Haslemere 1XV Narrowly Defeated at Home

Text by Will Oxley.

Woking got off to a strong start and were playing most of their rugby in the Haslemere 22 probing the strength of the defence until eventually finding a big forward at close range to burst through the tackle and score, putting Woking 5-0 up after 5 minutes. Inside centre George ‘the’ Mann was on hand to prevent another quick Woking score by holding up the Woking flanker after he peeled away from the line out catch and drive. Unfortunately Woking were still holding the territorial advantage and were taking quick tap penalties and when they switched the play from the right to the left they found a mismatch with their big flanker stretching over the tackler to score, converted 12-0 after quarter of an hour. To add injury to insult, Haslemere had now lost hooker Josh Andrade to a knee injury and prop Alan Kiley to a dodgy ankle. Without a regular prop substitute Haslemere had to throw in fly half James Clarke for a stint until at half time when second row Conan Jones came on and steadied the scrum.

After the opening Woking 20 minute blitz Haslemere now got back into the game with Ryan Perrott at hooker throwing accurate straight balls to Shane Vickery and Captain no8 Damian Kellerman, giving the Haslemere backs a solid attacking platform under the orchestration of fly half Jonjo Conway. The best opportunity in the half came from a clean line out jump by Kellerman with Woking then penalised at the breakdown after a solid drive from prop Zorro Hawkes. Scrum half Callum Sherwood took a quick penalty and saw space behind for the chip kick, but the ball went too far and Woking had a 22 drop out. Indeed the tackling of Sherwood stood out as time and time again he chopped down the Woking forwards. Against the run of play Woking scored again from a clean line out catch and forward maul before their full back found a hole down the short side to score under the posts, 17-0. As the half drew to a close it was Haslemere in the ascendancy piling on the pressure. From a 5 metre line out Vickery caught and popped to supporting runner Dave Head but Woking held the ball up and the opportunity disappeared.

The first 15 minutes of the second half mirrored the first half, but this time it was Haslemere dominating the territory and scoring the tries to pull back to 12-17. The Haslemere scrum was now competitive with Jones held in place by second rowers Chris McGrory and Dave Head. The clean ball from the scrum 10 metres out from the Woking try line allowed Conway to call a set move that saw some dummy switches and pops before winger JP McCumisky sliced through the defence at pace untouched to score under the posts, converted by George The Man, 7-17. After another 5 minutes Haslemere battled back into the Woking half and won a penalty. The long range penalty attempt just died before reaching the posts, but Woking spilled the ball and Haslemere pounced, mauling the ball, but not being able to dislodge the heavier Woking pack. From the awarded scrum no8 Kellerman picked up and popped to Conway who switched the ball left to full back Clarke who dummied the defence and surged through the gap to score, kicked missed, 12-17 and Haslemere were back in the game.

Haslemere were now fired up with Conway in combative mood that unsettled Woking and drew a penalty. The Woking team found themselves on the back foot but were able to keep Haslemere out by being more dominant at both the line out and scrum that denied Haslemere the clean possession to launch effective backs moves. Haslemere did have a couple of opportunities with the best 5 minutes form the end when Haslemere pushed a Woking scrum that allowed Sherwood to intercept a Woking pass and run deep into the Woking half. The ball then came down the line with centre Jim Blatherwick getting a crash ball, but Woking were able to push the supporting runner into touch short of the try line. Despite the great second half effort, Woking held on to win 12-17.

Haslemere 2XV were unable to find a fixture after Reigate 2XV cried off. There is a weekend off before the next fixtures on 6th December Haslemere 1XV are away to Old Oundelians, and Haslemere 2XV are away to Reeds Weybridge.

Haslemere continue to train up at Woolmer Hill sports ground GU27 1QA every Wednesday night from 7:15, with food at 9pm and open bar. Just call coach John Hatcher on 07709 187514, or turn up to training.