Pulborough were the better team!

Match report by Richard Hallt

The day started badly with Gus and Andrew turning up late due to an unwanted trip to Pulborough. From the start Pulborough were on the offensive with strong play from the forwards and backs. This said Haslemere won the first scrum and during the course of the match proved worthy adversaries even winning many of the pushing battles but sadly kicking the ball through the scrum back to Pulborough on more than one occasion. That said Haslemere won a number of scrums against the head so net net we Haslemere did well.

EJ, Max and Henry are getting stuck in from he start. Haslemere give away a penalty 30 yards out but when Pulborough run the ball to Haslemere Alex makes a great tackle forcing a knock on and Owen kicks the ball all the way to the Pulborough 22. Pulborough gather the ball but are kept in their 22 by Haslemere until Pulborough win a scrum and run the ball to the Haslemere 22. Rhys makes a great tackle to stop the try but the attack results in a Pulborough scrum 20 yards out. Pulborough win the scrum and go down the blind side to score, 7-0.

Good tackling from Henry, Sam and George keeps Pulborough pinned for several phases. When Haslemere knock on Pulborough get to the Haslemere 22 where they kick the ball through. Rhys gathers but is isolated and Pulborough drive over in numbers to make the ball available for them to score, 12-0.

From the off Pulborough gather the ball and get it wide where the winger is tackled by Hugo showing some pace. Haslemere lose the lineout and Pulborough drive forward to the Haslemere 22 before giving away a penalty. Haslemere kick back to the Pulborough ten yard line but the ball stays in and Pulborough come back strongly. Owen, EJ and Alex make some great tackles but after sustained pressure and a number of phases Pulborough score again, 17-0.

Pulborough are straight back in the Haslemere half from the kick off, Haslemere are tackling but Pulborough are so much quicker and stronger in the breakdown and get a penalty 20 yards out. Pulborough get within 5 yards of the try line but give away a penalty, the following lineout is won by Pulborough and after some great offloading they score their 4th, good tackling from Sam and George but it wasnt enough, 22-0.

From the off Haslemere pin Pulborough in their 22, Haslemere win several penalties but the Pulborough defense is strong, Owen kicks the ball forward but the bounce beats Hugo. Haslemere retain the ball and get it wide then through the centre but Pulborough are too strong again in defense. The ball is back and forward between the two sides for the next 5 minutes with Haslemere awarded a penalty 22 yards out from the Pulborough line. Haslemere retain the ball through number of phases and some scrappy play in the breakdown with Gus, George, Owen and Max trying to break through but with no luck. Pulborough steal the ball get the ball wide where Hugo makes another great tackle, half time 22-0.

From the off Haslemere pressure forces a knock on, Haslemere win a free kick from the scrum which they take early and gain 10 yards where they win another scrum but Chad has the ball stolen from him and Pulborough get to the Haslemere 10 yard line where Hugo tackles the player into touch. Haslemere take the lineout early get the ball wide but Rhys has the ball stolen from him in the tackle. Pulborough get the ball wide but Gus steals the ball and gets to the Pulborough 22 where Haslemere retain the ball in the breakdown and get it wide to Alexander who is stopped by Pulborough on the 22. Haslemere win their lineout and Owen takes the ball forward again ( he is running a lot of yards today) the ball is retained by Haslemere and Hugo manages to run through several tackles to gain another 10 yards, Haslemere retain the ball in the breakdown but a pass is intercepted and Pulborough are on the attack but are quickly stopped. It seems that Haslemere joined the game in the second half!

Rhys makes a break for it around the blind side but loses the ball in the tackle, Haslemere win the scrum and get the ball out to Owen who gains another ten yards. Haslemere win another scrum against the head and Chad takes the ball forward to be robbed of the ball in the tackle. Sam, EJ and Alex are in the thick of it in the breakdown and Haslemere win the ball again, but after several phases Pulborough win it back in the breakdown. Pulborough get to the Haslemere 22 where Haslemere win the ball back and Sam tries to take the ball forward, Owen combines with Andrew to gain a few yards before he is taken into touch. Pulborough retain the ball and Chad makes a great tackle to stop them ten yards out, Haslemere try to run it out of their 22 but are stopped, Sam steam rollers about three players in the breakdown and forces a scrum to Haslemere.

Haslemere have a free kick where they manage to retain the ball after Chad gathers it, he runs forward 10 yards where he is stopped but Haslemere again retain the ball, get it back to Chad who kicks forward winning a lineout. Pulborough steal the ball and try to take the ball forward but the Haslemere defence is working better and Gus makes several tackles on the bounce to keep Pulborough in their half. Pulborough attack through several phases resulting in a scrum which Haslemere turns over, Owen kicks forward to force a lineout on the Pulborough 22. Haslemere win their scrum after Pulborough were not straight in the lineout, Ed takes the ball forward ten yards but Haslemere almost lose the ball after winning the ruck but manage to retain it, Owen gets within 2 yards of the line followed by Chad doing the same, the ball is given to Rhys who almost gets through a gap but the ball is stripped from him, Haslemere retain the ball in the ruck and Henry almost gets over the line before the ball is stripped from him.

Pulborough take a quick 22 drop out which reaches the Haslemere 22, Andrew gathers the ball and Haslemere get the ball wide to Alistair who runs through one tackle before he is brought down outside of the 22. Pulborough win their scrum, get the ball wide where Andrew forces a knock on, Haslemere win their scrum and Owen kicks forward, Pulborough run straight back and Jethro makes a crunching tackle, Pulborough recycle the ball and make a breakaway run and Alex makes a try saving tackle 2 yards out. Haslemere manage to win the ball in the ruck try to run the ball out and are turned over but then force a knock on by Pulborough. Haslemere win the scrum and clear the ball to the ten yard line.

Haslemere win a Pulborough scrum get the ball wide and are stopped on the Pulborough ten yard line, they recycle the ball and get it back across the line to Alexander who makes 5 yards before being stopped. Haslemere recycle again but Henry loses the ball in a tackle, Pulborough get the ball wide and get through a gap in the Haslemere defence (first gap in the whole of the second half) to score under the posts, Hugo makes an effort to catch the Pulborough flanker but is unable to, 29-0.

From the off, Pulborough get the ball wide but Chad makes a great tackle and steals the ball, Haslemere are sloppy in the ruck and lose it, Pulborough then run round the blind side and cross the half way line. Haslemere win the ball back and Chad takes the ball forward again but ore sloppy rucking sees Pulborough break away and run in a try in the last minute, 36-0.

MoM Chad