Confident Cobham outgun leaders

Nov 19 2008 Surrey Herald

LONDON TWO SOUTH Cobham.................................. 18 Dorking................................... 13

In a fabulous advertisement for rugby at this level, this eagerly anticipated top-of-the-table clash saw the previously unbeaten leaders Dorking just outgunned by second-placed Cobham.

The presence of two former Cobham captains, Ritchie Andrews and Jason Hoad in charge of the Dorking side only served to heighten the atmosphere among a large vociferous crowd.

They were silenced after just three minutes when the Dorking scrum-half scrabbled through for the opening try, which was converted.

From the restart, Dorking gave away an immediate penalty, but it was missed by the young Jones-Davies at fly half.

But a second attempt, a mere 60 seconds later, gave the hosts their first points, cutting the lead to 7-3.

For the next 25 minutes, the game ebbed and flowed from one end to the other.

Then Blackmore came off his wing, creating an extra man in the midfield.

Quick ball gave full back Sutton enough space to round and beat the remaining attackers for a score in the corner;, superbly converted by Jones-Davis.

Cobham then gave away a penalty just before half-time, before losing scrum-half Spencer Franks with a knock to the head almost right on the half-time whistle,

With the score 10-10 the second half opened a little nervously. Both sides gave away nothing in defence, with the main difference being the scrummage power of the Cobham front five, where loose head Andy Alexander had an immense afternoon in both tight and loose.

Gus Darroch-Warren and Mark Bennett shone in the front row, dominating the Dorking scrum. Jones-Davies slotted another penalty after 10 minutes, to restore the lead

With eight minutes left on the clock, a prolonged period of pressure by Cobham ended with replacement scrum-half JP O'Reilly moving the ball quickly from the ruck.

Flanker Matt Johnson popped up in midfield to create the extra man before putting winger Ritchie Blackmore into space out wide for a well-taken try.

Dorking managed to claw back a penalty, but it was not enough to deny Cobham a famous victory.