A WARM WELCOME TO COBHAM RFC
Now it’s KO Cup time, and what a treat we have today as we welcome all associated with Cobham RFC to The Paddock for this 4th round RFU Intermediate Cup fixture, be they players, officials or supporters. With our opponents at the top of London 2 South West having lost just once so far, this will be a real examination for us as we aspire to greater things come next season.
The immediate prize at stake is one more step on the road to a potential Final at Twickenham. There are just eight teams left in the London & South East area group; the other three ties are noted below. The eventual London & South East area winner will play the winner of today’s South West Final between North Dorset and Matson for a place in the Twickenham Final against the champions of either Midlands or North.
We last played Cobham back in 2004/05 when we were both in Level 7 South East. Oaks did the double that season, but we had also played each other at Level 6 in 2002/03 when the away side won each time in two close contests.
Cobham started life as Old Surbitonians, when the 1930 leavers from Surbiton Grammar formed the club to retain camaraderie after school. The school facilities were used all the while until 1949 when close friends of those who did not survive WWII put their DIY skills to good use and built their first clubhouse at their present Fairmile Lane site. Fittingly the clubhouse and grounds were dedicated to all those Old Surbitonians who had fallen in the war. The clubhouse was revamped in 1968 and then a brand new structure with all mod cons erected in 2007.
With Surbiton Grammar School merging into Esher College in the late 60s, the natural recruiting ground diminished, which in effect brought about the birth of the club’s mini section in 1980 and the name change to Cobham in 1989 to associate it with its home area and the move at an open club.
Whisper it softly but we hope to welcome our visitors again in 2016/17, but then for a League fixture!
Howard Pearl
Other London & South East Division Intermediate Cup ties being played today:
- Diss v Fullerians
- London Exiles v Hammersmith & Fulham,
- Tunbridge Wells v Horsham
South West Intermediate Cup Final: North Dorset v Matson
Midlands Intermediate Cup: due to inclement weather there are still some 3rd round matches to be played mid week before the quarter finals are sorted.
North Intermediate Cup semi final draw:
- Bradford Salem v Gosforth
- Northwich v Liverpool St Helens