Hammers dig deep to get the win the dying minutes!

Hammersmith & Fulham men’s 1st XV kickstarted their 2025 campaign with a trip south into deepest darkest Sussex to face Horsham RFC. After recent struggles, this had been identified as a ‘must win’ game both for team morale and for Regional 1 South Central survival hopes. With Horsham sitting in 9th and Hammers one point below in 10th, this was destined to be a nail biter from the onset. Hammers were also looking to avenge two consecutive defeats to Horsham in previous meetings, so safe to say there was a lot riding on this result.

Arriving at Horsham’s aptly named ‘Coolhurst ground’, it was a chilly day to say the least, with temperatures barely above zero. Thanks to the 4G pitch, the fixture could go ahead despite the surrounding frozen ground. As it turned out, it would have taken more than a little frost to sway Tom Proctor’s men from the task at hand.

Now, Horsham can trace its nomenclature to being known as ‘a place of horses’, and the hosts certainly were off to the races to begin with…for despite the Hammers forwards asserting early dominance at scrum time (credit to props Rogan and Jacob Poulton), Horsham’s first try came from an unfortunate intercept off a scrum when trying to go blindside. The Horsham scrum half (who was a handful all day) plucked the ball out of the air and dashed in under the sticks from 50 metres. Horsham 7-0 Hammers, and the not the kind of reward the fuming Hammers front row expected from their efforts. Switch on boys, don’t’ let them in again!

…the Hammers let them in again.

Another almighty scrum drive from the Hammers pack curiously results in no penalty awarded, but it’s Horsham that instead breaks the line and fights their way into the Hammers half. What follows is a perfectly executed speculative cross-field kick that miraculously finds its way onto their winger’s foot – he half-volleys it forward and regathers over the line, much to the dismay of a well-positioned Hammers defence. Horsham 14-0 Hammers.

This was not the start Proctor’s men had envisaged, barely into the game and 14-0 down to the hosts. What follows is a General Patton-level directive from Proctor accompanied by a promise of great physical harm to the next player who gives away easy possession. Chastened, Hammers find their rhythm with consistent phase play and tactical kicking from halfback Ben Dugdale and halfback-turned-10 Sam Seymour. Play is soon deep in the Horsham half – a barnstorming carry by Joe ‘the Caravan’ Carolan gets him metres from the line as their opponent’s defence is properly tested. Patient forward carries follow and an impending try seems certain…but a handling error gifts Horsham possession and they exit effectively. Chance lost.

Minutes later, Horsham are awarded a penalty on halfway. Chasing 3 points, their ambitious fly-half sails the ball past the left upright – bullet dodged. Chatter on the sideline is that this player resembles a fly-half version of Hammers’ own Joe Hennigan, minus the tray of Jagerbombs.

Play continues back-and-forth across the middle of the pitch, with creative offloads in the wide channels from Marcus McNeil and Eoin Baker. A Max Dugdale grubber put the boys comfortably in Horsham territory once again (but not before he had caught the first of a few unpenalised shoulders to the face). Horsham coughs up possession and Hammers are once again attacking from 5m out. What will the boys do now…

Phases later, the ball fizzes out to Carolan who glides through a rattled Horsham defence and dots down after selling an effective dummy to the ever-threatening presence of Tim Russell on an inside line. Carolan converts his try from under the sticks and Hammers finally have a foothold. Gwon the boys! Horsham 14-7 Hammers.

Play restarts…shortly after another missed penalty from Horsham’s fly half / Hennigan’s long-lost relative keeps Hammers in the fight. After an extended period of pressure from the Horsham attack, Hammers are on the front foot again on the stroke of half time thanks to another line break from Carolan, followed by a telepathic Dugdale-to-Dugdale pass out wide (the Hammers’ twin club stalwarts even more in sync than usual on their birthday). But alas, no further points come from the first half, and the score stays at 14-7 to the hosts.

The second half begins with end-to-end rugby, keeping the players warm in the conditions. Marauding runs and mischievous kicks from Marshall MacCleod at fullback keep the Horsham defence guessing, complemented by menacing breaks from Tim Russell – making a name for himself this season as one of Regional 1 South Central’s most formidable wingers/centres. Hammers very own Ant-man Josh Asafu Adjaye carries in his usual devastating fashion whenever called upon, sending Horsham players sprawling with a mouthful of rubber pellets on numerous occasions, their body position poor from having to bend down so low.

Effective phase play and dogged defence sees momentum shift in the Hammer’s favour. Relentless tackling from Seb Rivett and Marcus McNeil proves crucial to the stability of Hammers’ defence, however Sam Seymour soon sees a yellow for a (possibly try saving) high tackle and Horsham are 3 points better off. Horsham 17-7 Hammers.

Trailing by 10 points, down to 14 men and with less than 30 minutes remaining, a win of any form is going to be no mean feat. Hammers are agonisingly close to a score when a driving maul is held up minutes later, but another penalty from the reliable boot of Carolan keeps the scoreboard ticking over. Horsham 17-10 Hammers, and the boys have steadied the ship.

The hosts are held static by a courageous Hammers defensive set and forced to box kick from their 10m line. The balls is safely gathered by Seymour who, on his return from the naughty step, returns with possibly the best 50-22 kick seen this season! Hammers line-out inside the Horsham 22!

The Hammers first port-of-call in converting territory into points? Their lethal driving maul, the catch-and-drive even sucking in parts of the Horsham back-line off the back of meters made. The ball is eventually shipped wide to the backs who performed a signature training ground move to put Russell over in the corner! A well-deserved score. Carolan once again converts from out wide and the scores are finally level. Perhaps the man really did have ice in his veins on this frosty day…Horsham 17-17 Hammers, and the game is on!

Now is the time to be clinical and ruthless, as it would not be far-fetched to say that Hammers’ season is hanging in the balance here. Don’t give away any penalties boys!

…the Hammers give away a penalty, and the worst kind. A 75th minute Horsham penalty right in front of the posts thanks to a Jacob Poulton-high tackle that not only gives the Hammers tighthead the chance to spend the rest of the game liking Nigel Farage tweets from sideline, but also the home team a slim advantage when the Horsham kicker finally slots the penalty from right in front. Horsham 20-17 Hammers, with 3 minutes to go.

Step up Seymour. The boys need the ball back from the kick off – what will you do? A short, catchable kick-off for the boys to scoop up?

Nay. Deep and long, says Sam.  A banana kick, right inside their 22, into the waiting hands of thei…oh he’s dropped it! The Horsham player has dropped it! Scrum inside their 22. Two minutes go!

The scrum is won. The red men launch a barrage of red zone phases inside the Horsham 22, with relentless forward carries from Proctor & Co getting to within metres of the try line opposite the posts. Horsham’s defence is split and options are on both sides…

…the ball is released wide and…

….its in the hands of 10-turned-winger Max Dugdale...who goes over untouched in the left corner to score the likely winner! From a rugby player’s perspective, birthday presents don’t get much better than that! Carolan adds the extras and now the win was in the offering – 30 seconds to go! Horsham 20-24 Hammers – just catch the restart boys and kick it out!

…the Hammers do not catch the restart. Instead, Horsham regathers but injures himself in the process and the referee calls a halt.  A scrum…yet it is the Hammers are penalised!? Horsham kicks to the corner, and now its a Horsham maul in the offing…

Up steps – no, up jumps – Tom Proctor in the final play, the Hammers talisman captain and workhorse stealing the Horsham lineout inside Hammers’ 22. Kick it out boys!!!

…the boys do not kick it out.  Instead, Josh AA pulls on his size 3 boots and gallops 20 metres upfield after picking up Gregor’s pass. He’s tacked – condolences to the injured Horsham player whose shin Josh happened to headbutt on his way through – and this time, Carolan puts boot to ball that sails past the floodlights into the darkening winter sky to seal the victory. FULL TIME  Horsham 20-24 Hammers!

Emphatic celebrations ensued as players experienced a powerful mix of relief and reward. Man-of-the-match goes to Yorkshire’s finest Sam Seymour for a controlling all round performance at 10 in such a significant game. This was a crucial win after what has been a tough season so far, their second at Level 5. Hammers move to 9th in the league and can look forward to another opportunity to climb the table when they face Wimbledon at fortress Hurlingham on Saturday 11th January.