Horsham beat Becks … Chichester down Darts

Beckenham 10 Horsham 24

Horsham RFC are 14 points clear at the top of regional two south east after their tenth win in 11 league games.

In gloomy conditions, Horsham secured another five points in the first of three away encounters.

Beckenham and Horsham were promoted to the old London one together in 2018-19 and were pleased to renew old acquaintances with tough opponents who defend their patch resolutely and will cause a number of teams to come unstuck.

With a strong wind blowing down the pitch, the game proved stuttering in nature which contributed to the perceived lack of spectacle.

Ultimately it was Horsham's better set piece attack and ability to take the points when visiting the opponents’ red zone that proved the difference.The first 20 minutes brought Horsham greater possession and territory, but lack of execution kept the scoreboard to a minimum. An interception try from poacher Joe Wilde on six minutes was followed by a Beckenham penalty on 11 minutes to leave the score 3-5.Horsham began to find their rhythm and on 30 minutes, a midfield scrum saw scrum half Aaron Linfield snipe from the base, making ground into the opposition 22m. Quick recycled ball and a cut-out pass from second row Jack Osgood saw Marcus Condon in space on the wing with only one man to beat.

Using his power and pace, he burst through the attempted tackle and finished well in the corner for a try converted from out wide by Oli Chennell - 3-12.On the stroke of half-time, another sweeping attack saw Marcus Condon on the opposite wing making the final inside pass. With Tom Johnson supporting inside, the ball was regathered and driven over the try line for a try converted by Chennell. Half-time – 3-19.Horsham continued to dominate possession although mistakes allowed Beckenham to make incursions into the Horsham 22.

A series of penalties saw Horsham execute a well taken catch and drive to score a try finished by Charles Newey, a fourth bonus point try that went unconverted.

Beckenham scored a well taken try on 68 minutes, but the game finished with Horsham knocking on the door again.Horsham's head of rugby Nick Stocker said: "A frustrating afternoon with Horsham not managing to hit their stride. Despite this, the territory and possession stats showed a degree of control throughout and in the second quarter, our ability to execute improved which ultimately saw us pull away and secure the points early in the second half.

"With results in the league going our way, we have now opened up a 14-point gap at the top.

"This more than makes up for the stuttering performance and shows the need to keep pushing through the tough months when injuries and availabilities begin to bite hard.”

Marcus Condon was named as man of the match.

This week, Horsham travel to Dartfordians for another tough encounter (2pm).

RICHARD BELL

Dartfordians 23 Chichester 29

A bonus-point win on the road means Chichester are eighth at the halfway point in the league season.

Chichester made the long trip to Bexley to play Dartfordians and made seven changes, with Josh Cameron and Owen Tucker coming into the pack, Tom Hopkins and Alex Margarson joining the backs and Ken Dowding, Mike Burton and Ollie Horne on the bench.

The rain abated and Blues kicked off under overcast skies, putting Dartfordians under pressure.

The first two attacks were repelled but at the third time of asking Matt McLagan recycled the ball to Jack Knight, who ran straight before offloading to Tyrese Makasi for a simple try next to the posts, converted by Charlie Norton.

Chichester spent the next 17 minutes defending in their own half as Dartfordians launched attack after attack, finally opting for a penalty to make it 3-7.

The hosts conceded a lineout from Gareth Davies’s kick and Blues were back on the offensive. McLagan recycled it to Davies who found Rhys Thompson and the captain drew a defender and offloaded to Norton who ran in from 30m, 3-12 the score.

Chichester again found themselves under pressure and an infringement provided Dartfordians with a 5m lineout from which they scored- 8-12.

A further infringement in front of the posts provided the opposition with an easy three points and it was 11-12 at the break.

With a minute played in the second half, a Blues’ pass went astray and was collected by the Dartfordians‘ centre who ran the ball in from 30m and they led 16-12.

Chichester upped the tempo and after a kick over the top was secured by Alex Margarson. The forwards went to work and Joe Woods crashed over the whitewash to score. Conversion missed,16 - 17.

For the next 20 minutes the game ebbed and flowed.

With 15 minutes left Blues were awarded a penalty in their own half. Davies’s kick found touch on the 22m line but Dartfordians stole the ball at the lineout. But Zac Conley charged down the box kick and the pack arrived in numbers to turn the ball over at the breakdown.

With Thompson’s grubber kick crossing the dead ball line, the referee took play back for a penalty in front of the posts. Ken Dowding went for the tap penalty and the forwards moved the ball towards the Dartfordians’ try line. Dowding was on hand to touch the ball down for a bonus point try under the posts, converted by Norton, 16-24.

The referee produced a yellow card and and Dartfordians scored a converted try to reduce the deficit to 23-24. With the clock ticking down, Blues’ pack took the ball into the opposition red zone but the Dartfordians’ defence stood solid. The backs took over and a superb pass from Knight found Ollie Horne, making his 1st XV debut, and the 17-year-old crossed to score. MoM: Matt McLagan.

On Saturday, Chichester welcome Old Reigatians to Oaklands (2pm).

SIMON TANNER