Match Report: Old Haileyburians 24 – 25 Old Ruts (12/10/24)

In a fiercely contested local derby, Old Haileyburians came agonizingly close to toppling Old Ruts, losing 25-24 in a thrilling encounter. Despite a dazzling display of attacking rugby, a combination of errors and ill-discipline ultimately cost the Haileyburians in a match that went down to the wire.

The game kicked off with Haileyburians showing their attacking intent early on, and the backs delivered a sensational try. A slick move saw Elliot deliver a delicious flick pass, followed by an audacious round-the-back pass from Jonnie Searle, creating space for Rory to kick through. Searle was on hand again to gather the perfectly weighted kick and touch down for a try that could easily be a contender for try of the season.

The first-half momentum continued with the forwards asserting their dominance. A well-executed lineout maul led to the second try, with Ollie Maraden, better known as “Bubs,” peeling off the back of the maul. In a classic “run it straight” moment, Bubs powered through the defence to score a crucial try, leaving Old Ruts struggling to contain the Haileyburians’ forward pack. Soon after, another well-worked lineout maul saw Jake, the hooker, cross the whitewash for the third try, extending the lead and putting Old Haileyburians in a commanding position.

The second half, however, told a different story. Haileyburians managed to add another try through their captain, Harry Clesh, who picked up from the base of a scrum deep in Old Ruts’ 22 and powered over the line. Clesh’s tireless effort and leadership earned him the Man of the Match title.

Unfortunately, the start of the second half was marred by a series of unforced errors. Old Ruts capitalized on these mistakes, clawing their way back into the game with a few soft tries that left the Haileyburians defence scrambling.

Discipline issues compounded the Haileyburians’ problems, with three yellow cards in the second half. Woody was harshly sin-binned for allegedly playing the ball off the floor and obstructing the opposition scrum-half, a decision that left the team frustrated. Joey found himself in the bin after a high tackle on a much shorter opponent, following several warnings from the referee. Josh Bully’s yellow card for a failed interception attempt added further pressure to an already stretched defence.

Despite these setbacks, Haileyburians had the chance to win the game in the dying moments. A penalty kick was awarded, and Jonnie Searle bravely stepped up to take it, but the tricky conditions and pressure of the moment saw the kick drift just wide, sealing the narrow defeat.

While Old Haileyburians can take pride in their attacking flair and forward dominance, the loss will be a bitter pill to swallow, especially in a match where they created enough opportunities to secure a win. Silly mistakes and indiscipline in the second half ultimately allowed Old Ruts back into the contest, but there is no doubt this group will come back stronger and more determined in the games to come.

Final score: Old Haileyburians 24 – 25 Old Ruts

Next game: 19/10/24
1st XV away at Haywards Heath
2nd XV home against Cobham

Joey Selim

The Old Haileyburian RFC

Match details

Match date

Kickoff

Competition

League position

Login