EGHAM H 10, HASLEMERE 25
HASLEMERE moved up to seventh in Surrey 4 after becoming the eighth side to beat rock-bottom Egham Hollowegians this season.
But Egham were no easy pushover for the improving Haslemere team.
In difficult conditions, the home side made the early running and Haslemere were pinned deep in their own half for 20 minutes.
Egham used their experienced pack to win early ball and ship it out to their fly-half. The pressure told and Egham ran round the ’Mere defence to score in the corner.
Haslemere slowly fought their way into the game and with Egham continually infringing at the breakdown, George Dyer was able to clear his lines with some excellent touch-finders. From a resulting lineout, Haslemere were awarded a penalty in front of the posts and Dyer kicked the three points.
The visitors began to dominate territorially, with Mike Harvey-Browne having another influential game in the second row, backed up by Sam Powell who broke some weak tackles. However, the communications broke down, allowing Egham to intercept and run the length of the pitch to score another unconverted try: 10-3.
That proved to be the end of Egham’s scoring.
Haslemere coach Max Stuart made some tactical substitutions for the second half, with Dyer moving to 10 and ‘impact sub’ James West coming on at 12. Young speedster Harry Brown was also thrown into the fray.
Enforced changes to the Egham pack also worked in Haslemere’s favour and their forwards now ruled the scrums.
Winning an early penalty, ’Mere moved upfield and Sam Alderson trundled up to the Egham five-metre line. Quick ball from the ruck allowed scrum-half Neil Moseley to spin the ball out to JP McCumisky who broke the line and ran in behind the Egham defence before offloading to centre Robbie Campbell who had an easy score under the posts. Dyer converted to level the scores at 10-10.
Unable to deal with the front-row power of Hawkes, Alderson and Howell, Egham were driven back relentlessly and No 8 Charlie Butterworth finally picked up and muscled his way over the line. Dyer narrowly missed a difficult conversion, but Haslemere were in the ascendancy and again piled towards the Egham goal-line.
Scenting a bonus-point win, ’Mere turned the screw and with Egham again going backwards at a scrum, Moseley scooped the ball out to Dyer who dived over for another five points.
There was still time for Butterworth to claim his second try as Haslemere walked the ball over the line to secure the bonus point.
Haslemere named Owen Johnstone man of the match for his faultless performance under the high ball and marauding runs upfield.