SevenAyles made it two in two with what looked like a straightforward victory on paper but they were certainly made to work for it after a strong first half performance from Sidcup who led at half time.
With Sidcup low on numbers the game was reduced to 12 a side, and with injuries kicking in later Robyn joined up with them for the final 10 minutes.
With confidence sky high after last week’s victory against Crimson Roses, the SevenAyles girls went into the game probably expecting business as usual…..but were given a wake up call by Sidcup who started strongly which no doubt took a lot of the SevenAyles girls by surprise.
After putting us under pressure in the early stages, possession is lost and Sidcup work the ball to the right corner to open the scoring. 5-0 to Sidcup. More pressure follows where Sidcup break from the centre to the right wing and after beating our defence cut inside to score under the posts. The conversion follows and it’s 12-0 to Sidcup & our girls know they have a game on their hands!
With the first half in the latter stages SevenAyles begin the fightback…after winning the line out on the far side the ball comes across to the left before it is passed to Niamh who powerfully dances her way through a crowd of defenders to score under the posts! Niamh follows up with the conversion and SevenAyles go into HT having cut the lead to 12-7.
Thankfully the second half sees a much stronger performance by SevenAyles who run in 6 tries. First up it is Imogen, on as a second half sub, who collects the ball just outside the 22 on the left hand side and weaves her way around several tackles to score just outside the posts. Niamh converts and SevenAyles have the lead 12-14.
Try no3 sees Nat win back possession in our own half the ball is worked across to the far side for Imogen to dart down the left wing…..with Saskia in support Imogen plays a cool ‘one-two’ and continues her run to score in the corner. 12-19 to SevenAyles!
For the next try a Sidcup clearance is gathered by Chanel who makes a good run down the right before the ball is switched across to the left for Saskia to score in the corner. 12-24 SevenAyles with the girls looking far more comfortable.
The next try starts with another quick break from Chanel from the centre & cutting down the left before the ball is switched across to the impressive Chloe who spots a gap & makes a beeline for the right corner – her first try for SevenAyles! 12-29.
Try no6 starts from a SevenAyles scrum on the 22…after a strong break from Alys to get within a couple of yards and several other attempts to get the ball over the line it is Niamh who piles through the bodies to score just outside the posts. The conversion follows and it is 12-36 SevenAyles.
The final SevenAyles try comes from more sustained pressure with Nat passing to Imogen who gets tackled just before the tryline but Nat follows in to pick up the loose ball and bundle it over the line! 12-41 SevenAyles.
But credit to Sidcup they never stopped fighting and were able to get a consolation try at the end to leave the final score 17-41 to SevenAyles.
So in the end Sevenoaks ran away comfortable winners but were certainly given a scare by Sidcup who fought well to the end. In the post-match get together Chanel is awarded back of the match and Chloe forward of the match. One more league game to go this half of the season and the SevenAyles girls will be hoping for more of that second half performance!