Defenses came out on top for both sides early on as neither side could penetrate resilient defensive pressure. First blood however was drawn following a high tackle by Beckenham, which was slotted by the Horsham 12 to give them a 3-0 lead.

There were a number of dominant carries off the restart by Horsham, these carriers allowed quick recycling at the breakdown. This in turn was used well by Horsham, who were able to use an overlap to give their flanker space to break into the Beckenham half. Just outside the 22, with space in behind, he chose to grubber kick through. This kick unfortunately ricocheted off scrum half Craig Thomson, falling straight into the hands of the 14, who had a clear run in for the first try of the game. With 12 converting, it left Beckenham trailing – 10-0.

Beckenham soon found themselves 2 tries down following a Horsham scrum just outside their 22. With Henry Kenny caught short on the blindside, the Horsham 9 made a sharp break and showed a clean pair of heels to go in untouched under the sticks – 17-0.

Slightly shell-shocked, Beckenham were now trying to get a foothold in the game. Having spent the first 10 minutes mostly without the ball. A clever kick by Craig Thomson allowed winger Mike Furness to re-gather the ball in the Horsham 22, after a few phases Beckenham were awarded a penalty, which Louis Richards nudged over to get Beckenham on the board – 17-3.

Following an error strewn period, an overthrow from a Beckenham line out in their own 22 gifted Horsham possession which they converted into a score again utilizing an overlap to go over in the corner, with the 12 again converting well. Beckenham trailing 24-3 after 20 minutes.

Beckenham were really on the back foot. It was almost a repeat of Horsham’s first try with more dominant carries off the restart, Horsham then released their prolific winger who was valiantly caught and tackled into touch 5 meters out by Craig Thomson – 1st try saver of the day. The next came after the Horsham hooker found himself in space out wide. Charging for the line, he was stopped firmly in his tracks by Craig Thomson, putting in massive shot. Beckenham then scrambled well on their own line where Hans Laud-Anderson won his first turnover of the match to get them out of trouble and relieve the pressure.

As the game began to open up Beckenham began to get into their stride, breaking into the Horsham 22 a number of times through BJ Tarbie and Louis Richards. Chances went begging however with the blue and gold unable to turn this into points.

With the HT whistle blown, Beckenham went into half time 24-3 down.

Beckenham knew they had to come out the blocks firing in the second half. With the substitution of Alex Jones, Beckenham were looking to try and get themselves back into the match. The sub soon made his mark on the game with a turnover, with the resulting penalty kicked 30 meters out from the Horsham line. A much improved line out from the previous week delivered clean ball to the back line, who carried the ball well of first phase. Following carries from the forwards put Horsham on the back foot and gave Louis Richards the time to slip a pass into the rampaging James Cleverly who showed a clean pair of heels to power in under the posts from 15 meters out. Richards converted. – 24-10. 45 minutes gone.

This try was the shot in the arm Beckenham needed. Having now woken up, a matter of minutes later the pack produced another solid scrum, which was dominant all game, to give Captain Andrew Knowles the opportunity to make a break into the Horsham half, after an initial break from Alex Jones. After exchanging with his back-row colleagues, Beckenham were on the Horsham line. The backs then finished off out wide, with Louis Richards calmly placing a grubber into the corner for Will Berry, who finished well to go over on his debut. Richards wide with the conversion, leaving the score – 24-15. Beckenham rampant.

Beckenham clearly had their tails up with Beckenham regaining possession after a huge hit in midfield from James Blackmore on the Horsham number 8. This set up Beckenham in the Horsham half and after numerous phases, Craig Thomson faked and popped nicely to captain Andrew Knowles who picked a hole in the middle of the Horsham defense to gallop in under the posts, for Beckenham’s 3rd try in 10 minutes. Richards adding the two to bring Beckenham within 2. 24-22.

With all the momentum in Beckenham’s favor, a not straight at a line out in the Beckenham half, relinquished the relentless blue and gold pressure and allowed Horsham the lease of life they needed to get back into the game. Looking to regain a foothold in the game, Horsham kept the ball close, with numerous phases from the forwards to get some time on the ball. This presented the Horsham 10 with the platform for a moment of magic, that ultimately decided the game. Receiving the ball deep, he danced his way through a number of blue and gold forwards to go over. The 12 did miss the conversion however, leaving Beckenham in range if they could get another try – 29-22.

From the kickoff, Horsham looked to make inroads into the Beckenham half and keep Beckenham out of scoring range. As they eventually worked their way into the Beckenahm half, Horsham were awarded a penalty 45 meters out from an infringement at the breakdown. This was comfortably slotted by the 12, who cleared the bar with ease – 32-22.

With a matter of minutes remaining, Beckenham pushed for the couple of bonus points still attainable. However numerous bites of the cherry were wasted and the game finished 32 – 22 to Horsham.

An improved performance from the boys compared to the previous weeks trip to Belsize Park, but Beckenham are starting to realize they need to be less wasteful and more clinical with the chances they are presented with at this level. Credit due to Horsham however, who showed why they were deserving of promotion, alongside Beckenham last year. With a physical and well constructed victory! Always a great club to visit and we look forward to hosting them at Balmoral Avenue just before Christmas!

This coming Saturday we welcome Havant to Balmoral Avenue, in our first home game of the season. The boys will be looking to record their first points of the season with a strong result against the current joint leaders!

Kick off is 3pm, with the Presidents lunch commencing at 1.30. Get down and show your support!

Match report by Liam Markey (2)