Cobham v PJF

PJF began with a flurry as they attacked from the off and put Tom Casey away on the left wing only for him to be pulled up short. PJF took the initiative with quick recycling allowing them to take territorial advantage. It was honours even in the pack with scrum and line out going to plan for each side, unfortunately for PJF they couldn’t capitalise on the excellent start and score to show something for the effort they put in.

After 15 minutes the well organised and drilled home pack began to hit their stride and started to control the field positions in PJF’s half. PJF helped their opponents with a couple of lazy kicks that were charged down and kept them pinned in their own 22. A scrum take and quick hands saw the ball kicked over the PJF try line, this led to a brave and correct decision from the touch judge to call the ball out when it looked like the opponent’s wing had touched down. Cobham’s pack began to latch onto their influential Captain, who at second row, provided good ball from the lineout and an effective target for his eight to hit going forward. It was from such a play that the home side scored as a lineout take and drive was executed well, aka PJF, and Cobham crossed the line and converted to take a 7-0 lead.

PJF regrouped and with Ollie Booth in fine plundering form they took the game back to their hosts. Fly half Dan Leidecker began to march his side back up the paddock where they started to hurt the home side. The PJF pack began to dominate the broken play and maintained a series of recycled possession that allowed centres Mike Tuke and Ruairi Campbell Carson, to punch holes in the defence and wingers Nick Owen and Casey to make good ground down the flanks. From a sublime jinking run, Leidy freed Owen down the right where he drew the cover and fed inside to the supporting Scott Kerr who ran in under the posts making Stu Sorrell’s conversion easy. It was now 7-7 and half time which allowed the crowd to draw their breath.

The second half was intense with both sides attacking aggressively and defending equally as well - Foxy at full back fielded well and returned the kicks with interest. However PJF slightly got the edge as Tukey and Ruairi thumped their opposing centres into submission. As a result the home side opted to keep it in the pack but PJF were ready and wrapped them up. After about 20 minutes PJF lost tight head Richard Cebreiro to the sin bin for an infringement and subbed Booth with replacement prop Simon Thelwell. PJF’s play showed no effect as they repelled anything thrown at them. In the 10 minute spell they survived two 5 metre scrums and ran hard and fast into the Cobham half. From an infringement PJF were awarded a penalty some 30 yards out. Sorrell calmly stepped up and slotted the 3 points with a great kick.

Back at full strength PJF looked as if they were going to pull off a historic away win, but a cute bit of play from Cobham’s no 10 put paid to that. Securing possession from a line out on the PJF 10 metre line he kicked the ball across the paddock where it sat up nicely for his winger, who drew the cover and fed inside for his centre to score a try. With the conversion PJF were suddenly 10-17 down. A spirited last stand had Owen fly down the wing only to be judged out as his foot was deemed to have touched the whitewash. PJF yielded territory via some dubiously awarded penalties the last one of which was converted to make the final score 20-10.

So Cobham retain their poll position in the League; but they were severely tested by a spirited PJF XV who played, not only with a lot of their usual heart, but skill and technique which showed that they are well capable of existing at a higher level of League rugby.

PJF's away support almost made it a home game, as we took Fortress Pightle on the road; took the A3 end and chased them back down Fairmile Lane to lick their wounds in the safety of their gated £5m piles.

Next Saturday PJF entertain KCS Old Boys at Parsons Pightle.