Title celebrations must wait as Oaks’ win to secure promotion
Well here we go. I am going to start by saying we approach this weekend like any other. The senior squad travels to Maidenhead for the penultimate games of the season, whilst the Acorns play local rivals Westcombe Park in their Cup Final, held at Maidstone RFC. Our 1s and 2s preparation this week has been focused on meeting a strong Berkshire opponent, whose first team in particular has seen a significant improvement in results as the season has progressed. And in the case of the Acorns, I think every Oaks supporter will be urging them on to beat Combe!
All that said, I can’t do my blog without mentioning and being excited that the First XV will be promoted and crowned Champions if we secure a 5 point win on Saturday. Cliche alert…….we have to play the game, not the occasion😀, and if we are anything other than at the top of our game, we will not capture the victory. Maidenhead has some very good players so we will need to be at the level we showed last week when scoring 9 tries against Tring, to be sure to win. Yes it has been a great season, but the job is not done.
The brand of rugby we are playing is as a result of hard work by the players and coaches, honed on the training ground over the season (and previous seasons) and has involved the whole squad contributing. For all 24 games and the 2 to come, we rely on ‘One Squad’ to get us over the line. The boys are focused on Maidenhead and will do their best to bring the win, promotion and champions crown to the Paddock.
A bit of a journey round the M25 and M4 to our Thames Valley hosts, but all support will be welcome. The weather looks ok, so where else would you want to go on a Saturday afternoon! Kick off at 3pm.
COYO
Adam.
PS- Please get down to Maidstone on Sunday to support the Acorns, who as I may have mentioned, we would like to beat Westcombe Park!!!
9 try win takes Oaks five points clear at the top
Tonbridge Juddians RFC U16A vs. Sevenoaks RFC Academy U16A
Sunday 10th April 2022
The Mote, Willow Way
CUP Final: 4.00pm
Sevenoaks v Westcombe Park
*** From little Acorns grow old OAKS***
I have often been asked why the Sevenoaks Veterans team are called the "Acorns" and whilst the story has changed over many years it seems it is because once you reach the dizzy heights of Vets Rugby you like to roll back the years and pretend you can still play with the skill and pace of younger days!
Most of us started our rugby through mini and junior ages at some point although for some of us there are only black and white photos to prove this and nothing on social media! Vets Rugby is officially from the age of 35 and you can play for as long as the body is able which is usually shorter than the mind thinks it can! You usually find the changing room is over flowing with tape and deep heat and strapping the old muscles can sometimes take longer than the warm up! Jack Mortassagne has played 25 seasons for the Vets with Rob Thurnell a close 23 seasons! I'll let you do the maths..
The Acorns is a very special part of Sevenoaks Rugby and you will find some big names on the honours list like Trevor, Woolybags, Howard, Roger and the man credited with starting it back in 1975 Peter Hunt (deceased) The longest serving Captain/Manager was Alasdair Bray from 96/97 to 03/04 for 8 seasons and his reign saw the Acorns compete in the "Evergreen cup" reaching the finals a number of times but failing to win the main cup, although we were plate cup winners in 2010 (see photos).
There have been many tours over the years visiting France, Spain, Georgia, Belgium, Holland and even Bahamas and South Africa! The touring and social side is such a big part of vets rugby and there has been a strong representation at international and national competitions with a number of Sevenoaks Vets representing Kent at last years National vets wooden spoon tournament - Kent crowned the winners!
More recently the Acorns have enjoyed enormous success in the Spitfire Kent Vets competition, reaching the finals day 5 out of the last 6 years and wining the plate once and the main cup twice - hoping to make it a hattrick on Sunday! And whilst the pace of the game is slightly slower than the 1st team! There is no less passion or desire to win and now and again you will see a piece of skill as if we were in our 20's again! The lads would be grateful for any support on Sunday and if you previously played and miss the smell of deep heat and the beers after a good game then please contact me, we are always looking for more people to discuss "How good we used to be!"
We are always looking for new players - if you are interested, please contact:
Miles Hayward
At the lunch on Saturday Gary Tootill of the under 15’s arranged a table for The Airborne Custodian Association, based in Eltham & Chislehurst. Based at The Woodcroft club Eltham, commemorating 40 years since the Falklands war, 2nd April 1982.
Retired Lt Colonel Gerry Porter MBE, gave his account of landing on the beach on the Falkland Islands and his personal experiences of that war.
It was a real pleasure to listen to the experience of Lt Colonel Porter - He had the whole room captivated and his speech ended with a standing ovation.
We thank you for your words and time on Saturday and above all your service to Queen and Country.
Well I hope you have all recovered! What a weekend of rugby last Saturday, with two fantastic displays at Dorking, whilst the Gents lost out in a close encounter against Canterbury RFC. At Dorking’s Big Field it was a very special day with the 2s fighting superbly to draw 38 all, as the 1s edged out the league leaders to take top slot. Both games were a great advert for Level 5 rugby. Thanks again to our welcoming hosts.
Of course last week is behind us, and we are now focused on this Saturday’s fixtures. The 2s were due to welcome Bournemouth to the Paddock but unfortunately they have pulled out and we could not find a replacement, the Gents visit Tonbridge Juddians lll, while the 1s play Tring at home.
The Firsts will remember a very physical game away at Tring, so any basking in the glory of sitting in first place in the league and not being at our best, could mean last week’s win counts for nothing. The boys were pretty battered and bruised after last weekend, so we had a pool recovery session on Tuesday and then a good run out on Thursday ready for Saturday.
We picked up one or two injuries, and to keep it fresh there are a few changes to the 1s with. Alex Rolfe starts for the unavailable James Simmons, Drew Narbey starts for the unavailable Tommy Morris. With both Jonny Short & Awa Morris injured from the weekend Drew Forrester gets a start after impressing in the 2nd XV last weekend. George Flatman & James Fotheringham join Charlie Naismith on the bench.
We have three games left in the season, which I am sure you all agree has been an exciting one, as we are currently on a 13 match unbeaten run, and know if we win our remaining games we will have achieved a promotion slot. That said our focus is only on Tring who have some very good players and are a well coached side, we must be on the top of our game!
The boys were really spurred on by the loud and substantial following at Dorking, it made a massive difference. We hope you can turn out in big numbers again on Saturday to cheer the Oaks on. Sun lotion not needed this weekend I am afraid, but it will be dry, if a bit chilly. We are well prepared as ever and will do our best to entertain and maintain our winning run.
COYO
Adam
A WARM WELCOME TO TRING RFC
For just the second time we welcome to Knole Paddock everyone involved with Tring RFC. The first occasion was just before Christmas 2019 so, with everything that has happened in between, this will be a first time visit for some. It’s a bit of a stretch navigating the M25 all the way from Hertfordshire, but we hope that all players, officials, supporters and alickadoos travel safely and at the end take back good memories from our area of the Garden of England.
As observed in previous programmes, leagues rugby denies clubs various chances to indulge in some local derbies, but it certainly allows the opportunity to meet and fraternise with others who we would not have considered playing in the old days.
Tring won’t mind being called a comparatively young club, having been formed just 58 years ago in 1964, the brainchild of two London commuter residents who wanted to spread the rugby gospel in their home town. Their first pitch was a piece of pasture land and their changing rooms an open ended cowshed. For those of us who remember pre 1978 this brings to mind our own basic facilities before our present Clubhouse was erected.
Tring’s ground was compulsorily purchased in the early 70s to alleviate the housing problem in this expanding community. However the unlikely figure of Dorian Williams, the then well known show jumper and BBC commentator came to the rescue with a philanthropic gesture by including rugby in his community sports centre which included football, athletics, squash, hockey and bowls. The grand opening in April ’75, at Cow Lane which is an appropriate name considering the description of their original home, was embellished with a match against an International XV full of leading names of the time.
There were further clubhouse facilities expansions in 1985 and 1989 which allowed for the increase in playing numbers especially in the junior age groups.
When the Club was still in its infancy the enlightened thinking of Mark Ottway, an All Black triallist, international tennis player and local resident, encouraged a regular junior team to be introduced. Taking its players from state schools, they played against local rugby schools week in week out. This was unique to the area, also possibly the UK, and helped in no small way to gel the whole club.
With regard to the RFU leagues, Tring made a stratospheric ascent from the Herts/Middlesex leagues in the early noughties by gaining four consecutive promotions and just missing out a on a fifth with a playoff loss to Thanet Wanderers. However they remedied that blip the next season, gaining promotion to Level 5 in 2007/08 where they have resided ever since.
As with our set up, their mini and junior sections are integral to the Club’s success and wellbeing. The “One Club” mantra is alive and well at both Tring and Sevenoaks rugby clubs.
The match here before Christmas 2019 was a tense 7-6 win for the home side. The first Covid lockdown stopped the return leg that season, but we did pay our first visit to Cow Lane last December where we were treated most hospitably. The home side won the first half but Oaks eased away in the second to record a hard but well earned win.
As we have noted before there are no easy matches in London & South East Premier and our fixture today will be a skillful sporting contest played between two strong sides. During our match there will also be some Oaks supporting spectators keeping a watchful Twitter eye on events unfolding not a million miles from Norwich…..
Howard Pearl
Other London & South East Premier Division matches being played today:
Brighton v Hertford Havant v CS Stags
North Walsham v Dorking Sidcup v Westcombe Park
Sutton & Epsom v Maidenhead Wimbledon v Tunbridge Wells
A great update from Hugo who has helped to extend the Oaks family within South Africa whilst playing for Silvertree RFC (SRFC as well!) - Our cultural exchange around the world continues - one big global rugby family! We look forward to hosting you back at the Paddock in the not too distant future!
Clinical Oaks go top with win at Dorking
U18s Sevenoaks & Colfes vs. Medway
Sittingbourne RFC U16s vs. Sevenoaks RFC Academy U16Bs
🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨
It was a mammoth tussle for the 1s and 2s at Dorking. The 2s recovered well to secure a hard fought 38-38 draw. 👏 The Gents 🎩 came away with a narrow 15-8 loss 😢
In the table topping main event, it was the Mighty Oaks who came through a hell of a battle to pip Dorking Rugby Club to take top spot in the league!!!!! 😍🤩🥳🤯
It was the one club ethos that oozed from the boys in navy and gold under the Surrey sun ☀️😍
Kudos to Dorking Rugby Club who offered the best of tests and filled their ground to make for an electric atmosphere! 🏟👌🍺
Three games to go….
Our three senior teams return to action this Saturday, after a week off last weekend. The Gents welcome Canterbury III to the Paddock whilst the 1s and 2s both travel to Dorking for what will be tough fixtures. The 2s are having a strong season and will certainly be tested at Dorking, who have good depth in their senior squad. It should be a tight match.
For the Firsts, this is a huge game. Dorking sit first in the league table, with Oaks only two points behind in second place. Victory for either team, at ‘The Big Field’ will go a long (but not quite all the) way to cementing promotion at the end of the season. Oaks’ supporters will remember the pulsating battle at the Paddock earlier in the season when Ben Adams slotted the winning penalty with the last kick of the game, to win 8-6. We are expecting another fierce encounter, with Dorking looking to bring their power game to the occasion. We know they will be formidable but also welcoming hosts.
We have a number of players now back fit and available for selection, to add to the squad who delivered an excellent 6-try victory over Wimbledon two weeks ago.
We will need to be on our A-game this weekend and hope to be able to play some great attacking rugby on what looks like a superb day, weather wise. The boys have, as ever, prepared well this week and are looking forward to playing the league leaders.
We are hearing there will be a big Oaks following, including the fast filling up supporters coach that leaves the club at 1pm, making the shortish trip to Dorking. The players are relishing the game and the support they will get.
Here’s to a great weekend, with the 2s kicking off at 2pm and the 1s at 3pm.
COYO
Adam
Last weekend our very own, Tori Sellors (she has moved on and is playing for her college now, but we are still claiming her as ours) represented England U20 against Scotland and delivered a fantastic result - a convincing win of 38-7.
Be sure to head to the clubhouse this Saturday for the start of the Womens Six Nations - at 1200 Scotland will be hosting England at the DAM Health Stadium in the opening game (Tori will be there before we know it!) and Ireland vs. Wales later in the day with a 1645 kick off!
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