A “mixed ability” Sevenoaks u11’s team consisting of the following players attended the Foxbury Festival:
Rory Dalton, Ryan Dixon, Finn Gallagher, Felic Gollan, Peter Latrobe, Sean Lenaghan, Richard Millett, Ben Pearl, Andrich Skein, Finlay Thomas, Liam Thomas
The first game was against Westcombe Park and a fired-up Sevenoaks team played some exhibition rugby with excellent rucking, tackling, running and passing and scored 4 excellent team tries through Ben Pearl, Felic Gollan, Ryan Dixon and Richard Millett. Westcombe Park did not know what hit them and ended the game with only 8 fit players which was testament of the commitment of the Sevenoaks players who played their hearts out. Final score 4-0 to Sevenoaks.
Due to a tough fixture draw, Sevenoaks had to play their second game straight after the first but the team did not complain and ran Dartfordians off their feet in the first half scoring 3 tries in the process, one by Rory Dalton and a brace by Richard Millett. Due to tiring legs, the team did not manage to score another try after half time but more importantly did not concede a try either. Final score 3-0 to Sevenoaks.
With Old Elthamians winning their first 2 games as well, it meant that the winner of the final game between OE’s and Sevenoaks would be the only unbeaten team (“winner”) and the game did not disappoint. OE’s started with a bang and threw everything at Sevenoaks but our boys did not budge and when three of our boys had to bundle one of their players over the touch line on the corner flag, it was time for Sevenoaks to take control of the game. Our boys regrouped and they forced the game all the way back to OE’s try line and won a 5 meter scrum, just for the referee to blow the half-time whistle. The second half was as ferocious as the first but mid-way through the half Felic Gollan picked up a loose ball and ran half of the pitch to score a stunning try. OE’s wasn’t done yet and tried everything to get the equaliser but the Sevenoaks boys fought off attack after attack and deservedly won the game and the jubilant scenes at the end showed how much it meant to the boys (and parents).
It was an excellent performance by a team who has never played together before and a day that all the players and parents can be very proud of – although there were lots of highlights and excellent performances by individuals, a special mention has to be made to Richard Millett who was everywhere and scored three excellent tries and was the Sevenoaks’ “Player of the Festival”.