Hove vs. Charlton Park (A)

Hove off the back of a week’s rest traveled to promotion chasing Charlton Park, a ground where they have had not much luck in recent years. Captain Whiting won the toss and elected to play up the hill in the first half.

Charlton Park were early into their stride and some big forward carries coupled with Hove’s mid-drift tackling allowed the home side to constantly get over the gain line. The pressure soon told and a snipe from the scrum half opened the afternoon’s scoring which was duly converted; 0-7

This early score seemed to catalyse Hove into motion and they played some of the best rugby seen in the claret and blue in recent years. Martin Macdonald ran a great line off Ryan Morlen in midfield but was dragged down just short. After strong carries from Morgan Griffin and Declan Peake, Rob Ward dived over the top of the ruck to get Hove on the board. Carles Galindo’s trusted right peg added the extras to draw Hove level; 7-7.

Hove were looking to run from everywhere and after good carries from the forwards to suck in the Park forwards, the Hove backs were finding space in the wider channels and this was highlighted in the second try of the afternoon. Backs and forwards combined beautifully to allow Will Walker space on the right wing and his lofted pass inside found the supporting Ian Saunders to canter in under the sticks. Galindo adding the banker conversion and Hove led 14-7.

A lovely set piece move from the scrum set up Hove’s third try of the afternoon. Morgan Griffin picked from the base and went blind and gave it to the supporting Rob Biggs. He drew the first defender and popped it back inside to Griffin who drew the full back and gave it to Whiting to outpace the covering defence and go in at the corner. Galindo again adding the tricky conversion; 21-7 and Hove had built up a useful lead.

Park then got back into the game and after a couple of breakdown penalties they went to the corner but the Hove eight held firm to hold them up. From the resultant scrum however, the home side got the nudge on and were awarded a penalty try; 21-14.

This minor setback didn’t deter Hove as they came straight back at Park. Rob Ward won a great turnover in midfield and found Patrick Andrews. Noticing that he didn’t have the gas to make the corner he shipped the ball on to Guy Patton to slide in at the corner for Hove’s fourth and more importantly bonus point try. Galindo off target with the extras; 26-14.

Hove were not done yet and after a lovely offload from Martin Macdonald, Sam Whiting went in for his second of the afternoon. Galindo again just off target with the conversion; 31-14. It could have been even sweeter for Hove as after a long kick from Sam Whiting up field, Rene Pavlides chased hard and made the tackle on the full back. Whiting won the turnover at the breakdown and from the resultant quick tap penalty he found Declan Peake. With two men outside he held onto the pass and the chance was ultimately lost.
At half time Hove had built a solid foundation and the game looked to be swinging in their favour.

Galindo missed an early penalty attempt just after half time, but it was Park who started to get the upper hand in the match. Their forwards were being much more effective at the breakdown and this allowed space around the fringes for their number 9 to again snipe over the whitewash. He again converted his own score to close the point’s difference; 31-21.

Hove were struggling to put the phases they had done so well in the first half and an unforced error inside their own half gave Park good field possession to exploit. They did just that as poor communication defensively allowed the number 9 to go in for his hat trick. He converted his own try and Hove were starting to get itchy feet; 31-28.

Park sensing a victory that looked out of reach at half time continued to press the Hove try line. More mid-drift tackling from Hove allowed Park the momentum they needed and after the ball spat out of the back of the scrum, Park reacted fastest. Several pick and goes later, the tight head prop was driven over to delight from the home support; 31-35.

Hove however pulled a ‘rabbit out the hat’ against Bromley a fortnight earlier and started to go to work on Park. A Galindo penalty closed the gap to a point as the momentum swung back in Hove’s favour.

The kick-off was dropped however and after numerous penalties at the scrum, Marnix van Gelderen was shown a yellow for persistent offences. As the clock hit red, the resultant penalty sailed through the posts to complete the scoring; 34-38.

A gutting result for Hove after a terrific first half, but to get two bonus points on the road is a big positive to take into next week.

Hove: Wallace, Peake, Andrews, Saunders, Knott, Ward, Macdonald, Griffin, Biggs, Dugard, Patton, Galindo, Morlen, Walker, Whiting © Subs: van Gelderen, Pavlides and Chapman.