Cobham push Old Elthamians all the way (From Surrey Comet)

Cobham push Old Elthamians all the way

10:29am Tuesday 24th January 2012 in Other Rugby

A second half fightback saw Cobham came clsoe to causing an upset as they crashed lose 39-31 to Old Elthamians at Fairmile Lane on Saturday.

Eltham started strongly with their back line releasing very fast ball and their tall and heavy pack showing Cobham they are not the only team who can use 'truck and trailing' to good effect.

It took a try saving tackle from Murray Shepherd to prevent Eltham getting the first score and Cobham were in their own half for the first 10 minutes.

It was therefore very much against the run of play when Chris Moreton fed by scrum half Robbie Kennard off loaded to Jack Davison, playing his first 1st XV game for over two years, for Cobham to take a 7-0 lead.

When Cobham travelled to Foxbury last October they scored the first try, but lost 41-12 and Eltham are not third in the league without reason.

Cobham put in some great tackles to withstand the pressure, but within 10 minutes captain Johnny Williams had secured a brace of tries 7-12, as Eltham broke the Cobham defence.

It started to look slightly desperate when winger Owen Lewis scored the third try to make 19-7 to the visitors.

Ashton pulled a penalty back for Cobham 10-19 but a fourth first half try for Eltham - this time by winger Tom White - further dented Cobham's hopes and as they trailed 26-10.

However, Eltham were yellow carded for an infringement on winger Billy Bates and Cobham making the most of the reduced numbers were able to achieve one of their text book pack driven tries.

Leon Van Niekerk emerging with the ball in hand and with full back Owen Ashton securing a wide conversion the first half finished 17-26.

Cobham were still in contention, but would have to up their game in the second half.

Eltham have promotion hopes this Season and are chasing down Chichester and Guernsey hard and immediately upset Cobham's second half plans when full back Pat Smith extended the lead to 17-31 after five minutes.

Its perhaps inevitable when you have a significant lead to take your foot off the peddle, but that's not to take anything away from the home side in what came next.

Constant pressure on the Eltham line should have merited a try, but it was instead the turn of the Cobham backs to show that they could also break the line.

Flower evaded his pursuers and allowed winger Billy Bates to do the rest, running within the goal area to get as close to the posts to enable Flower to convert 24-31, before Eltham provided swift riposte in front of the clubhouse 24-36.

Cobham well remember those immortal words 'If at first you don't succeed try try again' and what came next may be their try of the season.

It certainly will be for young Jules Kunkler.

Cobham were at half way courtesy of a typical rampaging run from Murray Shepherd, who off loaded to the rejuvenated Jack Davison and then came that moment every second row always fears, receiving the ball with 20 yards to run for the line knowing that the opposition have just you as their objective.

They failed and Kunkler scored his maiden try and Cobham's bonus fourth and was mobbed by his team mates.

Flower made no mistake and to an ecstatic crowd it was 31-36 with ten minutes left.

Could Cobham achieve just one more try for an upset? Eltham obviously thought they might because when they got the chance to kick a long range penalty that would then require Cobham to score twice that's what they did. 31-39.

Captain Cowell got as close as you can to cancelling that penalty out when his kick swirled in the wind and hit the cross bar, but despite enormous pressure on the Eltham line Cobham could get no closer.