Men’s 1st XV v Worthing 22/03/2009

Home – Sussex Cup Semi Final

Report by Andy Ward

Won 44-20

“Sun is shining, weather is sweet, yeah. Make you wanna move your dancing feet” sang the famous Rastafarian bard Bob Marley. And so it was on 22nd March. The sun was shining and the weather was sweet and by the end of the game all of Hove were moving their dancing feet! And we’ll return to this theme no doubt…

For the first time in my memory, Hove were contesting the semi final of a Sussex Trophy and the visitors were Worthing II. After the stupendous quarter final win over Bognor, the delayed game was finally on and the crowd were buzzing with anticipation . Especially Billy the Bee – fresh as a leprechaun from Ireland’s Six Nation Grand Slam.

Some confusion over timings resulted in Statto not reporting for duty on time and so the neon lights of the electronic scoreboard were not pulsing the time. Fortunately, Stotty (henceforth known as Stotto) picked up the dibber and things were moving. Sadly, whilst all this electronic tomfoolery was going on, the Worthing 15 scored a try and Hove were 5-0 down within 3 minutes. Oh Bum. The conversion was missed and Hove kicked off again and the ball was caught by Worthing and passed out to their scrum half who was clattered by Jamie Waller and took no further part in the game. Our best wishes to him. A penalty was adjudicated and Worthing were on the attack again and Hove were not yet going properly through the gears and then further calamity in the 8th minute, the Worthing 11 showed fantastic pace and strode home into the corner for a second try to take the score to 10-0 to the visitors. This conversion was also missed.Within the next 10 minutes, Hove suddenly started to play and to believe that this game was there for the taking and all they needed to do was do what they do best – play rugby. And so, to quote a famous line from the game Hove “upped the intensity” and wallop Worthing did not know what hit them.

After 19 minutes Seb Eubank who had an awesome game flew down the wing, collected the ball, did a one two and retrieved the ball and went over before Worthing had really marshaled any effective defence. 5-10 flashed the scoreboard as now Statto had arrived and Stotto was banished and Hove had scored.

Seven minutes later in a well executed text book move (that we always used to call “Cobra”) saw Hove win a line out deep in the Worthing 22 and Rory took the throw, found his man and the mesmerising move was executed and no, I’m not going to tell you what happens – only the end result which was 5 points for Hove as Rory slammed the ball down.The strains of Bob Marley come back to mind and the next line after those quoted above is “To the rescue” and, indeed the whole Hove team came to the rescue of the Club’s ambitions and when they started to play it was immense.

Five minutes later a scrum five was awarded and Worthing lost their discipline and referee Bowers converted it to a penalty. Flanker Dave Wattam was the member of the wide awake club this time as he took a quick tap and fired towards the line whilst Worthing were still bitching about the award and a quick flip to James on the wing saw him touch down.

Unimpressed by such nonsense, referee Bowers indicated the try. Hove were now in front for the first time in the game at 15-10 after 33 minutes had gone and this was a lead that they were to retain as Worthing did not have the presence to properly attack it.

Three minutes later, Hove’s elfin stand off slipped his markers, jinked his way round a couple of stationary defenders and roared under the posts with a dummy stumble and then grounded the ball for Hove’s fourth try in 17 minutes. Sam slotted this one over to take Hove to 22-10 and the crowd were looking for referee Bowers to signal the end of the half.

This didn’t happen and Worthing mounted an attack down the Hove right and the ball was within inches of the line but Hove scrambled it away and Adam deep in the in goal area kicked it to safety. This safety being in the shape of Seb who turned on the after burners and scorched the earth running at the Worthing line. The ball was slipped inside and then finally to Adam who had run the length of the pitch went over for his second try and Hove’s fifth to take the score to 27-10 with Sam adding the two just before half time and Hove went in leading 29-10 after 25 minutes of some of the best rugby I have seen in a Hove shirt and I wasn’t the only one with that view.

Everyone was looking forward to the second half to see if Hove could keep up the blistering display that had annihilated Worthing in the first half. But now it seemed it was Worthing’s turn to “up the intensity” and for 25 minutes they held the upper hand with more possession than Hove. During that 25 minutes though, all they had to show for it was a single penalty in the second minute which made the score 29-13.

Hove’s defence was absolutely out of this world. Worthing tried all they could to get through but were stopped time after time with everyone in a Hove shirt contributing. Then Hove started to mount an attack and their attack brought product where Worthing’s had not. Twenty Five minutes into the second half, Sam Whiting went over for a try but then three minutes later, Worthing did break through and scored a converted try.

Hove were now 34-20 to the good which is two converted tries required just to draw. We needed to edge one more score to give the daylight and this soon came as Adam saw a gap and slotted home a drop goal in the 36th minute and Hove were now 37-20 to the good.

But the fat lady was not ready to sing yet and in as elongated a second half as was the first, Seb Eubank had the final say as he stormed over for Hove’s seventh try in the 96th minute and then Sam converted this with the last kick of the game to take the final score to Hove 44 Worthing II 20.

An excellent game to watch and all credit to Worthing for playing their part in the spectacle. Sadly, there were a couple of people for whom the occasion proved too much and all credit to Worthing they took them off the pitch before they could sully the proceedings.

The final will be held at Pulborough (date: TBA) and the opponents are Chichester who are top of London South West 3. If people are looking to go and wish to have a coach then please let Dean know names and numbers and we can organise if necessary.

Next week sees Hove back to league action with top of the table Old Elthamian the visitors. This is a MUST WIN if we are to aim for promotion this season and I can add that the appeal against the fall out of the Lordswood situation will be heard this week. I hope to have news by Saturday.

An excellent performance and an excellent win. Man of the match well, I had about 8 contenders in my notebook and there are probably another 7 or 8 in addition to those. What is for sure is that it was a TEAM performance and a great one at that. Its that indefinable something that adds up to more than the sum of the 15 players and Hove have it in spades.