On a cold blustering day OC’s returned to horn park in search of another win, hoping to kick start a streak.
OCs kicked off and started fast with a huge turnover from the first tackle followed by a quick tap and some fast solid phase play which saw Louis Baker slice through the Horsham defence for a converted try 7-0. Over the next 10 minutes we saw a lot of back and forth between both teams with OC’s showing dominance in the scrums and some good go forward. This passage of play was eventually broken down by Horsham where a few slipped tackles saw them through into the corner for a converted try, 7-7. The restart was again greatly contested by OCs causing a knock on and so one of many scrum penalties. A kick to touch and another penalty by Horsham saw OCs elect to go for the scrum option 5 meters out. A good shove and OCs marched over the line for a great set piece try, 14-7. Another passage of play passed with some good attacking shape from OCs, but a slipped tackle sees Horsham find their way into the corner again for a converted try 14-14. A carbon copy kick chase from OCs sees them regather the ball with a scrum but the kick to the corner does not come to anything. Horsham clear their lines only for Dele to regather Horsham’s line out creating a perfect base for the backs to pick off their opposite man and put Chris Harris in the corner. The extras were not added, 19-14. A good exit from both sides saw OCs with a midfield scrum and again some great attacking shape and phase play saw them work their way up the field steadily to just metres out. Ryan Napper gave a show and go and darted for the line for his own converted try, 26-14. Following the kick off OCs failed to regain their own ball from the lineout and Horsham were first to react scoring another converted try in the last play of the half, 26-21.
The second half starts with a bit of back and forth between the teams. Horsham were looking to clear their lines when a gift falls into Louis Bakers lap which sees him slide into the corner relatively untouched for his second try of the match. Napper added the extras, 33-21. A lot of rugby is then played within the Horsham half with some great attacking shape, some great defensive sets and major scrum dominance. Some lapse in concentration and some handling errors finds Horsham back down into OCs 22. A held up try and a scuffle sees OCs clear their lines through a try line drop out. A period of defence with OCs clearing their lines a number of times none of which found touch to give that extra bit of respite saw Horsham eventually charge down one of OCs kicks for another converted try, 33-28. From kick off, Horsham clear and again OCs fail to complete our own lineout and Horsahmare first to react gathering the ball and carrying into the 22. Some phase play sees them work the ball to the edge and score. 33-33. The time in the game has run out and so a Horsham win is up to the Horsham 10 who is kicking from a spot he slotted one for the last try. He ends up pulling his kick to the left of the sticks to leave the score 33-33.
MOTM: Tom Rameaux
Alikadoos: Andy O’Malley
