1st Team - Bognor Rugby Club

Bognor 1st team play in London South West Three League. We have a great team spirit and welcome new players of all ages. We are currently in need of front row players and would be interested in hearing from you if you are looking to join a very friendly and family orientated club.

Head Coach    Mike Kent                 07967110794

Manager          Roger Hammond     01243 828822

Captain           Lee Balchin               07774623634

Chobham 24 – 19 Bognor

Bognor entered the New Year full of new vigour and hope as they restarted the league fixtures against Chobham, a side that comfortably beat them by 40 points earlier in the season.

Once again, injury played a key part in selection. Inspirational skipper Lee Balchin was a late withdrawl and took his place on the side line along with Scotsman Lee Thompson, Tony Johnson, Nigel Mitchell and Jonny Lang, just to name a few. On a positive note, this was the youngest Bognor side to be fielded in many a year.

The game started with Bognor full of the energy and enthusiasm as they attacked the visitors. Pat Gibbs and Dan Brock were prominent early on with incisive breaks, only the final pass let the home side down. It wouldn’t take long for the pressure to tell, Ben Burns won a scrum against the head, the ‘experienced’ Karl Flinn attacked the blindside with Rob Legg, his perfect pass sent Sussex sprinter Shane Stevens hurtling down the touchline for the opening score.

Bognor should have increased their lead when they attacked directly from the kick off, Josh Burgess linked with the ever supporting Adam Knight, the young flanker kept the continuity going with a perfect pass to Josh Riggall.  Unfortunately a last ditch tackle forced him out in touch just short. The home side however were playing with confidence and style that didn’t suggest that they were the team at the bottom of the table.

Chobham did eventually get some possession and used their burly forwards to trundle the ball towards the Bognor try line. Superb defence by returning and man of the match Daniel Harding prevented a certain try with a brilliant covering tackle in the corner. Unfortunately an earlier infringement was spotted and the easy 3 points were taken.

Bognor attacked again, after some great field position was gained by the impressive Dave Sweeney, wearing the unaccustomed 10 jersey. Jack Tomkins dominated the lineout all day. He was once again on hand to steal the opposition throw to set his side on the attack. Legge broke from the back and found the supporting Sweeney, his pin point pass to the flying Riggall set up the easiest of run ins from the 30 meter line. Sweeney added the extras.

The home side should have been out of sight by half time, several opportunities were missed. Brock was held up over the line, Graham Broome suffered the same fate from a driving lineout and just as it looked as if Bognor had added to the score line, a forward pass was adjudged by the outstanding referee just as Brock was clear for the try. Half time score 12 – 3

After clear and precise instructions at half time, Bognor were under no illusion that this game was won and 40 minutes of hard graft was needed to gain only their third win of the season. Unfortunately the visitors also realised that they were given a second chance and came out with all guns blazing. Their much heavier forwards took control as Chobham played the perfect 9 man game.

Great defence on their own line by Burns and Broome prevented tries, but the pressure eventually gave way when at last the ball was spun to the backline, and unfortunate slip in the defensive line allowed the visitors centre to canter beneath the post for an easy 7 points

Bognor were under the cosh for most of the second half as Chobham battered away at the home defence. The young Bognor side held out well and as soon as they got possession looked to attack from deep. From a perfect turnover by debutant 17 year old Ainsley Howard, Sweeney spotted space behind the Chobham defensive line, a perfect chip was gathered by the flying Gibbs, his sheer pace took him away from the cover defence to score try beneath the uprights. Sweeney added the extras.

With a 9 point lead, it looked set for another great home victory for Bognor. Chobham however had other ideas and set about a devastating 10 minute spell that broke the heart of the Bognor faithful. First a missed tackle allowed the Chobham flanker to touchdown to pull the game to within 2 points. As the clock ticked down very slowly, a perfect pre-planned move bamboozled the home defence and set their centre up for the winning try.

Bognor will take great heart from this battling performance with what was such a young side, an average age of 22 years old. Bognor will travel to Effingham and Leatherhead next week hoping to turn the misfortune in to a much needed win against a side they beat earlier in the season.

Squad; Brock, Riggall, Gibbs, Burgess, Stevens, Sweeney, Legge, Flinn ©, Knight, Tomkins, Harding, Dove, Burns, Morgan, Broome, Sergeant, Howard, Watson