Saturday 10 April

Wimbledon   8 - 16   Chobham 1st XV

London 1 South League

Match report courtesy of Wimbledon here



Saturday 27 March

Chobham 1st XV   14 - 31   Sidcup

London 1 South League

Chobham dominated the opening parts of the game, rewarded with a try in the left corner from prop Eric Leibenberg and converted by Ed Smith.   A great performance from hooker Rob Brown at the set pieces.   A number of opportunities including a great break from Chobham's own 22m by Andy Walsh and Oli Brown, only to be tackled a few metres out.   Richard Cable led the defence for Chobham but the pack was unable to prevent Sidcup's improvement as the game went on.   From a line out and driving maul Sidcup equalised through prop Uys.

The first score of the second half came from Matt Hine at the end of some great play between forwards and backs.   Sidcup dominated the second half of the match with their driving mauls.   Jim Berrigan maintained Chobham's dominance of the line out.   Just before the hour from another driving maul which the referee said we dropped they got a penalty try which was converted, Chobham also suffered with Hine being sin binned.   Oli Brown's calmness at full back was one of the few shining lights in the second half.   While Hine was off Sidcup again scored, but immediately after going back to 15 men Leibenberg was also sin binned.   Chobham leaked 2 more tries in the last 10 minutes, losing 14-31 eventually.

With results going our way we are guaranteed not to be relegated.   Ian Martin, Rob Taylor and Andy Bond are now off to Kenya with Duke of Wellington Regiment for the summer.   Chobham's last game of the season is away to Wimbledon on the 10th April.

Saturday 20 March

Tunbridge Wells   27 - 27   Chobham 1st XV

London 1 South League

Match report courtesy of Tunbridge Wells here



Saturday 13 March

Chobham 1st XV   18 - 24   Dover

London 1 South League

Match report courtesy of Dover here











Saturday 6 March

Old Elthamians   36 - 6   Chobham 1st XV

London 1 South League

Match report courtesy of Old Elthamians here



Saturday 20 February

Chobham 1st XV   32 - 34   Old Colfeians

London 1 South League

Match report courtesy of Old Colfeians here



Saturday 13 February

Thanet Wanderers   21 - 6   Chobham 1st XV

London 1 South League

Match report courtesy of Thanet Wanderers here



Saturday 6 February

Cobham   13 - 7   Chobham 1st XV

London 1 South League









Saturday 30 January

Chobham 1st XV   57 - 5   Maidstone

London 1 South League











Saturday 23 January

Gravesend   23 - 11   Chobham 1st XV

London 1 South League

Saturday 16 January

Chobham 1st XV   8 - 8   Beckenham

London 1 South League











Saturday 12 December

Chobham 1st XV   15 - 10   Chichester

London 1 South League

On a beautiful December day Chobham picked up the 2 league points that frustratingly eluded them at Sidcup 7 days earlier.

 

Chobham playing with the elements in their favour started the game extremely well, and strong first half pressure led to 12 points all via the boot of Ed Smith, who was being watched by his 4 week old son Oscar for the first time!   In this time Chobham had come close a number of times to scoring a try but lacked the composure when on the Chichester line.   The half time score of 12 - 0 was justified for Chobham's first half dominance.

The second half was a different affair with Chichester scoring through their full back in the early stages of the half and a repeat of last week's performance against Sidcup looked on the cards.   Thankfully another Smith penalty extended the lead to 15 - 5.   Chichester responded through a controversial try in the corner through their giant prop to narrow the lead to 15 - 10.   With 15 minutes to go all 3 possible results looked to be on.   To Chobham's credit the team controlled the ball well in this period and played good field territory, and looked the more likely to add to their score.   The final passage of play saw Chobham fly hack the ball out of play and all home supporters and players were grateful to hear the final whistle.

Chobham are now looking forward to the clash with Cobham next week, their last game before the New Year.

 



Saturday 5 December

Sidcup   16 - 12   Chobham 1st XV

London 1 South League

On a bitterly disappointing afternoon Chobham failed to fire despite getting off to a dream start, playing rugby reminiscent of some that was played last week against Tunbridge Wells.   Early tries from Robbie Kennard and Ed Smith with a conversion for Smith were to prove not enough as Chobham faded in the last hour of the match.  

This was a game that every player amongst the squad was devastated to lose having played some excellent rugby the previous week and carrying some reasonable form over the last 6 games.   Sidcup proved to be resilient opponents and their simple but effective game plan proved enough to provide them with the vital 2 league points.   An interception try, conversion and 3 penalties proved decisive for the home side.

Chobham must up their intensity and concentration if they are to topple Chichester and Cobham in the next two weeks.

Saturday 28 November

Chobham 1st XV   53 - 11   Tunbridge Wells

London 1 South League











Saturday 14 November

Dover   34 - 22   Chobham 1st XV

London 1 South League

Not many sides will score 22 points away from home and lose - especially when leading 22-0 - but that was the fate that befell Chobham on Saturday.

In what Kiwi skipper Jim Berrigan described as "the worst conditions I have played in during my seven years in the UK" the visitors, shorn of four key players through unavailability, put in a tremendous display but ultimately lost out in a classic game of two halves.

The division's top points scorer Ed Smith was out, as were James Justice, Robbie Kennard and Tom Robinson.

"For 36 minutes we played a near perfect game and it was the best period we have put together this season," reflected Berrigan.   "We had the wind and the slope in our favour and we made it count.   As a captain I couldn't ask for any more and overall it was a very pleasing performance."

Eric Liebenberg, Andy Walsh and Robby Brown romped in for tries but a disastrous spell in the few minutes before half time proved costly.   Prop Liebenberg and his replacement Ali Jay were both sent to the sinbin within a couple of minutes of each other - for minor infringements after a team warning - while they conceded a try too just before half time.

From then on Chobham were in trouble.   "I know that Dover would do to us in the second half what we did to them and losing two men and a try before the break was crucial," conceded Berrigan.

"For almost 20 minutes of the second half we were at least one man down and the scrums were uncontested.   With the wind against us too, it was extremely hard work."

Dover piled on the points with some impressive tries after some repeated pressure, good field positions and a couple of Chobham turnovers while under immense strain.

Chobham finished strongly but by the time they got their full complement of players the damage was done and they managed to get in the hosts' 22 just three times in the half.

With Neil Callender, Ben Roberts, Walsh and Mark Baker - the latter having played only half a first team game this season - all impressed on a hugely difficult day where credit went to both sides.

"The referee said he couldn't work out which team was which in the end because we were all covered in mud," added Berrigan.   "A hot shower was most welcome."

Saturday 7 November

Chobham 1st XV   21 - 16   Old Elthamians

London 1 South League

Kicked into touch — that’s Chobham’s early indifferent form as they made it four wins on the bounce to continue their surge up the table.

James Justice’s in-form side have a tough task at high-flyers Dover this weekend but they couldn’t be going into the match in better shape after storming back from 16-11 down to win the match with 10 points in the final 10 minutes.

“We showed maturity and character to come back and there is no doubt we would have lost that game four or five weeks ago,” he admitted.   “We refocused when we were behind and played some of the best rugby of the season in that final phase.”

Justice has no qualms about the task ahead in Kent on Saturday and he added: “There are four teams at the top in front of us and we are getting closer to their level although we’re not there quite yet.   Dover will be as tough a game as we’ll have all season.”

Ed Smith gave Chobham an early lead with a penalty before Ben Roberts was on the end of a classic team try where most of the 15 men were involved.   It culminated in Ollie Brown bursting through the Elthamians ranks to set up Roberts who kept up his prolific scoring rate with his fourth score in as many matches.

Eight points to the good, they conceded a penalty but Smith responded immediately with one of his own to make it 11-3 at the break.

A disastrous period after half time, with poor defence across the board according to Justice, led to a converted try from the visitors while another kick for goal rubbed salt in the wounds as Chobham looked at a two-point deficit.   With a further penalty giving Elthamians a 16-11 advantage, Chobham were in danger of letting all their hard work go to waste.

They regrouped though, and an Andrew Walsh try brought them level before the trusty right boot of Smith added the extras to edge the hosts ahead.   Smith was able to split the posts a final time to complete the comeback much to the delight of Justice.

“We are going into games now with a different frame of mind.   The confidence we have gained from these wins was a huge help.   We were in control and were then in danger of imploding but we knew we could do it, dug in and it was pleasing we came though.”





Saturday 31 October

Old Colfeians   10 - 19   Chobham 1st XV

London 1 South League

James Justice admitted his men would have been gutted to lose this contest after the hosts pulled themselves back to within six points with a few minutes remaining.

But the Chobham player/coach was able to celebrate a third successive victory as the Windsor Road-based side continued their leap from 12th to sixth place in the space of three weeks.

“We didn’t play as well as we had in the win against Maidstone but Colfeians beat us twice last season so this was sweet revenge,” he enthused.

The lads put in a tremendous amount of effort and to lose that would have been a heartbreaker when they came back at us but we saw out the win.”

Chobham dominated the early exchanges and Ed Smith was unlucky to hit the post with a penalty from long range.   It wasn’t long before the visitors struck though when Ben Roberts charged through to set up Ollie Brown to complete an excellent backs move.   Smith converted to make it 7-0.

Another Smith penalty made it 10-0 but Colfeians were desperately unlucky to be denied a try from a line out when they had a clear touchdown.

“The ball was already down then Robbie Kennard dived in to place his hand somewhere near the ball and the referee deemed it as being held up,” explained Justice.

“We were lucky there but we bombed 10 points at the other end so a 10-0 half-time score was about right overall.”

An early hosts’ penalty reduced the deficit but Smith responded immediately with one of his own as the action ebbed and flowed.

Another Smith kick with 15 minutes to go made it 16-3 but a lapse in concentration let in Colfeians for a converted score to give Chobham a nervous few moments.

“It was a controversial try from our point of view as there was a clear forward pass right at the start of the move,” added Justice.

An Ollie Brown drop goal from 30 metres settled the argument though — the game finishing in darkness following a stoppage after a Colfs player had broken his arm.

“I didn’t care how dark it was, we could have played all night so long as we won,” raved Justice, whose team host Old Elthamians on Saturday.

Saturday 24 October

Chobham 1st XV   37 - 10   Thanet Wanderers

London 1 South League













Saturday 26 September

Chobham 1st XV   34 - 13   Aylesford Bulls

London 1 South League















Saturday 19 September

Chobham 1st XV   17 - 26   Cobham

London 1 South League











Saturday 12 September

Chichester   27 - 10   Chobham 1st XV

London 1 South League

Chobham had no illusions travelling to Chichester to play the New Boys on the Block who had a win on their first game last week.   In the event this proved to be only too true.   From the kick-off by the hosts Chobham collected the ball but encountered a strong attack by Chichester who were getting the better of the loose play.   Then following  a ruck inside Chobham's twenty-two, full-back Ollie Brown intercepted a Chichester pass and ran the ball the length of the field to score a try but just before touching-down he pulled a hamstring and was forced to played no further part in the game.   Captain Ed Smith added the two extra points.   Young Harry Guy replaced Brown.


 
Half-way through the first half Chichester had a penalty 30 metres out which was converted by their full-back Richard Adams.   After a period of forceful play by the hosts they got a turnover at a scrum and pushed Chobham back towards their line to send prop Phil Veltom over for the try which was converted by Adams so bringing the score level for half time.




 
The second half was an example of power by the Chichester scrum, as time after time at the set scrum they pushed the visitors back and likewise had the advantage in the maul which meant that it was not possible for Chobham to get profitable ball.   The hosts per Adams got another converted penalty.   Chobham were forced to make another change when Jimmy Berrigan stole a ball in a Chichester line out but came down heavily on his hip to be replaced by Lewis Manning.   With determination, Chobham once more took the play into the Chichester half and gave Smith a shot at a drop goal only to see it hit the post.   This seemed to trigger nerves in Chobham and although there had been some mistakes on both sides the visitors managed a string of spills, knock-ons and poor passes giving the hosts too much advantage.   Naturally this was grabbed with both hands and another converted try ensued.   Although under great pressure Chobham held up the hosts advance until eight minutes before the final whistle when flanker Ben Pohill was fed a wide pass to take over the line.   Again Adams obliged with the extra points.


 
Captain Ed Smith commented that this was a "typical away-Chobham.   We lost out in the scrum and compounded this with too many mistakes which is what happens when you are up against it.   Nevertheless, I think that the score flattered Chichester."



Saturday 5 September

Chobham 1st XV   12 - 10   Wimbledon

London 1 South League

Upbeat Harry Norman-Walker was honest enough to admit this was "an awful game" but was delighted to start the campaign with a win.

Chobham's Director of Rugby saw Ed Smith score three penalties and a drop goal in a scrappy contest, which was affected by new law variations particularly at the scrum.



"There were a lot of contentious issues because of the new laws and the two teams were rusty," said Norman-Walker.

"We are happy to win the game though.   They spilled the ball three times on breakaways and could have won it near the end while we were turned over on their line three times so could have scored a try ourselves.   We got the basics right which was pleasing.   And we dominated the scrum."



One reason for that was the new arrival of ex-Dorking prop Eric Liebenberg.   Sin-binned after 34 minutes for a hand in the ruck, he will add some class to Chobham's front row.

Smith put the hosts 6-0 ahead with two penalties before Wimbledon winger Andy Riley scored a try which was converted.



A drop goal from Smith gave the home team a 9-7 half-time lead before both teams traded dead-ball kicks after the break.



"We travel to Chichester on Saturday and they had a surprise win over Cobham so we know it's not going to be easy for us," added Norman-Walker.