The emotional rollercoaster that is Cobham First XV generated some disappointment on Saturday (1 February), as their ten-match unbeaten run finally came to an end away to Twickenham. However, as will be seen, it also engendered a rekindled passion for their next fixture. Cobham hadn't played at Twickenham's ground since the first match of the 2014 season, where they came away smarting from a 63-13 defeat, leaving newly elected past President Lionel Frewin pondering what had he done in taking up the role.
However, having won the home fixture by just two points and shared honours with Vandals last week, the squad went into this match cautiously confident. Niall Saunders came in on the wing to partner with his brother Ryan, while Penfold and Bond also returned. 15 of the 18 squad came through the minis and youth. The confidence looked well placed in the opening exchanges as Cobham ran the ball wide to Penfold and Davison created space. Twickenham defended attacks in their twenty-two for the opening ten minutes of the match, before Cobham lost full back Bond to a hamstring injury chasing down his kick ahead.
Twickenham were reliant upon their full back Tom Foster to provide them with relieving kicks. However, with Celebodachi coming off the bench to full back, he made an immediate impact when he ran from deep to set-up Burnett, who offloaded to Penfold, then Stephen and finally Niall Saunders to run over and score, although Will Stephen couldn't convert (0-5).
That try galvanised Twickenham and utilising the heavier pack, they took the ball into Cobham territory for the first time. Nick Smith, their number eight, had already demonstrated his evasive running and it was his pick-up from the back of the scrum that led to second row Jake White driving over, which Gibson converted (7-5). This was the first time Cobham had been behind in a match since their win against London Cornish in December.
Cobham responded and two quick tap penalties took them back into the home side's twenty-two, where they were awarded a penalty close to the line. Rather than take a third running penalty and with the posts within reach, Captain Lippiatt chose the safe option and Stephen put Cobham back in front (7-8). Cobham didn't know it at the time but that was the last time they would take the lead.
Twickenham Captain and prop Jordan Fyles has offloading skills any back would wish for and the next try came when, after having been initially thwarted, he fed his second row partner Louis Vance to score under the posts, Foster adding the extras (14-8). Foster extended the lead with a well taken penalty (17-8) and Cobham knew they needed the next score. With Niall Saunders switching to full back, he followed up on a kick ahead and the tackle created pressure on the Twickenham line which, to their credit, they withstood. As the first half finished, try scorer White came off with a shoulder injury.
Within minutes of the restart, Foster chose a long-range penalty from the Cobham ten metre line that rattled the posts. Twickenham's next score was to come from some skilful running from centre Lewis Harrison, combining with winger Will Hellel, to create space and evade the defence (22-8). Cobham now enjoyed their best passage of play in the game, aside from that initial ten minutes, as they counter attacked and after a series of penalties, they got a lineout close to the Twickenham line. Ryan Aujla had come close against Vandals the previous week, but he wasn’t going to be denied a second time as he shook off four of five tackles to touch down for a very popular try, which Stephen converted (22-15).
Twickenham fly half Jamie See had been spinning the ball wide but on this occasion, he took his chances and gained 30 metres when they were awarded a penalty. This territory gave Foster a chance to add three points (25-15). Number eight Smith nearly broke through but was enveloped by Porter and it needed strong defence from both the Cobham forwards and backs to avoid conceding another try. Instead, and as before, Foster took advantage of a penalty to add a further three points (28-15) with the clock ticking down.
With Niall Saunders taking over from his brother at scrum half, it was his third position of the game and substitutes Gabe Clarke and Alex Blackwood came on to provide fresh legs. An initial break from Jackson that Clarke set-up, saw Aujla pass to Penfold and then receive the return, only to be held-up close to the line. Although Twickenham received a yellow card, Cobham couldn't take advantage of the opportunity they were afforded. Twickenham would have to play the last ten minutes with 14 men and they not only survived but added a further penalty to make the final score (31-15).
There is no doubt that on the day the better team won and having been league leaders for a number of weeks, Cobham are now joint third with Twickenham on 62 points, Weybridge Vandals on 64 and Old Ruts on 66. Twickenham and Old Ruts have one match in hand.
In the remaining weeks of the season there will be some titanic tussles between these sides and others and from the disappointment there will be passion. Best summed up in this team message after the match: “May have not been the result we wanted today lads - but there is no other club or shirt I'd rather play for! This season is far from over and I know all of you will not give up since the easy route has disappeared. Enjoy your nights and rest week.”
Cobham 1st XV Squad:-
1. Chris Lippatt (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. Ryan Saunders M/Y
10. Connor Dellapina M/Y
11. Niall Saunders M/Y
12. Will Stephen M/Y
13. Taylor Burnett M/Y
14. Rory Penfold M/Y
15. Jordan Bond M/Y
Substitutes:
16. Gabriel Clark M/Y
17. Alex Blackwood M/Y
18. Sandro Celebodachi
Scorers:
Tries: N. Saunders, Aujla
Conversion: Stephen
Penalty: Stephen
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