Men’s 1st XV v Warlingham 04/04/2009

Away – London 3 South East

Report by Andy Ward

Lost 13-19

I’ve spent the night thinking about how to write this report and the overwhelming urge to write “Bollocks” and leave it at that was hard to resist. Not “bollocks” as any reflection on performance, but as just a shout of disappointment that all the hard work and team spirit evidenced throughout the season should agonisingly fall at the penultimate hurdle.

But, as one of the few (only?) people to have seen every single game – home, away, EDF Cup, Sussex Cup, Friendlies and League this season, I know there had been a hope and anticipation amongst the players – shared by myself and every spectator that we might just achieve that most rare of distinctions of back to back promotions this year.

Sadly, it is not to be, as both rivals won yesterday and now the maths tell their own very precise story that second place is not achievable (RFU penalties notwithstanding). After working our way up to second, then to be demoted two places by what appeared to me to be a misinterpretation of the powers afforded under Game Regulations 18.6 and its sub paragraphs and then working back to contention with the excellent victory over table topping Old Elthamian only to fail again is an unfortunate end to the league campaign.

But, it is only the league campaign. Let’s not forget the memorable victory over Worthing IIs that leaves us with the final of the Sussex Trophy to contest. At the start of the season, had we been offered 3rd or 4th in the league and the final of the Sussex Cup, we may well have taken it. Regardless, it most certainly would have been recorded as Hove’s BEST ever season – and that is a FACT!

It is only because of the high standards that we have been setting ourselves – and have been attaining – that this defeat could be looked upon as defining the season – when it shouldn’t. Consider where we were just a few short years ago. Sussex 1. Now look where we are and also tell me which way we are going? We may have reduced the acceleration, but we have not changed direction.

A team that has been fantastic all season should give itself a deserved pat on the back and resolve that we will win the Cup and that we will bounce back next year, fitter, stronger, faster and more experienced and accomplished. Would you relish playing yourselves? No, and nor will many.

Despite being pushed around in the scrum yesterday – probably giving around half a stone per man – we still won the ball. We still competed, we still won the first half and we were only a whisker away from winning the game. The flag stayed down for the first Warlingham try when some observers were convinced it should not have. Was the ball grounded for the second? I was over the Clubhouse side so can’t say – but others have suggested that it was dubious. The flag went up when Seb was clear when even the Warlingham supporters by me acknowledged that perhaps it should not have. On these small things are games won and lost. But decisions are made and you accept the setbacks, continue the game and give it your all. Sadly we just ran out of time – but never out of spirit.

This season has been a memorable one and I have been proud of what I have seen. Proud of seeing the youngsters come through, proud of seeing the newcomers gel with the Hove ethos. We probably have the youngest team in the league and all the time we are gaining experience.

So, we start over. We dig in and we bounce back. We examine ourselves for where we have made mistakes and we eradicate them. We become better and we will win.

Next week is a blank week – unless any of you fancy playing in the tens festival (best ask Gary and Tags first!), the following week sees the conclusion of the league programme with a home game against Purley John Fisher and then following that (yet to be confirmed) we will have the County Final.

We also have to schedule the Shelton Trophy game and I’m sure that this can now be fit in to the season and I will ask Mike to begin this process.

Floreat Hova