Men’s 1st XV v Brighton 30/11/2019

Home – Bob Rogers Cup

Match Preview by Rob Ward

Won 26-19

Tries: A Parker (2),I Saunders,J Moore

Conversions:

Penalties: A Parker (2)

Local Derby in Cup Quarter-Final

The originally scheduled trip to Maidstone in the RFU Intermediate Cup was given as an away walkover, freeing up a weekend to play the Bob Rogers Cup quarter-final against Brighton. Hove will now progress to the 3rd round of the Intermediate Cup (having had a bye in round one). The draw for Round 3 will be next Wednesday and the fixture will be played on the 4th January. The boys are thrilled at the prospect of getting back into action so soon after the Christmas period.

Hove will nominally be playing Brighton’s second team, with their first team enjoying a week off from a tough campaign in London Premier. However as in any derby fixture both teams will be fired up and looking for local bragging rights. Should Hove win, we’ll keep the dream alive that we can continue our illustrious streak of getting to the Sussex Cup final and losing. Or maybe even go one better and finally lift the immortal Bob Rogers memorial trophy.

Hove have made a few tweaks to what is still a strong team sheet, while the cup having 22 man squads has given head coach Sandy Robertson more spaces than he knows what to do with, with 21 players currently named. Sandy is keeping his cards very close to his chest, not even telling the players who the mystery 22nd man is. Rumour has it not even he knows.

Hove’s tight 5 (Declan Peake, Tyler-Ray Hooper, Adi Shergold, Ian Saunders and Charlie Watts) is unchanged from the 50-0 win over Thanet and will be looking to continue the set piece dominance they established in that game. Veteran second row Carl Buckland is enjoying the second week of his midseason break and therefore was not in contention for selection (much to Ian’s relief). Speaking on Sunday after not playing the Thanet game, Carl said: “it’s nice to wake up and be able to move”, prompting fears that after 8 years at the club and threatening retirement for 7 of them that this might actually be the year.

In the back row, Toby Brown and Ben Anderson drop out with other commitments. Rob Ward comes up from the bench at 6 while “The Night King” Ollie Noel makes his first appearance for the firsts since suffering a nasty looking injury at the Battle of Winterfell.

Phil Dugard, who has held the captaincy for the first period of the season, moves to centre to allow George Davies to slot in outside Charlie Knight. Martin MacDonald takes back the captaincy he definitely wasn’t tense about missing out on since his return. It’s fine guys, he was happy for Phil.

Recently-engaged Rene Pavlides returns from holiday and comes back into the back 3 while Carles Casanova Galindo drops out. I haven’t checked but safe to assume Carles is off on holiday. Alex Parker shifts round to 15. Guy Patton.

Sam Whiting, feeling the heat from Rene’s engagement misses the game to spend the weekend at home, allowing Smash Parker to link up with Big Phil, some say this is the biggest centre pairing that Hove have ever picked.

On the bench, Hove are required to card two front row replacements. With player-coach Ryan Storer rolling back the years to visit the cultural hotspot that is Malia, James Buckley and Timmie Barnett get deserved call-ups to the first team squad for the first time this season (Buckley)/ever (Timmie). Ben Stephens is also in line to make his first team debut, and after some rave reviews from the second team last week a lot of the boys are keen to see what he has to offer.

Jerome Pye, sub against Thanet, drops from the bench so he can enjoy his customary Friday beers free from guilt. Jack Moore and Lloyd Tullett join Jake Butler on the bench as the backs options.

Kick off is at the earlier time of 1:30pm at the Hove Rec, due to the light closing in and possibility of extra time, while the weather is set to be not atrocious (for reference; the weather for the last two home games were definitely atrocious). So come down for what should hopefully be a good day of rugby with plenty of time for pints after.

Match Report by Martin MacDonald

Won 26-19

Tries: A Parker (2),I Saunders,J Moore

Conversions:

Penalties: A Parker (2)

First half blitz secures Hove winal Derby in Cup Quarter-Final

There is something about the rivalry between Hove and Brighton that will entice even the minor rugby fan, whilst both clubs have had different successes over the years; it is Brighton who has enjoyed the majority of victories. Most notably last season in defeating Hove both home and away whilst deservedly gaining promotion, for Hove these results were particularly painful, not least that they were against our biggest rivals but because of the margins of defeat (22-39 at home and 73-0 away). Regardless of the fact that Hove were playing Brighton ‘A’, on Saturday Hove had both these results at the back of their minds.
Hove won the toss and opted to receive kick off playing into a light breeze, whilst the ball was secured; some scrappy play by Hove allowed Brighton to attack almost immediately. Despite this, Hove eventually found their defensive groove with Ollie Noel and Rob Ward making some Excel ent tackles. A scrum on the far right of the pitch on Hove’s 10 metre line gave the Hove backs a great attacking platform, George Davies fed the ball wide to Rene Pavlides (who is on anther holiday next week), Rene advanced his way up the pitch linking with Alex Parker and Martin MacDonald, Hove found themselves in Brighton’s 22 and they managed to win a penalty. Hove opted for the sticks and Parker converted. Hove 3 Brighton 0.
Some great carries in midfield by Declan Peake and Tyler Hooper allowed Hove to keep momentum, eventually the ball was shipped right and Hove’s heaviest centre pairing of Philipe ‘Bastareaud’ Dugard and ‘Smash’ Parker, made space for Guy Patton to shoot down the right feeding Al Parker who finished well. Parker was unable to add the extras. Hove 8 Brighton 0. Brighton were seemingly still on ‘the bus’ and continued to infringe allowing Hove spread the ball into the wide channels and gain a large amount of territory. Alex Parker again was fed the ball by Pavlides (who was causing havoc for the Brighton defence) and evaded a number of Brighton defenders to touch down, conversion unsuccessful. Hove 13 Brighton 0. Hove had clearly rattled Brighton early on but towards the end of the first half, madness ensued. Pavlides made another break down the left wing and fed MacDonald who looked to evade the oncoming Brighton number 4, MacDonald was then hit with an illegal no arms tackle which left both players on the ground. The Brighton number 4 then got up and struck Pavlides on the back of the head when he was walking away, this lead to a major scuffle by both teams. The referee rightly gave a red card to the Brighton 4 but also sin binned Hove’s number 7, Ollie Noel for reacting. Once Hove were returned to a full complement, they finally managed to make use of the additional man, following a break into Brighton’s half, Peake recognised space on the blind side, the ball was fed by peak to MacDonald who offloaded to Ian Saunders who galloped over to score in the corner. Carl Buckland was informed of the news that a fellow second row had scored, naturally Carl referred to his stats this season, no competition at all Carl. Hove 18 Brighton 0.
Hove were well aware that Brighton would throw the kitchen sink at them in the second half, assistant coach Jack Newton made a few changes at half time bringing on James Buckley at hooker, Timmy Barnett at prop and Jack Moore for his debut at 9. Charlie Watts shot of to London for a musical or something, he was already running late. Brighton however started the second the strongest, the caught Hove off guard and fed the ball down the blind side allowing their scrum half to scanter over, conversions successful, Hove 18 Brighton 7. Hove were now struggling to continue the momentum they had in the first half, some poor kicking and decision making resulted in Hove being camped on their own try line with the majority of the Hove team on the far side of the pitch, a poor kick from Moore allowed Brighton to feed their winger who used his pace to run round the Hove defence and score under the posts, conversion successful. Hove 18 Brighton 14. It was now a 4 point game and Hove had to score next. Alex Parker dinked a lovely grubber through which Brighton carried over for a five metre scrum. The ball was fed in by Brighton but they failed to control it, Jack Moore capitalised and some great quick thinking allowed him to pick the ball up and dive over, conversion unsuccessful. Hove 23 Brighton 14.
In the final quarter, Hove defended frantically but their discipline was starting to cost them, nevertheless they managed to make their way up field again and won a penalty right in front of the sticks, Alex Parker easily knocked this over making the score Hove 26 Brighton 14. Brighton kicked deep on the restart, Hove gathered but were eventually penalised for holding on. Brighton went for the corner, they managed to achieve a maul and it looked as if Hove had managed to push them into touch however, the Brighton 5 was adjudged to have placed the ball on the line, the referee gave score much to the disappointment of the Hove players, conversion unsuccessful. Hove 26 Brighton 19. Hove restarted and just had to win the ball back or hope for a Brighton mistake, luckily Peake emerged from the shade to produce a textbook turnover and Rob Ward curled the ball into the crowd. Full time Hove 26 Brighton 19.
Credit must go to Brighton for making it an extremely competitive contest but, the Hove players can take great heart from their dogged spirit and never give up attitude. Second row and ankle melter Ian Saunder’s said “it’s great to get the win against our rivals, to get a try is something I am extremely proud of and I will cherish this more than my orchard garden”.
Hove resume league duties next week with an away trip to Becchamians.