Horsham's cup reign comes to an end in semi-final loss

Horsham try scorer Emmet ORahilly makes a pass, as Oli Chennell looks on. Picture by Warwick Baker

The Bob Rogers Cup is the senior cup competition in Sussex rugby which Horsham have proudly won for the last six years in succession.

Following the first XV’s promotion to London 1 South, and therefore being ineligible to enter the competition, the honour of defending the trophy which the Horsham club have come to regard as their own, fell to the second XV otherwise known as the Lions.

A sign of the strength and depth of talent currently at Horsham was that the Lions were able to run Hove first XV close with the result being in doubt up until the final whistle.

Hove fielded a strong side with more than half of their squad made up of regular first teamers and they raced into a 17-3 half-time lead.

Horsham’s sole points came from an Oli Chennell penalty.

Debutant Elliott Powell scored a try in an excellent performance early in the second half which was converted by Chennell, but Hove countered with a converted try of their own.

When Emmet O’Rahilly crossed the line for a try converted by Chennell with five minutes remaining, the Green and Whites had narrowed the deficit to 24-17, and were on the attack in the final stages to level the scores and force extra-time but in the event ran out of time.

In a great team performance Ian Paku, Josh Earle and Liam Brady were to the fore as Horsham’s long tenure as Bob Rogers Cup holders came to an end.