Guildford Slip into Relegation Play-Off Place After Hard-Fought Defeat at Chobham

Guildford Rugby Club

Guildford Slip into Relegation Play-Off Place After Hard-Fought Defeat at Chobham

Chobham 32 – 20 Guildford

Fowlers Wells

7th March 2026

Team: 1, Harry Burt 2 Jacob Jones, 3 Paddy Wood, 4 Alex Burill, 5 Jamie Curtis, 6 James Coates, 7 Tom Devereux, 8 Oli Millward (C), 9 Will Craven, 10 Joe Gwyther, 11 Josh Jones, 12 Aiden Jayawickrema, 13 Christian King, 14 Solomon Poole, 15 Lochy Ellis-Jones

Replacements: 16 Matt Poole,17 Ozzy Rooken-Smith, 18 Harvey Kwan

Scorers:

Tries: Craven, Gwyther

Cons: Gwyther (2)

Pens: Gwyther (2)

Guildford Slip into Relegation Play-Off Place After Hard-Fought Defeat at Chobham

Guildford’s relegation battle took a damaging turn on Saturday afternoon as they slipped to a 32–20 defeat away to Chobham, a result that sees the sides swap places in the Regional 2 South Central table and leaves Guildford now occupying the dreaded 10th position.

Heading into the contest Guildford had held ninth place, one spot above the play-off position, while Chobham sat directly beneath them in 10th. With the league structure dictating that 10th must face the side finishing 11th, currently Reeds, in a relegation play-off, the stakes at Chobham’s Fowler Wells Ground could scarcely have been higher.

These two clubs have shared plenty of spirited encounters over the years, but this one carried a sharper edge. Earlier in the season Chobham ran out emphatic 32–0 winners at Broadwater when Guildford produced one of their poorest displays of the campaign. The visitors travelled hoping to show far greater resolve, and for long periods they did exactly that.

The team sheet itself brought a touch of intrigue with the return from retirement of Matt Poole, proof, perhaps, that rugby rarely releases its grip entirely.

From the opening whistle the match carried the ferocity expected of a relegation ten-pointer. The collisions were uncompromising and neither side looked prepared to yield early ground. Guildford struck first after six minutes when a penalty within range allowed Joe Gwyther to open the scoring with a well-struck kick that nudged the visitors ahead 0-3.

Chobham responded in direct fashion. After ten minutes their pack began to assert itself close to the Guildford line and, following a sustained spell of forward pressure, they drove over for the opening try of the afternoon. The conversion drifted wide, but the hosts had edged ahead 5–3.

The contest remained finely balanced until Guildford suffered a setback midway through the half when second-row Alex Burrill was shown a yellow card. With the visitors temporarily reduced to fourteen men, Chobham seized the opportunity, using their numerical advantage to cross for a converted try that extended their lead.

Guildford’s response, however, was impressive. During their best phase of the half the visitors played controlled rugby, combining effectively between forwards and backs before Will Craven spotted a gap in the defensive line and darted through to score. Gwyther added the conversion and suddenly Guildford were back in touch at 12–10.

Any momentum was short-lived. Chobham struck again before the interval, another well-organised passage of forward play ending with a converted try that sent the home side into half-time leading 19–10.

The second period began much as the first had ended, with Guildford looking to apply pressure. Early reward arrived through another penalty from Gwyther which reduced the deficit to six points at 19–13 and kept the contest finely poised.

But ten minutes later Chobham delivered what would prove a pivotal blow, crossing for another converted try that stretched the margin to 26–13.

To their credit, Guildford refused to disappear. Working their way steadily upfield through a series of controlled phases, they eventually created space for Gwyther himself to cross for a try. The fly-half converted his own score to bring Guildford back within six points at 26–20 with just over ten minutes remaining.

At that stage the outcome, and the league implications, remained very much in the balance.

Chobham, however, managed the closing stages with greater composure. Conscious that denying Guildford a losing bonus point would be as valuable as the victory itself, they pinned the visitors back through territorial kicking and added late penalties to close the game out at 32–20.

Guildford’s resistance faded in the final minutes. Injury to the influential Oli Millward disrupted their momentum, while a late red card for second-row Jamie Curtis added to the visitors’ frustrations.

Yet despite the defeat there were signs of renewed fight in the Guildford ranks. At times they produced controlled, purposeful rugby, although too often promising phases of play were undone by forcing the final pass when patience might have yielded greater reward.

A rest weekend now offers the squad an opportunity to recover before the decisive closing stretch of the season. Guildford’s remaining fixtures, Wimborne at home, Twickenham away and Bournemouth at Broadwater, will determine whether they can climb back out of the play-off position they now occupy.

With the margins so fine, every point from here may prove decisive.

Mike Burden

#ComeOnGs

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