Tonbridge Juddians RFC U18s vs. Sevenoaks RFC Academy 1st XV
Tonbridge Juddians RFC U18Bs vs. Sevenoaks RFC Academy 2nd XV
Sevenoaks RFC Academy U16Bs vs. Beccehamians RFC U16As
Bonus point win for Oaks keeps them in second place
U15 Girls Sevenoaks/TJs v Dartford/Blackheath
Having banked the air miles from our successful trip last Saturday to the far-flung corners of Norfolk, it’s back to business at the Paddock this weekend for the 1s and 2s. The senior squad made the overnight trip to North Walsham for the first game after a week off, to deliver a very controlled performance, winning 13 -5. This was the 11th win on the bounce for the First team, maintaining second place in the league table.
On Saturday, the 2nds face a good Bury St Edmunds team whilst the Firsts play Wimbledon. Both will be tough games, with the 1s looking to avenge a narrow defeat when playing the SW London team earlier in the programme. Wimbledon are the only team to stop Oaks scoring a try this season, and despite a recent dip in form, will present a serious challenge at set-pieces and in wide areas in particular.
As usual the focus of the boys is on the next game only. It would be a mistake to start to think about the exciting looking fixture against top of the table Dorking in two weeks’ time. We have 5 games remaining and sit 6 points ahead of Hertford and 2 behind Dorking though any discussion on the “P word” in the dressing room is banned! In this league, as I have said on numerous occasions, anyone can beat anyone, so our focus is only on the Wimbledon game.
Saturday looks set to be dry and a blazingly hot 9 degrees, so please come down to support the 1s and 2s who both kick off at 3pm. Both games promise to be as appetising as the Eat The Farm burgers being served up by the visiting caterer. We will do our best to serve up a feat of rugby too!!
A WARM WELCOME TO WIMBLEDON RFC
Once more we are delighted to welcome everyone associated with Wimbledon RFC back to Knole Paddock for what is always a competitive encounter.
The Dons can claim a proud history and have made a major contribution towards the implementation and furtherance of our sport.
Rugby was first played on Wimbledon Common in 1865 under this club’s original name of Wimbledon Hornets. They were one of the original 19 clubs that met in 1871 to form what is now the Rugby Football Union.
Wimbledon members were intimately involved with the RFU in those early years and one of their number, H J Graham, rates a special mention. It was he as Hon Treasurer who received, and acted upon, a letter from Calcutta Rugby Club promising £60 to create a trophy “of Indian workmanship” so that club could be remembered in rugby history; hence the origins of The Calcutta Cup.
The Dons, renamed as Wimbledon RFC, played on until they disbanded in 1914, but reformed in 1927 and remained on the Common right up to 1987. They then moved to their present home at Beverley Meads in 1987 in preparation for the introduction of leagues rugby. The Ladies club was formed in 1990, followed seven years later by the setting up of their mini section.
Wimbledon spent their first four leagues seasons in Surrey 2, but gained promotions in all of the following four, thus finding themselves at Level 5 starting in 1996/97. Thereafter they have oscillated between Levels 5 and 6, with one stellar 2016/17 season when they finished second and beat Dings Crusaders in a playoff match to gain their promotion to the National Leagues. Despite nine wins and 50 points earned they came back down again but continue to be one of the strongest of all Level 5 clubs.
Our own one on one record shows we have been in the same division for six terms before this one and have six wins each. Curiously in all of those six seasons both sides have won once each. With the Dons winning in November it’s up to today’s Oaks to continue that sequence.
The statistics signify two well matched clubs that started locking horns in 2000, and again today there is every reason to anticipate another close match with superior skills on display.
Howard Pearl
Other London & South East Premier Division matches being played today:
Brighton v Tring CS Stags v Westcombe Park
Havant v Hertford North Walsham v Tunbridge Wells
Sidcup v Maidenhead Sutton & Epsom v Dorking
Thanks as ever to Gerry Diebel of Direct Design for pulling together the match day programme as we take on Wimbledon at The Paddock on Saturday 12 March at 3.00pm.
Oaks Continue Winning Run with Impressive Display in East Anglian Countryside
Sevenoaks RFC Academy 1st XV vs. Cranbrook RFC U18s
Tunbridge Wells RFC U16 vs. Sevenoaks RFC Academy U16A
Last year, 180 riders signed up for our Mid-Kent Club Together Cycle Challenge and raised an incredible £40,000 for Kent Spoon & the rugby clubs that took part. The highest total in any one year. Needless to say we were delighted!
This year, the ride is back in West Kent and you can register now by visiting wwwclubtogetherkent.co.uk
The 100 mile route passes through Aylesford Bulls, Vigo, Dartford Valley, Swanley, Sidcup, Old Colfeians, Beckenham, Beccehamian, Bromley/Park House, Westcombe Park, Sevenoaks, Edenbridge & Tonbridge Juddians. In addition, there will be 65 mile Northern and Southern routes along with some shorter distances of 30-35 miles.
Sponsorship raised by riders will be split 50/50 between Club & Kent Spoon with Gift Aid going to Kent Spoon. We'd love clubs to try to put out at least 10 riders if they can, with each rider raising a minimum of £100 in sponsorship.
We look forward, in anticipation, to your support in helping us to raise money for our projects in the County for disadvantaged children. Our hope is that there will be a similar number of riders taking part in the challenge this year.
Best regards
Club Together Kent committee
Oaks Academy 1s vs. Hertford
1st XV vs Tunbridge Wells at the Paddock
Thanks as ever to Gerry Diebel of Direct Design for pulling together the matchday programme as we take on Wimbledon at The Paddock on Saturday 12 March at 3.00pm.
Well, what an exciting weekend of rugby ahead of us, with one of the most eagerly awaited fixtures of the season………. the A21 Derby!! . As the 1s meet Tunbridge Wells at the Paddock, the 2s unfortunately don’t play TW, but have another fixture against familiar opponents, Sidcup. No match for the Gents this week.
Training this week was disrupted on Tuesday by the terrible weather we have been having, but a good Thursday session took place, with both teams ready for the challenges ahead.
Last week saw us serve up two good victories; the Firsts defeating a gritty Sutton & Epsom to secure the bonus point win and the Seconds successfully beating Old Alleynians away from home. It was pleasing in the S&E game to produce some exciting attacking rugby, particularly in the second half, but we made too many errors for our liking. The boys know we need to return to the accuracy levels of a few games ago, to manage some very tough fixtures ahead - the TW game being one of them.
Tunbridge Wells will arrive at the Paddock looking for revenge for a heavy defeat against us in the reverse fixture and having come off the back of their best result of the season- beating league leaders Hertford. They will be highly motivated and present us with a really tough challenge. We need the points to stay in the mix at the top of the league, but it is wrong to focus on anything other than important details required to deliver a good performance.
Despite the weather forecast, we are expecting a big and boisterous crowd for the game on Saturday. All supporters are welcome, with the added attraction of a gourmet burger van serving delicious hot food to warm you up. The 2s kick off at 1.30, the 1s at 2.30. Look forward to seeing you there.
COYO
Oaks go 2nd after solid win
Sevenoaks RFC Academy U16Bs vs. Old Colfeians RFC U16As
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!!