Match Report: Esher 62 v Worthing 20

Try glut sets up Esher for Big Field clash 

Written by Richard Spiller 

Photo credit: Leo Wilkinson Photography  https://www.leothephotographer.co.uk/p/21867sfs

RFU National League 2 East 

Saturday December 2 Esher 62 Worthing 20

Six victories on the bounce send Esher to their top of the table clash at Dorking on Saturday in confident mood.

They despatched Worthing in style, one of just two matches in Division Two East which the cold snap permitted, remaining just two points behind the leaders as they head to the Big Field.

Es scored 10 tries in a free-flowing display and, if anything, may be annoyed that the difference between the sides was not greater, the Sussex side going over four times themselves to take what may prove a valuable point in their battle for survival.

If Worthing – like Wimbledon a week earlier – looked perkier in the opening moments, they went behind on nine minutes as a piercing run by full-back Owen Waters was well supported by the forwards for prop Theo Skoumbourdis to touch down.

Wing Ben Robbins went over for the second on 16, taking advantage of a feed from Sam Morley although this time the fly-half could not add the extras on a sketchy kicking day. Just six of Esher's tries were converted and none of their opponents'.

Front row Dan Sargent replied at the other end, but Es were soon dominating again, hooker Andy Hamilton (25) followed over twice in short order by Harry Faulkner, enjoying his day on the wing with James Botterill resting.

The visitors once more showed they had punch up front, hooker Jack Doorey-Palmer touching down two minutes before the interval – taken at 31-10 – and Sargent notching his second on 53.

That sparked Esher back to life, Moses Fakatou rewarded for stepping off the bench with his maiden Esher try on 57 and enjoying it so much that he notched another within a minute thanks to a fine run from scrum-half Pierre Thompson. A midfield including Alex Seers – long a dominant figure for Rams at fly-half but slotting in neatly at inside centre – constantly stretched their opponents.

Tries were coming thick and fast now, Charlie Crawley joining in the fun four minutes later after weaving round the cover while Harry Chamberlain survived a collision with a post to claim the ninth.

No 8 Frank Taggart earned Worthing's try bonus three minutes from time, but Conor Ganley ensured Es reached double-figures in the dying seconds, resisting numerous attempts to block his path to finally touch down, in the process ensuring symmetrical scoring in each half.

Games to come – Dec 9: Dorking (A); 16: Westcombe Pk (H); Jan 13: Canterbury (A); 20: Guernsey (H); 27: Old Albanians (A); Feb 10: Bury St Edmunds (H); 17: Henley (A); 24: Sevenoaks (H); March 9: Tonbridge Juddians (A); 16: North Walsham (A); 23: Wimbledon (H); April 6: Worthing (A); 13: Dorking (H); 27: Barnes (A).