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President’s Welcome to Harpenden
Here we go again!!! The Papa John Cup that we entered two years ago on our way to South East Central 1. Now as we change leagues, we once again have the opportunity to win another Cup competition.
We played Harpenden last weekend and just pipped them in the end. A fabulous game. We play the second leg against them today and hopefully we’ll progress to the semi-final, another 2-legged competition. I’m sure Harpenden will be all out to do the same!
Welcome Harpenden. We thank you for hosting us last weekend and hope you will enjoy being with us today.
To add to this I must mention some superb rugby being played in the Premiership. For me the handling prowess of Northampton and the tempo of Bath are so compelling. And so much more which is great to see. A big end to the season looks inevitable. And a great time for Rugby!
Harpenden RFC was formed in 1919 when a group of young men, old friends and school friends who had mostly all played rugby at school and decided they would try and form a side to continue playing together. After some difficulty they found a ground they could use in Rothamsted Park, a large open area owned by the Lord of the Manor, contacted some opponents and managed to arrange a few games during the 1919–20 season, playing as Harpenden Old Public Schoolboys. Interestingly their use of the pitch in Rothamsted Park was abruptly terminated by the then Lady of the Manor who apparently classified rugby players as ‘rough loiterers’, and a new pitch was then found in Townsend Lane. Go figure…
Their club is in many ways similar to Horsham with three senior men’s sides, a colts side and a thriving mini and junior section catering for all age groups from 7 years to colts. 2016 saw the introduction of the Harpenden Ladies Senior team who compete in a merit league.
In the meantime, we await news of our future. We have the possibility to move to Regional 2 South East, where we would run into a number of past opponents, or possibly into Regional 2 South Central which would be generally new clubs for us to face, but possibly further to travel.
The game last week was a classic. Whatever the outcome we hope for a great match today also. Thanks to this wonderful sport we engage in.
Have a great afternoon, all you ‘rough loiterers’…..
Alan Fisher President, Horsham RUFC
Tony Lewis
Another of our great contributors has passed away in recent weeks. We say farewell to Tony Lewis following a bout of illness. He was one of the most popular members of the club over recent years.
He helped to coach his son Ollie’s age group side through the years, and more recently took on the management of the Lions during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.
The Lions have regularly finished in the upper reaches of the Surrey Premiership, competing against some strong clubs, undoubtedly helped by the camaraderie built within the side under his management, ably assisted by the likes of Tony Jones and Jeremy Allen.
Not so long-ago Tony could also be seen running out for the BaaBaas and playing cricket for Trinity.
He will be much missed and our thoughts are with his family.
Phil Allen
Phil was a proud Welshman born in Cardiff, and in 1971 he moved to Horsham and agreed to retire from rugby aged 37. But after seeing a game being played in the park, he thought “one more season” and joined Horsham the year they moved to the Coolhurst ground.
He played for the Lions in his 40’s, toured Saint Maixent between 1974-82 retaining lifelong friendships with the locals and captaining the touring side in 1977. Phil continued playing till his 50’s (for the over 35’s!) before turning to coaching and helping start the M&J section 48 years ago, with 30 boys turning up for the first training session.
He coached the U16’s with fellow Welshman Maurice Jones and moved onto playing socially for Horsham RUFC Golf Society, enjoying plenty of banter and a few beers with his friends.
In his latter years he enjoyed watching his grandson (Matt) play at Horsham from age 6 - 18, before leaving for University, culminating in presenting the Colts Sussex Premiership Trophy at their end of season awards in 2017.
He loved this club - it was his life and he will be missed by many.
HORSHAM RUFC Men’s Fixtures 2024/25
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Saturday 26th April 2025
Harpenden 34-40 Horsham Report by Richard Ordidge
Having been granted a walkover by Bedford Athletic in Round 1, Horsham travelled to Harpenden in Hertfordshire for the first leg of their Round 2 match.
Harpenden have had a challenging season in the same way as Horsham finishing at the lower end of their league.
In perfect end of season sunny conditions played on an Artificial Grass Pitch, similar to that used by the visitors, the spectators were treated to a fast-paced entertaining display of running rugby with a feast of tries.
Both teams sides were much changed from the sides fielded in the league season and had a youthful look scoring six tries each but the difference was the kicking display of Oli Chennell who slotted five conversions.
Horsham’s scores came from a Tom Sanders hat-trick, Ben Murphy, Luke Powell and Tom Whittaker.
The Green and Whites now return to Sussex with a six-point lead to take into the second leg at Horsham on Saturday 03 May.
The winners are then set to face the victors of Tunbridge Wells v Southend in the semi-final on 10 May, with the final played at Worcester on 17 May.
HORSHAM RUFC - REGIONAL 1 SOUTH CENTRAL RESULTS
& SCORERS 2024/25 SEASON
Horsham 10–16 Maidenhead
Tries: Johnson T
Pen: Chennell
Conv: Chennell
Old Alleynians 18-0 Horsham
Horsham 27-41 Tunbridge Wells
Tries: Greatwood, Howard, Warwick
Pen: Chennell 2
Conv: Chennell 2, Warwick
Hammersmith & Fulham 25-27 Horsham
Tries: Sanders 2, Johnson T, Viol
Pen: Johnson T
Conv: Johnson T 2
Horsham 20-7 Brighton
Tries: Thompson
Pen: Chennell 5
Jersey 69-17 Horsham
Tries: Jeavons, Johnson T
Pen: Chennell
Conv: Chennell 2
Horsham 3-24 CS Stags 1863
Pen: Chennell
Horsham 26-26 Bracknell
Tries: Whittaker 2, Chennell, Greatwood
Conv: Chennell 3
Wimbledon 31-29 Horsham
Tries: Whittaker 2, Greatwood, Thompson
Pen: Chennell
Conv: Chennell 2, Whittaker
Horsham 7-54 London Welsh
Tries: Standing
Conv: Chennell
Camberley 44-7 Horsham
Tries: Sanders
Conv: Chennell
Horsham 25-23 Old Alleynians
Tries: Johnson T, Linfield, Maunder
Pens: Chennell, Johnson T
Conv: Chennell 2
Tunbridge Wells 21-16 Horsham
Tries: Thompson
Pens: Chennell 3
Conv: Chennell
Horsham 20-24 Hammersmith & Fulham
Tries: Linfield, Sanders
Pens: Chennell 2
Conv: Chennell 2
Horsham 7-26 Jersey
Tries: Warwick
Conv: Chennell
Brighton 25-28 Horsham
Tries: Blake, Earle, Miller
Pens: Chennell 3
Conv: Chennell 2
CS Stags 1863 31-0 Horsham
Bracknell 39-15 Horsham
Tries: Maunder, Osgood
Pens: Chennell
Conv: Chennell
Horsham 29-39 Wimbledon
Tries: Fisher 2, Bishop, Whittaker
Pens: Chennell
Conv: Chennell 2, Warwick
London Welsh 73-31 Horsham
Tries: Blake 2, Denhart, Osgood, Standing
Conv: Chennell 2
Horsham 28-19 Camberley
Tries: Sanders 2, Blake, Pearce
Conv: Chennell 4
Maidenhead 52-33 Horsham
Tries: Osgood 2, Bishop, Drauniniu, McLoughlin
Conv: Chennell 4
Harpenden 34-40 Horsham
Tries: Sanders 3, Murphy, Powell L, Whittaker
REGIONAL 1 SOUTH CENTRAL LEAGUE TABLE
THIS WEEK’S CUP FIXTURES
LAST WEEK’S CUP RESULTS
Papa John’s Regional 1 Shield Round 2 Second Leg
Referee: Chris Rodwell
Freddie Kilfeather
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Luke Powell
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Oli Chennell
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HORSHAM RUFC SQUAD 2024/25 SEASON
Nick Bell
Joe Blake
Oli Chennell Jacob Denhart
Josh Earle Maximilian Greatwood
George Howard Josh Fisher
Joe Johnson Tom Johnson
Freddie Kilfeather
HORSHAM RUFC SQUAD 2024/25 SEASON
Seb Maunder
Jack Osgood
Jordan Smith
Henry Warwick
Ben Murphy
Luke Powell
Tom Sanders
Luke Standing Jack Thompson Tom Whittaker
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