Canterbury RFC Academy 2s 49 - 6 Sevenoaks Rugby Academy 2s
Sevenoaks Rugby Club Academy 2s headed to Canterbury RFC on Sunday 13 March high in hope rather than full of expectation. This Oaks 2s enjoyed a victory on the road to Hertford a couple of weeks previously. The home leg of this same Canterbury fixture resulted in a one sided win for the boys from down the M2. Could Oaks turn the tables this time around?
Unfortunately not as Canterbury ran out convincing winners. However this was an improved Oaks performance and Sevenoaks enjoyed a decent share of opportunities in the Canterbury half and at half-time felt very much in the game.
Ollie Smith was the pick of the Oaks pack. Alex and Tom Watkins carried strongly in setting up some solid field positions. Ed Cross put in a strong shift at hooker and Sam Keenan also did well in bursting onto the ball in open ball while Charlie Day, Rhys Owen and the rest of the pack defended resolutely.
Two Oaks penalties in the first half came from excellent pressure and fly-half Billy Boyd at 10 made no mistake in converting them. In the backs outside Billy, Patrick Spice kept the Oaks in contention with some smartly-placed kicks and also making several line breaks, ably supported by Jake Seaman, Toby Goodman and Jon Odeyemi, with Rhys Williams and Sam Hopkins putting in good shifts on a tough day for any 9 on the back foot as they were throughout.
There is much truth in the cliché that rugby is a simple game. For Canterbury the simplicity in attack involved carrying the ball up the centre of the park before moving it into the wide channels for the wingers to show their pace. The artificial surface also suited Canterbury's fast distribution.
The issues for Oaks stemmed from not responding to the game in front of them. Showing more tenacity and connectedness to prevent Canterbury making easy yards up the middle and then moving quickly enough to cover the ensuing overlaps would have certainly kept the game within their sights.
All the same, credit to all the Oaks players on the day for sticking to their task and playing to the end when chips were down. They showed a lot of spirit and will find the right opportunities to put the learnings into play before the season is out.
Hertford RFC Academy 2s 8 – 19 Sevenoaks Rugby Academy 2s
Sevenoaks Rugby Academy 2s enjoyed a cracking encounter away to their Hertford RFC counterparts on Sunday 27 February. The sunny weather and blue skies also helped after a rather torrid few weeks. After a customary slow start that needs to be sorted in future matches, Oaks impressed in moving the ball with some fluidity as Billy Boyd pulled the strings at 10 and the lineout clicked with Charlie Day in particular dominating. At one stage in the early exchanges Henry Lynch showed magic feet to jink his way from just outside his own try line to beat several defenders.
Unfortunately simple errors in midfield – the occasional forward pass here, a knock-on at the base there, and a few silly penalties – meant Oaks squandered decent field position and gave Hertford the opportunity to make the most of the slope and the wind. The home side duly got into the game and camped inside the Oaks 22 metre line. Resolute defending from the likes of Rhys Owen and Tom Watkins kept Hertford out but pressure ultimately told and Hertford notched up the first points of the match with a penalty from all but in front of the posts.
Oaks responded swiftly and after solid carries in midfield by Sam Keenan and Harry Fulcher, Ben McClinton cut a piercing line to charge over the Hertford try line. A 3-5 lead with the elements in their favour for the second half, despite never quite hitting their stride, were just some of the points for Oaks to ponder during the half time chat.
Re-enforced by fresh legs from the bench Sevenoaks took the game to Hertford from the get go in the second half. A dominant lineout created the platform, likewise excellent carries from Tom Hunt, Toby Goodman and Jon Odeyemi. Time and again Oaks battered the Hertford try line but without showing the required patience, 'white line fever' enabling the home side to wriggle their way out from any telling Oaks blows. Finally, after being held up over the line on two occasions, James Akerman crashed over for Oaks' second try that Billy converted immaculately from next to the touchline.
Oaks were at full tilt now and quickly secured their third try of the day in the form of Justin Adesina, who had an outstanding match in the loose. The 19-3 score line might have signalled the chance for Oaks to push ever further on however Hertford are a class act and had other ideas, particularly on their home manor. Hertford carried fast and strong and only some big hits by Ollie Smith and Jake Seaman kept them in check until a well-deserved try took the score to 8-19 just before the close.
Both sides will take much from this excellent run out played in the best spirit and will look forward to next season's re-run of the same fixture. Thanks to Hertford for being top hosts.