeing his path blocked, fed to scrum half Joe Yorke for his first try close to the posts.
Conor Dellapina was on kicking duties, as Will Stephen had twisted his ankle in warm-up, and he made no mistake converting to make it 0-7 after 12 minutes. Vandals took the play back into the Cobham half and were exerting the pressure that had been expected. However, just three minutes after their first score, Savill stole the ball in the Cobham twenty-two and ran essentially the length of the pitch to touch down, which Dellapina converted (0-14).
This was the rugby that Cobham supporters had been accustomed to watching over past weeks and months but it had not necessarily be anticipated in this fixture. A kick ahead by Vandals was collected by Stephen. Not only did he kick over the opposition and collect unchallenged but he kicked again and came close to a further recovery and what would have been an inevitable score. As mentioned earlier, Cobham were having to adapt their game to make the breakthroughs and aside from the kick and collect, Savill was making a habit of stealing the ball as was Burnett.
Such was the pressure Cobham were exerting, penalty decisions for Vandals were being afforded vociferous applause from their supporters as if they were tries. Nothing could stop Cobham though, with Stephen kicking cross field to Davison who again linked with MacQuire to make ground.
Although Vandals had been threatening for half an hour, they hadn't been able to secure enough territory to make their possession count but when it was combined the Vandals number eight picked up and fed winger Luke Phair. That attack didn't work but it was reprised, this time from a lineout and Phair went over, Lloyd Pullen's conversion hitting the post (5-14). We didn't know it at the time, but another few centimetres for that kick would have changed the final result. Cobham lost scrum half Joe Yorke in the run-up to half time and Savill deputised, meaning Millard came on to win his first cap. Becky Gregory, the Cobham team physio, probably had her busiest first half for some time and the squad must be so grateful for her presence each weekend.
Cobham started the second half exactly how they would have wanted when a MacQuire run eventually led to a Ryan Aujla 30 metre charge to the line. Ryan was probably as surprised as anyone but with the line in sight he was stopped, but from the subsequent ruck the ball went to Davison via Lippiatt for a score out wide. As the match became attritional, Vandals lost their scrum half to injury and there was a delay before the conversion but Dellapina couldn't convert, meaning we had a 5-19 scoreline.
Yorke returned and Vandals knew they needed to step-up their game but were not expecting that their next score would see centre Harry Weatherall breeze through the Cobham defence to score under the pots to rapturous applause. Pullen converted to cut the deficit to just a score (12-19).
Slowly but inexorably the game was turning in Vandals favour with incessant pressure being created in the Cobham twenty-two. It required some fierce tackling from the forwards and backs alike with no weak links. Vandals had a golden opportunity when Phiar was in space but the ball went into touch, but with just seven minutes remaining, prop Karl Hoade drove over close to the posts to provide Pullen with the opportunity to convert and level the score (19-19).
With MacQuire injured, Millerd came back on and Cobham refreshed the pack with the substitutions of Clarke and Farmer. Vandals pack drives were requiring low tackles to avoid the breakthrough and for the first time in months, the Cobham supporters were waiting for the referee's final whistle to blow. When it finally came, the draw felt like a win.
Once again just four points separate the top four teams, but with Old Ruts winning and with a game in hand, the away fixture on the last day of the season will be worth supporting. Cobham are away again next week (1 February) to Twickenham, who they last played away in the opening match of the 2014 season.
Cobham 1st XV Squad:
1. Chris Lippiatt (Capt.) M/Y
2. Andrew Murphy
3. Ryan Aujla M/Y
4. Luke Westgarth-Taylor
5. Ed Jackson M/Y
6. Ollie Fielding M/Y
7. Louis Porter M/Y
8. Tom Davison M/Y
9. Joe Yorke M/Y
10. Connor Dellapina M/Y
11. Henry MacQuire M/Y
12. Taylor Burnett M/Y
13. Fin Savill M/Y
14. George Moule M/Y
15. Will Stephen M/Y
Substitutes:
16. Gabriel Clark M/Y
17. Hugh Farmer M/Y
18. Josh Millerd* M/Y
M/Y Mini Youth
*Debut
Scorers:
Tries: Yorke, Savill, Davison
Conversions: Dellapina (2)
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