Thanks as ever to Gerry Diebel of Direct Design for pulling together the match day programme as we take on Sutton & Epsom at The Paddock on Saturday 12 February at 2.30pm.
After the tension and excitement last week of our trip to local rivals Westcombe Park, this Saturday sees the Firsts return to the Paddock to play Sutton & Epsom and the Seconds visit Alleynians. The Gents welcome Cranbrook to Plymouth Drive for what should be a competitive fixture.
The 1s and 2s will be looking to build on good victories over WP. Both games were fiercely competitive but in the end the Seconds outscored their opponents 7 tries to 2- avenging their only previous league defeat of the season - whilst the Firsts edged a thriller by just 2 points.
The visit of Sutton & Epsom presents a tough fixture. You may remember the Oaks, with a very quick scoring start, came out on top 31 - 10 in the reverse fixture, but the Surrey team had good passages of play, using their big strong pack to constantly threaten the gain line. This week’s game will be a real challenge, for which we will need to be at our best to win.
With our 4 point victory last week, we are now sitting in third place in the league table as the teams around us secured their 5-pointers. We have 8 games remaining in the season, with S&E and then Tunbridge Wells at home next week, the two games remaining before the players have a break at the end of February.
The boys have trained well as usual, with the focus being on match preparation for Saturday as well as keeping an eye on the inevitable wear and tear on the players at this point in the season. That said we are well set to give our all for the two tough matches this weekend.
Weather doesn’t look too bad so please come to support our teams. It will be much appreciated.
Adam
Get yourself to the Paddock this weekend for all the 6 nations games, sponsored by A-plan Insurance, Sevenoaks Branch - with beer jugs or 6 bottles for £15 and pork baguettes for £5, there really isn’t a better venue for rugby! You can also keep half an eye on the rugby on the pitch outside at the same time!
Defence holds strong as Oaks win at Westcombe Park
Extended Highlights vs. Westcombe Park Extra A XV
Blackheath RFC U18 vs. Sevenoaks RFC Academy 1st XV
Ashford/Gravesend vs. Sevenoaks U15 Girls
Next Saturday our 1st XV will be hosting Sutton and Epsom at the Paddock. It is also Ladies Day and with a few remaining seats left, why not come down to the club early and enjoy a spot of lunch before watching our boys doing what they do best on the field! Click the image above to go to the booking page or click here!
A big weekend ahead for the senior squad. Last weekend saw the Firsts continue our winning run, scoring six tries, to win comfortably at Brighton. We have had some chastening experiences over the years on the South Coast, so to win by a 29 point margin and secure the 5 league points was really satisfying. The Seconds travelled to Bishop Stortford in a friendly but we were unfortunately beaten by a very good team.
This week sees a double header away at Westcombe Park. The Seconds only league defeat this season was by WP, so a victory is imperative to strengthen our league position. The Firsts play an opposition who are on a very good run of form, winning 6 out of their last 7 matches. With Oaks winning our last 7 games, it is certainly a match comprising two in-form teams.
Whilst we are pleased with our form and league position, including boasting the meanest defence of all London & SE teams, we know we will need to be at our very best to overcome a Westcombe Park team with some very good players. The boys have been very focused in training this week, and there is always an extra edge when preparing for a local derby.
Team selections. The 2s have a very strong unit out, including the return of ex-1s captain and semi-retiree Stu Coleman. The 1s team selection Matt McRae and Drew Narbey-Nimeti return to the starting pack, with Charlie Naismith & Tommy Morris as replacements. Behind the scrum James Fotheringham and Nigel Gumbleton start in midfield, and Jonny Short returns to the starting XV.
Conditions look reasonable for Saturday, but we hope it will be a feast of rugby. Just think…… you will have time to watch the 2s (KO 1pm) and the 1s (KO 2pm), jump in your car and make the short journey back to watch Scotland v England at the club (4.45pm). Don’t worry you can watch a recording of Ireland v Wales later in the evening (midnight zzzzzz 😆)
Please do come and support the team if you can. The players really appreciate the Oaks’ travelling supporters!
Adam
This weekend Sevenoaks 1st and 2nd XV will be travelling to local friends Westcombe Park for a postponed double header from before Christmas. Please do make your way to support our squad in what promises to be two fantastic and strongly contested games!!
Seventh consecutive victory for clinical Oaks
Sevenoaks RFC Academy 1st XV vs. Canterbury RFC U18s
Old Elthamians RFC U16 vs. Sevenoaks RFC Academy U16
What a fantastic weekend of rugby last Saturday despite a week of disruption for the senior squad with Covid making our usual preparations nigh on impossible. However we were still able to utilise our great strength in depth and field two very strong teams against Sidcup at the Paddock. The Seconds won a tight match whilst the Firsts ran out comfortable winners against a resilient visiting team. Credit goes to all of the players who stepped up and the coaching staff who did a great job while I was watching the live feed in ‘almost real time’ from the comfort of my lounge😀.
We have been pleased to get back to a relatively normal preparations this week, with the boys back to training on Tuesday and Thursday, in readiness for the First XV trip to Brighton and the Seconds away to Bishops Stortford. Our matches down in Sussex are tough and feisty affairs, with Brighton always having a big vocal following. Although this weeks‘ opposition have not had the best of runs recently, we know they have some dangerous players. If we are not at our best then we will pay the penalty.
Speaking of penalties, we did suffer through ill-discipline last week against Sidcup, particularly at the breakdown. We have worked on this, recognising the need to be smarter and working out the approach of the referee during the game.
Those of you following the league table will see we sit second, with Hertford above us and Dorking below, all on 64 points. If North Walsham win their game in hand with a bonus point, they too would be on 64 points. Exciting stuff! Looking at the fixture list we will be playing these teams in the run in towards the end of the season, but we are not thinking about that at the moment. We have some very difficult matches before then and are only focusing on the next game ……..and that’s Brighton.
As ever, any supporters able to make the hours trip down to Waterhall Road will be much appreciated by the players. The weather looks dry and a bit warmer so we will do our best to deliver some exciting rugby.
Best
Adam
Sevenoaks utilises squad depth to secure win
U18s Sevenoaks & Crimsons v Old Alleynians
Our good friends and local rivals Sidcup RFC weren’t the only competition Sevenoaks RFC senior squad faced this weekend! Despite Covid doing its best, we only lost 14 players to the virus last week, so it was unable to complete a full team of our players itself, even lead by our Director of Rugby! Needless to say, our senior squad players and management stepped up to deliver strong performances against tough opposition in both games.
We were honoured to put on a worthy performance for Judge J Blackett, President of the RFU and his lovely wife Sally - we hope they both enjoyed the afternoon and we look forward to seeing you again in the not too distant future - wear the tie with pride!
M Wooldridge (Oaks President), Judge J Blackett (President RFU), R Horner (Oaks Honorary Life Member, President RFU 2003-2004), Sally Blackett, T Nicholson (Oaks Chairman)
Thanks as ever to Gerry Diebel of Direct Design for pulling together the match day programme as we take on Sidcup again at The Paddock on Saturday 22 January at 2pm.
Last Saturday we were able to celebrate excellent victories for both the 1s and 2s, at Havant and Tonbridge Juddians respectively, whilst commiserating with the Gents who were defeated down in Dover. The Seconds can also claim great credit for keeping TJs to ‘nil’ on the scoreboard along the way. Down on the 4G pitch in Hampshire the boys dished up some great running rugby to comfortably overcome a good Havant team. Well done to everyone and for the travelling supporters cheering us on at both matches.
Well, what can I say about this week? Writing this from my own Covid sickbed I am afraid, we have had a number of players, coaches and support staff succumb to the virus since Sunday. Our best wishes go to everyone of course. Consequently, we were forced to cancel training on Tuesday but are doing everything we can to field two teams for this Saturday’s visit of our local rivals Sidcup RFC. Both the Firsts and Seconds had tough fixtures against ‘Cup in then autumn, coming out with good victories. That said we know these games are always a challenge and the Sidcup Firsts have won their last three games and sit 8th in the league table.
In terms of selection for Saturday, given Covid and injuries there will obviously be a number of changes to both teams, with starter and positional decisions being left to as late as possible. This is the the time we can benefit from having a deep squad of senior players, with a great deal of talent still available. You will forgive me if I don’t set out the First XV team in this blog as usual, because as I write this …… I don’t know what it is😊
Last week’s Firsts victory cemented 3rd place in the league table, closing to 4 points from top slot, held by Dorking. Obviously, this week’s match against a powerful Sidcup team will be difficult but whoever plays will be well-prepared, doing everything we can make it six wins in a row. Conditions look dry for the weekend so please do come down to support both teams for their 2pm kick offs.
Keep well.
Adam
Oaks show flair and resilience in excellent 5-point away win
Thanet Wanderers RFC U18 vs. Sevenoaks RFC Academy 1st XV
Sevenoaks RFC Academy U16B vs. Beckenham RFC U16B - Kent Cup fixture
I am sure Oak’s supporters, like all players and coaches, were pleased to get back to rugby last week. We were delighted to see wins from the First and Second XVs against CS Stags 1863 and Bournemouth respectively, whilst the Gents suffered a defeat and a tough day at the office at Thanet. It was difficult weather conditions for all, but some great Rugby was played.
This week’s fixtures see the Firsts make the long journey to face a very good Havant team, the Seconds meet Tonbridge Juddians and the Gents play Dover. All very competitive matches, the boys will need to be at their best to get a result.
The Havant match will take place on their 4G pitch which is likely to make the game a free flowing affair, which will suit the style of play our 1st XV like to play. However we know it will be a battle, with the match earlier in the season at The Paddock a good indicator, with Oaks running out 22-7 winners. We will need to do the basics well on Saturday and compete with a strong Havant pack. It is always a good trip down to Hampshire, with the hosts offering a warm welcome off the pitch but a real challenge on it! We are pleased to be getting some of our injured players back, close to first team readiness but still have a deep squad to choose from for both matches. A strong team will be out at Tonbridge, whilst the Firsts team news sees Matt McRae, Matt Holmes, and Josh Livett return to the starting lineup, and Adam King onto the bench for his first cap after impressiving in the 2nd XV.
The Firsts currently sit 3rd in the London & SE Premier league, although North Walsham, 4 points behind, have played one game less than Oaks. It will be a fascinating week with the top 2 teams playing each other, but we need to focus on our own fixture to keep the pressure on those ahead of us in the league.
With the journey down to Hampshire a mere 87 miles 😊 all support will be appreciated by the boys. Alternatively for a match closer to home, the Seconds would be delighted to see you at Tonbridge to cheer them on against our local rivals.
Adam
Following hot on the heels of RFU CEO Bill Sweeney before Christmas, Sevenoaks RFC proudly looks forward to next weekends lunch and welcoming His Honour Jeff Blackett, President of the RFU and his wife Sally. Sevenoaks is one of many clubs in Kent that work tirelessly to develop grass roots rugby, with many of our current 1st XV players able to trace their route to our premier team from the mini and junior section, something the RFU is keen to support and develop. In this tough covid environment, Sevenoaks continues to develop our mini and junior provision whilst delivering first class training and development of our academy and senior squads. To be able to show this to the leaders of the RFU is an exceptional opportunity.
We look forward to many more years of the ‘One Club’ ethos.
Comfortable win for Oaks to start 2022
Medway RFC U18s vs. Sevenoaks RFC Academy 2nd X
Sevenoaks & Colfes U18s vs. Beckenham
U15 Girls Sevenoaks vs. East Kent Viragos