Competitive rugby in England waited more than 12 months to return at grass roots level. Sevenoaks Rugby Club trained whenever possible during lockdown, but there is no substitute for the real deal! The Junior section has seized the opportunity to wear the navy and gold shirts in proper match action. Our prolonged lay off is making the return feel all the more special, win, lose or draw.
On Sunday 25 April Sevenoaks Rugby Under 7s, Under 8s and Under 9s played against Tunbridge Wells RFC. The U7s and U8s hosted while the U9s travelled to St Mark's Rec. Some 150 Sevenoaks players took to the field in a very enjoyable return to festival format rugby.
On Sunday 2 May 50 of the U10s travelled to Warlingham, the U13s headed to Tunbridge Wells, the U13s, U15s and U18s Girls played at Old Colfeians Festival and the Academy U18s/U17s played Thanet Away. The Oaks enjoyed a great day out and certainly won more matches than they lost. The Academy went down 33-21 in a high octane encounter. Full reports from the Academy and the U15s Girls are below. The pictures show the Girls and U7s in action.
The fixtures presented a welcome return to playing against other Clubs, and the upcoming Sundays will see further teams and year groups in action.
Oaks Girls return to match action!
U15 Girls Round-Robin at Old Colfeians
On a sunny and fresh early May afternoon the U15 girls played a series of round-robin matches on a bone-dry pitch.
Sevenoaks 2 Old Beccs 2 (non-contact)
In the opening "ready for rugby" game against Old Beccs things started slowly as both teams got to grips with the both-hands-around-the-waist and offload (touch) rules before Beccs took the lead down the right. Charlotte B then evened things up by finishing well through the inside right channel. The match finished all square following good work by Jaime down the right in gaining yards before feeding Charlotte B for her second to cancel out a Beccs try again down the right.
Dartfordians/Old Colfeians 2 Sevenoaks 3 (non-contact)
In the next game of touch rugby the opposition built up an early head of steam as their star player inspired them to a 2-0 lead with both scores down the middle. An eagle eyed Erin then sniffed out a great interception to sprint home from 30 yards despite a determined lone defensive chaser. In almost a carbon copy of her first Erin intercepted again but this time fed Charlotte B on the try line who had followed up in good support. The winning try was a real team effort with Anne-Marie touching it home a few yards from the line as the ball was worked well through the hands of most of the team!
Sevenoaks 4 Old Beccs 3
Again Sevenoaks went 1-0 down early doors. An always lively Libby was then unlucky to not break through on the left side before an opportunist Faye ran it home well on the right. Imogen then put Oaks in the lead with some good running this time down the left. A warm up tackle in the final third from Anne-Marie created a turnover for Imogen to sprint home to make it 3-1. Anne-Marie then tackled their star player in trademark fashion near the try line when she was going full throttle and a certain score looked on the cards, before Beccs then broke the line to reduce the deficit to 3-2! Charlotte B added a fourth from close in before Beccs again got in from close in for a consolation.
Dart/Old Colfeians 2 Sevenoaks 1
In the final game of the day a weary Oaks team lost 2-1. The opponents star player made the most of the space involving herself in their two tries and Imogen salvaged things sniffing out some space after a turnover.
Thanet Wanderers RFC U18s 33-21 Sevenoaks Academy XV
More than 13 months after a Sevenoaks Academy team last took to the field in anger, 20 players from this year's Academy squad made the journey down to Thanet to represent the club in a full-on rugby match.
A frenetic start highlighted the relative strengths of the two teams - Thanet were clearly the more powerful team in contact, whilst Oaks looked particularly dangerous in the open spaces.
After several minutes full of endeavour from both sides - with no shortage of accompanying errors - Thanet struck first. Having gained access into the Oaks 22 they used their tight carrying game to good effect, forcing their way over from close range despite some aggressive Oaks defence. Conversion missed, 5-0.
Oaks struck back almost immediately with good hands from a turnover putting Joe Ryder away down the left hand side. He bumped off one defender before feeding Jonny Francombe back on the inside to score. Charlie Williams slotted the conversion, 5-7.
A poor Oaks exit several minutes later led to another close range score from Thanet with their kicker this time nailing the conversion to take a 12-7 lead.
What followed was an outstanding individual effort from Joe Ryder. Once again, Oaks were able to fashion space on the left around the Thanet blitz defence. Big Joe (as he will now be known), bumped off not one, but two defenders before stepping the fullback to claim a try to go with his earlier assist. Another conversion from Charlie Williams and Oaks led 12-14. A midfield break from Jonny Francombe after quick thinking off a turnover from Patrick Spice should have led to another Oaks try just before half time but a lack of clarity close to the line meant Thanet survived the late scare.
Oaks started the 2nd half with a bang. A lineout turnover won by Justin Adesina was worked to to Edgar Payne-Sanchez in the midfield. Barney Stone called the ball to himself back down the shortside before good catch and pass basics put Elliot Peters away down the left hand touchline. Elliot then produced the full Kieran Read, pulling the Thanet fullback a couple of metres in from the touchline before somehow finding Big Joe Ryder who stepped on the gas to claim his 2nd try of the day. Billy Boyd took over kicking responsibilities after his introduction at half time and nailed the conversion. Oaks led 12-21.
Sadly, this would prove to be the last meaningful attack for Oaks as the big Thanet runners started to get on top. Successive penalties gave Thanet access into the Oaks 22 where once again, their power near the ruck led to a score, followed by a conversion to bring the scores back to 19-21. Thanet had massive momentum and were starting to break through Oaks tackles a bit too regularly. A missed tackle in the midfield led to another Thanet try and conversion to take the score to 26-21.
Thanet's pack were in full control by this late stage in the game, with Oaks unable to front up physically with the likes of Charlie Galligan and Andrew Savage no longer on the field after big shifts in the tight. Another score from close range gave Thanet a 33-21 lead with a couple of minutes to play before an injury to Sam Hopkins meant an end to the game. We hope Sam recovers quickly!
Next Sunday (9th), a different group of Academy players will get their chance to play some rugby as an Oaks Academy XV will take on Aylesford Bulls alongside the Academy U16s in a double header.
Oaks Academy Squad: James Orpin, Max Moore, Jonny Francombe, Josh Kemp, Patrick Spice, Charlie Williams, Edgar Payne-Sanchez, Barney Stone, Marco King, Andrew Savage, Luke Walter, Elliot Peters, Charlie Galligan, Fin Rice
Substitutes: Justin Adesina, Ben Sellors, Sam Hopkins, Billy Boyd, Rory Barnes