From the outset, Horsham dominated possession and territory, scoring three quick tries in the opening 15 minutes. That set the tone for the rest of the half

The second half was a different story, with CRFC coming out firing on all cylinders. The forwards began to dominate the breakdown and put Horsham under immense pressure, winning several turnovers and forcing mistakes. The backs also got more involved, with some slick passing moves and strong running lines creating opportunities for the team to score.

CRFC's lone try of the match came midway through the second half, with Co-captain Kris Dean breaking through the Horsham defence and scoring after several phases.
It was a moment of brilliance that lifted the spirits of the CRFC faithful, who cheered their team on as they battled to stay in the match.

Despite their improved performance, CRFC were unable to add to their tally, with Horsham's defence holding strong. The visitors continued to attack relentlessly, scoring two more tries in the second half to secure a comprehensive victory.

Despite the final scoreline, CRFC can take heart from their performance. They showed great resilience and character to stay in the game despite the early setbacks, and their improved showing in the second half will give them confidence going forward.
"We knew it was going to be a tough match against a strong Horsham side, but we gave it everything we had," said CRFC co-captain Kieran Gosling. "We showed that we can compete at this level and I'm proud of the effort the boys put in today."
Head coach Andy Evans echoed Goslings' sentiments, saying that he was pleased with the team's progress. training,"

"We've been working hard in training on our defensive structure and I think that showed today," said Evans. "We made some big tackles and won some turnovers that kept us in the game. We also showed more attacking intent in the second half, which was great to see."
Evans added that there were still areas for improvement, particularly in terms of their set-piece play and decision-making under pressure.
"We'll go back to the drawing board and work on those things in

"But overall, I'm happy with the direction we're heading in."

Despite the disappointment of the result, CRFC fans were proud of their team's efforts and remained optimistic about the future.
"We know we're a work in progress and there's still a lot of room for improvement," said fan Lucy Higgins. "But the fact that we fought back in the second half and didn't give up shows that we have the right attitude and spirit. We'll keep supporting the team and I'm sure we'll see some great results soon."

CRFC will now turn their attention back to the cup as the II XV are playing their tie this weekend.