Last minute loss for 1st XV

Reigate & Horley 1st XV were in action on Saturday on a very wet and muddy pitch at Colley Lane. Both teams came into the contest with contrasting form, with Reigate & Horley losing their last two and with Old Hamptonians having won theirs. The away side started the brighter of the two, crashing through the middle early on and exploiting an overlap on the wing after several phases to get the first score (unconverted) after 8 minutes.

Reigate & Horley were quick to react and soon started dominating across open play and at the set- piece. After another strong scrum the home side capitalised on field position and Fly Half Tom Hudson beat three would be tacklers before popping the ball up for Sam Mills to score between the sticks, converting his own try for the lead. The rest of the first half was very tight, but Reigate & Horley were unable to capitalise with a penalty kick when the away side were penalised near the halfway line for holding on following a strong counter ruck.

The second half was as enjoyable as the first for the assembled crowd, with the action going from end to end, but neither team managed to pull away. A mistake by Old Hamptonians on their 22 allowed Hudson to steal the ball off the floor and run straight through the middle for a try of his own. Mills again converted to give Reigate & Horley 14-5 lead. The away team replied again through their right wing after another action-packed spell, missing the conversion again to keep it a 4 point game.

With time running out disaster struck for the home side with less than a minute to go after several minutes of spirited defence on the line as Old Hamptonians bundled the ball over the line for the final score winning the match by just one point, 14-15.