Read below, or download attached PDF to read in technicolour, with league tables and fixtures attached. Photos can be found under "Media/Albums" on this website: "Worthing Away 21.03.26"

Match Report 21st March 2026

Worthing Rugby Club 28 - CS Stags 1863 17

• Stags lose out to an envigored Worthing in a tough game.

The Stags squad and the faithful dodged rail point failures, cancelled services, and crowded carriages to travel by train down to the south coast, where Worthing Rugby Club welcomed us warmly in equally bright, spring like conditions.

The home team showed their intent from the start, and soon opened up a two try lead by the 17th minute. Their pack stormed over after early pressure on the Stags line in the 5th minute, and then once again twelve minutes later scored another try, which was converted. 12-0. The Stags boys battled it out and often came close, but couldn’t quite get over the looming line. Alex Edwards clawed back a penalty award on the half hour to make it 12-3. A hamstring injury to number 8 Bertie Watson saw him leave the field quite early on, replaced by Tom Hollidge. The final ten minutes of the half saw more pressure by the Stags on the Worthing line, but once again errors, and being penalised just short of scoring, hampered the boys. Alas, An end to end movement just before half time saw Luke Trigg receive the ball out wide for a storming sprint down the left wing, but somehow a resolute Worthing Raiders defender made the tackle, just short.

The second half saw the Stags apply more pressure, with even more quick distribution, ball rotation, good passing, and quick hands along the attacking line. However, credit to the Worthing defence that held solid, and had definitely upped their game since we met in November. In the meantime, with Worthing sensing the Stags onslaught, they opted for another three points with a penalty on 54 minutes, to extend their lead 15-3. Finally, the Stags pressure told, and another piercing run by winger Trigg saw him cut in and evade the defence to score the first Stags try on 61 minutes. Alex Edwards added the conversion, and the score now stood at 15-10.

Worthing did not let the dust settle though, and came back with two quick unconverted tries after soaking up more Stags pressure, on 70 and 73 minutes, which got their four try bonus, along with their tails up. 25-10 the score. There was still time though, and the Stags are more than capable of finishing in a flurry. Another good attack on the Worthing line on 77 minutes saw Ash Thomas dive over under the posts, and David Wilkinson making a rapid drop kick for the conversion. 25-17. However, a further penalty against the Stags, which saw Worthing take the three points on 78 minutes, saw a 28-17 lead appear, which caried out to game end, and the final score.

Another hard, frustrating loss for the team. But onwards we go, and remain in 5th spot in the league with 61 points for the season, and +/- record of positive 159.

Tries: 10 points (x2) – Luke Trigg, Ash Thomas.
Conversions: 4 points (x2) – Alex Edwards, David Wilkinson.
Penalty: 3 points (x1) – Alex Edwards.

There was no Staghounds (2nd XV) game on Saturday, as injury has left our squad short, and we gave a walkover to Blackheath (II’s) for the away game that was due.

Just two more matches left in the league season for CS Stags 1863 1st XV, and next Saturday 28th March is our last home game of the season. It’s the Sponsors/Former Players/Supporters Day, so please look at the poster on this site, and get your bookings and orders in by tonight please for a place. It will be great to see a good healthy crowd at the ground to play Farnham RUFC on the grass pitch in front of the pavilion, kick off 3 p.m.

It’s a Bye week next Saturday for CS Staghounds (II’s) in the Gauchos ROC Shield.