Last Saturday was the big one!
A delicious pre-match curry meant the watching throngs were well fed and in good humour as they welcomed the leagues top two teams onto the pitch at Saint Hill. Could G’s do what no one else has been able to thus far and beat Pulborough to keep their own hopes alive?

The anticipation was tangible as the ref (excellent all game) got the game underway and the seige on the Pulborough line began. Apart from the restarts, I hardly remember a time in the first period when the Black and Whites entered the G’s half as wave after wave and penalty after penalty tested the referee and pinned Borough in their 22.

Their defence however was well organised and frustratingly stood firm repelling all G’s good work time afer time. Realising the line was hard to breach, Noah slotted a couple of penalties before a promising attack went left and then right to find Ali in a tiny bit of space. A step, shimmy and he was over in the corner. Pulbourgh managed a long penalty of their own to finish the half with the broken scoreboard not showing 11 - 3.

The crowds dispersed to the bars for a refill, discussing if the game was already in the bag, or if the Five Feathers should have managed more points in a one sided half. Surely Pulborough couldn’t lift themselves after the pummeling they had been through?

Pulbourgh were unbeaten in the league for a reason and that oft used phrase ‘Game of two halves’ was about to rear its head again. Having only given a couple of penalties away in the first period, G’s were instantly put under pressure and the arm was repeatedly lifted in the other direction. Puborough were a different team and a penalty lifted them even more. The tension was rising in the grandstand as both sets of supporters held their breath at each attack as both sides pressed for the next score. Into the final quarter and Pulborough found space to crash over on the left to take the lead for the first time. The Borough fans went wild!

With 10 minutes to play and the score 11 - 13, would heads drop? Would we slink off home in defeat? The boys on the pitch didn’t think so, as they clinically moved the ball into the oppo half. Phase after phase they inched forward until the whistle sounded in G’s favour. Noah stepped up and bravely slotted the penalty and suddenly it was the G’s support on their feet. Great control kept Pulborough out for the remaining 5 minutes and, to every G’s relief, the game finished 14 - 13!

Well played to both teams who played a brilliant game. In a massive reversal, Oscar went from DotD last match to MotM this week for a great display across the park - Well played mate!

Next week we go again!!!