IN PICTURES: Uckfield hand Horsham free passage to Sussex Cup final

Horsham advanced to the final of the Bob Rogers Sussex Cup where they will play Lewes at Bognor Rugby Club on Sunday April 27.
Adam Day scored one of Horsham's tries on SaturdayAdam Day scored one of Horsham's tries on Saturday
Adam Day scored one of Horsham's tries on Saturday

Unfortunately Uckfield were decimated by injuries and conceded the result in advance, however credit must go to the East Sussex club for honouring the fixture.

The game was played as a friendly and to ensure it was competitive, Horsham fielded a mixed 1sts/Lions team.

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Horsham coach Nick Stocker said: “All credit to Uckfield. They are suffering an injury crisis and clearly their priority is the league, but the game was still played and they honoured the fixture in the good traditions of rugby.”

Adam Day scored one of Horsham's tries on SaturdayAdam Day scored one of Horsham's tries on Saturday
Adam Day scored one of Horsham's tries on Saturday

Jonny Ordidge opened the scoring following a surge by Dan Crook, and then Mike Penfold scored after a Nick Essex offload to make it 10-0 after 13 minutes.

Uckfield then pegged Horsham back with a penalty before Adam Day fielded a clearance to set up Matt Goodsir who ran hard at the defence, gathered his own chip under pressure and shrugged off an attempted tackle to score a stunning try, to make it 15-3 at half time.

A piece of quick thinking from Uckfield and some missed tackles from Horsham saw the gap narrow to 15-8, before Horsham added three further tries with Paul Talbot scoring from a powerful rolling maul, Essex coming in off his wing to slice through the centres to cross under the posts and then Matt Stone completed the try of the match after the ball had passed through several sets of hands. James Passfield added two conversions.

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Stocker added: “It was a good opportunity for the whole coaching team to look at the Lions.”

In a good day all round for the club, Horsham’s 3rds beat Seaford 2nds 53-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Sussex Salver.

Horsham 1sts next game is away to league leaders Thanet Wanderers this Saturday.

Horsham: Day (Talbot 40), Penfold, Fairs; Harman (capt), Green (Emson 40); Crook (Fisher 40), Pirt, Ordidge (Hatton 40); Wright (Stone 40), Price (Philip 40); O’Gorman, Henderson, Passfield, Essex; Goodsir