Game, set and match Sevenoaks!

Sevenoaks Rugby 22 - 13 Wimbledon RFC

Sevenoaks Rugby secured an important five point, 22 to 13 victory over visitors Wimbledon RFC at Knole Paddock on Saturday 8 March.

After the scrappy first half the Oaks opened up in the second half and when Ollie May, another product of the conveyor belt of young talent coming up through the Sevenoaks Rugby Academy system romped in for Oaks’ fourth try he effectively settled the game for the home side.

The first half was both scrappy and tight. A sole try for Oaks by scrum half Finlay Davenport was countered by a brace of Wimbledon penalties.

Nothing much was coming off for either side and the teams entered the half time break with Wimbledon holding a narrow 6-5 lead.

Oaks came out with all guns blazing in the second half and in short order had reclaimed the lead with a try from back row Matt McRae that Ben Adams converted.

Oaks centre Barney Stone followed that try up and after the try by May it was a consolation try for Wimbledon from Charlie Websdale that Edward Morgan converted.

All told this wasn’t the best showcase of flowing rugby that National Two has to offer and it was also fractious at times with a yellow for Oaks and several yellows plus a straight red for Wimbledon for a dangerous tackle.

“That was a decent second half performance,” said Oaks defensive coach Paul Dawson following the match. “We weren’t as impressive as we have been this season. So everything did feel a bit flat and today was a day when passes weren’t going to hand and plays weren’t coming off. But we did manage to stick to our tasks, and ultimately the lads got the deserved win and the job done.”

Man of the Match Cameron Signorini

Attendance 350

Scorers

Sevenoaks Rugby

15” Finlay Davenport Try

45” McRae Try Ben Adams Conversion 

54” Barney Stone Try

64” Oliver May Try

Wimbledon RFC

24” Edward Morgan Penalty

28” Edward Morgan Penalty

79” Charlie Websdale Try Morgan Conversion 

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Adams; Galligan; Stone; Corridan; Forrester; Livett; Davenport. Simmons; Sedgwick; Simmons; Burmeister; Green; Southon; Ruffai; Derrick (c). Strainge; Rolfe; Signorini; McCrae; May.

Wimbledon RFC

Websdale; Kitto; Pinkham; Reville; Bracegirdle; Morgan; Mason. Mudgway; Casey; Cilia; Machado; Cleet (c); Stace; Hunt; Aniebonam. Toulizak; Gratton; Cerely; Lamming; Hendry.

Referee: Mike Lamb, RFU National Panel and London Society 

Asst 1: John Durkin

Asst 2: Kevin Jones

Fourth officials: Glen Waltham, Grant Scandling

Sevenoaks takes local derby!

Sevenoaks Rugby 24 - 22 Tonbridge Juddians RFC

Derbies have their own quality and when two teams trace their rivalry as far back as Sevenoaks and TJs do, there’s always an extra edge.

So this match was an highly intense encounter where both teams, contributed to an amazing high octane spectacle.

Oaks edged out 24-22 victors on the basis of outstanding defending in the final 10 minutes of the match when TJs sieged the Oaks line.

In fact the second half featured just two tries;the first a well worked effort that saw Henry Galligan collect a special kick and then dot it down from Oaks Man of the Match Ben Adams, which Adams duly converted.

The second was a catch and drive from a TJs lineout that resulted in Will Holling charging over the line to secure the try for the visitors. So the conversion was missed and at that stage Oaks held a narrow two point lead and with a good 20 minutes to go, you felt there were points that either team would secure. But that was it and Oaks held on.

The first half was more open as the two teams exchanged salvos to enter the sheds 17-17. 

There was a huge attendance in place to enjoy a cracking spectacle.

TJs opened procedures through a try from Captain Tommy Nicoll that Tom White converted.

Oaks responded swiftly as Tom Simmons barrelled over for a try that Ben Adams converted. An Oaks try by Barney Stone also converted by Adams and one Shadyn Osgood for TJs just under the posts that White converted meant that, alongside a penalty each, the teams entered the sheds all square at 17-17.

Huge credit to both squads for a match that delivered in every respect, and also to the officials who kept the game flowing.

This Saturday the Oaks 1st XV travels to top of the league Esher, 3:00pm KO.

++++++

HT 17-17

FT 24 - 22

Sevenoaks Scorers

12 James  Simmons T Ben Adams Con

30 Barney Stone T Adams Con

34 Adams P

45 Henry Galligan  Adams C

TJs scorers

5 Tommy Nicoll T Tom White Conversion

13 pen White

38 Shadyn Osgood T White C

56 Ben Holling Try

Man of the match Ben Adams

Attendance 845

Touring side bring back the scalp!

A win vs. Bury in last play...

Sevenoaks Rugby 22 – 21 Bury St Edmunds RFC

When a match comes down to a singular denouement, which this classic did, it’s easy to dwell on that winning event; a penalty slotted by Ben Adams for Sevenoaks to secure the home win, reversing a 19-21 deficit into a well-earned 22-21 triumph. Yes, it was an impressive penalty from the boot of Adams from a challenging angle just inside the Bury 10 metre line. And yes, the pressure was on.

However, 79 minutes of compelling rugby leading up to that point included a series of other vital moments that would have their say on the final outcome. So arguably the most telling incident also involved Adams, performing defensive duties as Matt Bursey for the visitors was through in the left channel before an Adams tackle forced the knock-on with 20 minutes to go. This effort was as influential as his kick, since at that stage it was all Bury, who were 19-14 down. Oaks managed to keep the visitors at bay for a further 15 minutes from that point as part of an outstanding all round defensive display, in which the Oaks pack plus the back line, particularly Alexi Hicken and man of the match Barney Stone, performed heroics. 

Bury did ultimately get the try that enabled them to nudge into the lead, having barraged the Oaks line for the final quarter. Deft movement through the hands resulted in a try for George Loose, the second of a brace, that Ben Penfold converted, giving Bury a 21-19 ascendency with two minutes on the clock. They then made the error of seeking field position from the restart and were pinged, for Adams to secure the above-mentioned match-winning penalty for Oaks.

Oaks started strongest and before long were 12-0 up. The first try was an excellent one for scrum half Finlay Davenport, converted by Adams. The second was a beauty, Drew Forrester collecting the ball and then placing it over the line following a wonderful kick into his outside channel. George Loose replied just before the break for Bury and with Penfold’s conversion, the teams entered the sheds with Oaks holding a 12-7 advantage. 

Angus Southon then barged over for Oaks ten minutes into the second half, for a try that Adams converted, before Bury roared into action. They took the game to Oaks and this told in the shape of Ben Kelland securing a try under the posts and with Penfold’s conversion, the game was 19-14. And so it then played out with Oaks victors over a solid Bury and a very entertaining day for the faithful.

We cannot let the day pass without a shout out to two lads who would have thoroughly enjoyed the action and the spirit in which the match was played. Here’s to you Oaks stalwarts Steve Rolfe and Jon Muchmore, who sadly passed away in recent days. We extend our respect and deepest sympathies to your families and our thanks for all that you both did for our sport.

SQUADS
Sevenoaks Rugby Club
Adams; Hickin; Stone; Corrigan; Forrester; Livett; Davenport. Simmons; Sedgwick; Naismith; Lee; Green; Southon; McCrae; Derrick. Rolfe; Higgins; Galligan; Chamnauoi; Ruffai.

Bury St Edmunds RFC
Drury-Hawkins; Stanway; Loose; Roper; Simpdon; Penfold; Christie. Robinson; McCartney; Cooper; Porteous; Kelland; Bursey; Meyers; Williams. Bourne; Jeffery; Grigg-Pettit; Strath; Hall.

Referee: Jack Sutton, RFU National Panel and Hertfordshire Society. Assistant Referee 1: Simon Bourne; Assistant Referee 2: Richard Collis. Fourth Officials: Glenn Waltham; Grant Scandling.

HALF TIME SCORE
Sevenoaks 12 – 7 Bury St Edmunds

Sevenoaks Scorers – times

7 mins – Finlay Davenport T Ben Adams C
12 mins – Drew Forrester T
50 mins – Angus Southon T Adams C
79 mins – Adams P

Bury Scorers – times
37 mins – George Loose T Ben Penfold C
60 mins – Ben Kelland T Penfold C
76 mins – George Loose T Penfold C

Man of the Match: Barney Stone

Attendance: 330

Sevenoaks lose to a tough Henley 36-17

Old Albanian take the last play win despite the lead and a great effort! 32-29 final score

Sevenoaks take the win against High Flying Barnes!!

Sevenoaks Rugby 31 – 27 Barnes RFC

Sevenoaks Rugby welcomed Barnes to Knole Paddock on Saturday 6 January 2024, as both teams set to each other in a highly engaging encounter that went all the way down to the wire. Within 10 minutes the scores were 7-7. Barnes secured the opening try with an excellent rolling maul from the Oaks 22 ending up with the ball being dotted down in the shape of Ethan Sirorski, and Josh Davies duly slotted the extras. The Barnes rolling maul was a weapon all day for the visitors that the navy and gold struggled to keep at bay. Oaks’ swift response came from a well-worked lineout move as Matt McRae barrelled over the line and Ben Adams got the conversion. Game on.

The game was highly combative and the Barnes forwards carried the ball strongly into the Oaks defensive sets, and it was this resilience that ultimately told as Josh Livett danced through for Oaks to score their second and once again Adams secured the conversion.

The next try, from Oaks, was a worldy as a move down the left side of the pitch after Oaks had moved the ball from coast to coast and retained possession across several phases ended in a deft inside pass that Alexi Hicken collected to dive in under the posts. With the Adams conversion and a subsequent penalty the home side were making hay at 24-7 up. Barnes then took the game to Oaks in the final quarter of the first half and put some excellent moves together. From these phases Rory Marsh barrelled over the line and Davies’ conversion then subsequent penalty brought Barnes back into the game. In fact only solid Oaks defending kept their line in tact at the end of the first half as the teams headed into the sheds with Oaks holding a 24-17 advantage.

Barnes carried this momentum into the second half and once again it was the rolling maul from 15 metres out that resulted in a try for the visitors, through flanker Alex McLean who impressed in the loose all match, and alongside others in the Barnes back row kept making inroads into Oaks territory. Davies secured the extras to bring the teams to level pegging.

In the final 30 minutes there was a long period of Oaks ascendancy as the navy and golds parked themselves in the Barnes 22, all helped with heft and impact off the bench. However each time Oaks threatened the Barnes try line either Barnes sniffed out the attack or an unforced error or penalty against Oaks them held back. So inevitably Barnes capitalised, and moved the ball rapidly up through the outside backs into the Oaks 22 where somehow the home side managed to thwart a sequence of catch and drives by Barnes from a sequence of line outs right on top of the Oaks line. The fourth time Oaks halted the Barnes lineout, it was deemed an illegal sack and Davies stepped up from close range to give Barnes the lead with around 10 minutes left on the clock.

Oaks were far from done and after some excellent moves through the middle of the park a gap final appeared for Hicken to secure the second of his brace, in a try that Adams converted – with Oaks holding on for the bonus try win and huge credit to Barnes for bringing everything they had to the Paddock.

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Adams; Hickin; Stone; Corrigan; Forrester; Livett; Galligan. Simmons.J; Sedgwick; Simmons.T; Burmeister; Green; McCrae; Higgins. Naismith; Richardson; Horner; Lee; Cambier.

Barnes RFC

Watson; Osbourne; Souter; Weightman; Webb; Davies; Nixon. Wood; Ruddock; Dean; Ascroft-Leigh; Murphy; Gallagher; Mclean; Nixon. Sirorski; Marsh; Spencer-Jones; Wilstead; Lloyd

Referee: Phil Russell, RFU National Panel and Hertfordshire Society. Assistant Referee 1: Ben Mcnamara; Assistant Referee 2: James Richardson. Fourth Officials: Glenn Waltham; Grant Scandling.

HALF TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks 24 – 17 Barnes RFC

Sevenoaks Scorers

7: Matt McRae T Ben Adams C

18: Josh Livett T Adams C

23: Alexi Hicken T Adams C

28: Adams Penalty

75: Hicken T Adams C

Barnes Scorers

5: Ethan Sirorski T Josh Davies C

32: Rory Marsh T Davies C

38: Davies Penalty

48: Alex McLean T Davies C

70: Davies Penalty

Man of the Match: Matt McRae

Attendance: 450

+++++++++++++

Superb win against a strong Guernsey to end the year on a high!

Sevenoaks Rugby 27 – 17 Guernsey Raiders  RFC

Sevenoaks and Guernsey enjoyed a combative arm wrestle on a boggy Knole Paddock in Sevenoaks on Saturday 16 December in front of a festive full house.

The visitors opened proceedings setting the tone for a quality encounter on the basis of their expansive game play, as Charlie Simmonds for Raiders scythed through a midfield gap following an impressive back line move.

Guernsey continued to press but great Oaks tackling particularly from the back row and the Simmons twins Tom and James kept them at bay.

So it was that Oaks replied and from close quarters engagement, Matt McRae imposing all day drove into the Guernsey defence to set up Henry Galligan on his shoulder to dot the ball down under the posts. Ben Adams slotted the regulation conversion. The teams headed into the sheds with the home side 7-5 up.

In an unexpected shift of momentum it was Guernsey that took the game to Oaks at the start of the restart.

However Oaks countered and following decent field position and abrasive defending managed to secure a penalty from 30 metres out that Adams slotted.

Guernsey renewed the pressure as they always responded well from an Oaks score and secured a try in the shape of Ethan Smith.

Then the barrage arrived and a brace of tries for Oaks -  as they imposed themselves - was first off a bludgeon as Alexi Hickin barged through and then a rapier; a wonderful slotted grubber kick to the outside channel by Adams was gleefully and astutely collected by Barney Stone. Adams secured the extras to both those tries.

While Oaks had chances to put the game away Guernsey were not done by any stretch. Kieron McGann found space and converted his own try.

There were then some nervy moments for Oaks before in the last play of the game Adams gave Oaks breathing distance with a penalty that secured the win.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Scott Sedgwick

Narrow Loss away to Westcombe Park - 22-20

Dorking Away - 41-38 - Narrow Loss!

Win over Worthing - a great opposition!

Image Credit: David Purday

Sevenoaks Rugby15  –  10 Worthing RFC

Sevenoaks toughed out a battling 15-10 win over Worthing with all the Oaks points coming from the trusty boot of Ben Adams.

This was attritional rugby at its very best and the packs from both sides put in proper shifts. For Oaks the two Simmons at props presented a very solid foundation for the home side tackling everything in sight. While Charlie Naismith when he arrived off the bench for the Oaks front row delivered impressive impact to the Oaks catch and drive, which was the weapon that secured the territory and pressure and ultimately penalties that enabled Oaks to win.

In the first half the play of the match arrived when the Worthing centre Harry Forest scythed through Oaks and under the posts for a try that Josh Bellamy converted. Worthing then sieged the Oaks line and somehow Oaks managed to hold out for the teams to head into the sheds with the scores at 0-7 to the away side.

The second half was a topsy turvy game of territorial kick and chase dominated by the half and full backs. Oaks with the wind at their backs more than held their own. After an exchange of penalties inside the first ten minute of the second half, first with one to Oaks and then with one to Worthing through Bellamy.

And so it as that in the final quarter Oaks drove at Worthing and three penalties from Adams on the 60, 74 and 78 minute marks edged the home side home.

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Adams; Hicken; Stone; Corrigan; Short; Livett; Galligan. Simmons.J; Sedgwick; Simmons.T; Burmeister; Southon; McCrae; Galligan; Derrick ©. Naismith; Rolfe; Lee; Horner; Higgins.

Worthing RFC

Ellis; Bowen; Forrest; Sims; Rigelsford; Bellamy; Dobinson. Sargent; JDP; Featherstone; Lakey ©; Macadmas; Grief; Knight; Taggart. Gatford; Magda; Ambrose; Day; Spencer.

Referee: Phil Russel From RFU National Panel; Assistant Referee1: Fraser Todd Assistant Referee 2: Simon Bourne Fourth Officials: Glenn Waltham; Grant Scandling

Scorers

Oaks 

41 Ben Adams penalty 

60 Adams penalty 

74 Adams penalty 

78 Adams penalty 

Worthing 

33 Harry Forest T Josh Bellamy Converted 

44 Bellamy P

We take the first set against Wimbledon! 19-27 Final Score!!

Slipped away in the last play of the game vs Esher

Sevenoaks Rugby 18 – 22 Esher RFC 

Esher RFC secured two late tries to come from behind against a combative Sevenoaks Rugby Club for an away victory in a cracking encounter at Knole Paddock on Saturday 4 November 2023. The first of these telling brace of tries came in the shape Esher outside half Sam Morley who marched through under the posts with seven minutes to go then converted his own try. Ultimately at the death Esher winger Dan Rowland, after several phases, finally found a gap in Oaks’ resolute defensive unit. The missed extras was the last play of the game.

Sevenoaks acquitted themselves outstandingly, and would feel a little hard done by in the light of the final phases of the match. Esher enjoyed the best of the first 10 minutes but couldn’t capitalise, before Oaks opened the scoring with the play of the game as a well-executed backs move turned the key on the Esher midfield. Barney Stone was put through under the posts by Josh Livett and with the Ben Adams conversion Oaks were 7-0 up.

Oaks continued to press and the reward was an Adams penalty before Esher flanker Harvey Scott scythed through Oaks for a try that Morley converted. Oaks responded swiftly and marched the ball upfield and from a catch and drive at the lineout Kenny Lee drove over the line. Esher were pinged just before half time and, clearly frustrated, the back chat saw them marched to within kickable territory and Adams duly obliged to give Oaks an 18-7 half-time lead.

Oaks had their opportunities in the second half but Esher used all their nous and experience to get themselves back into the game. They secured a penalty that Morley slotted on 50 mins. And during the final throes of the match closed out the win.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Kenny Lee

ATTENDANCE

320

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Adams; Valentine; Stone; Corrigan; Forrester; Livett; Davenport. Simmons.J; Sedgwick; Simmons.T; Burmeister; Lee; McCrae; Ruffai; Derrick ©. Cambier; Horner; Galligan; Naismith; Higgins. 

Esher RFC

Faulkner; Rowland; Donnelly; Rawstron Rudd; Lang; Morley ©; Thompson. Lowes; Crawley; Skoumbordis; Leckey; Wem; Wilkins; Scott; Kirby. Hamilton; Murphy; Bullett; McBreaty; Ham.

Referee: Alex Rose From RFU National Panel And London Society; Assistant Referee1: Gavin Scott Assistant Referee 2: Paul Carroll Fourth Officials: Glenn Waltham; Grant Scandling 

HALF TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 18 – 10 Esher RFC

FULL TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 18 – 22 Esher RFC

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES 

8 mins Barney Stone T Ben Adams Con

23 mins Adams Pen

40 mins Adams Pen 

ESHER RFC SCORES PLUS TIMES

30 mins Harvey Scott T Sam Morley Con

45 mins Morley Pen

72 mins Morley T and Con

79 mins Dan Rowland T

Nearly secure the win against TJs away!

Sevenoaks Rugby 29 – 29 Tonbridge Juddians RFC

Sevenoaks Rugby versus Tonbridge Juddians RFC is always a special encounter. Saturday’s 29-29 draw at The Slade in Tonbridge lived up to the hype.

The visitors arrived as underdogs, so when within five minutes of the opening whistle TJs bundled over in the shape of Joe Parkes for a try that Sam Evans converted, the omens for Sevenoaks were not looking great. But the riposte was swift and the navy and gold took the ball up the field and the game to TJs. Their efforts to breach the TJs try line were rewarded with a penalty try. 7-7. Sevenoaks then found some space out wide to take the lead as winger Drew Forrester dived over and Ben Adams slotted the extras. 

TJs had the slope and you felt they had another score in them as the game entered the final stages of the first half. They gained ascendancy and from a lineout catch and drive inside the Oaks 22, Will Holling was the one with the ball in his hands at the bottom of the pack move and with Evans’ extras the two teams headed into the sheds 14 apiece. Game on 

Indiscipline resulted in a procession of yellow cards for Oaks and they began the second half with 14 players. TJs capitalised and an expansive movement up the pitch put Holling over for the second of his well-worked brace. However once again Oaks rallied and established field position well into TJs territory, when a wonderful cross-field kick from Oaks 10 Josh Livett slotted into the welcoming arms of Angelo Valentine in the outside channel resulted in a try for the visitors. Adams secured the conversion to give Oaks a 21-19 lead, which was soon 24-22 after each side slotted a pen.

In a game of ebb and flow, it was then TJs who took the match by the scruff of its neck. Only scrambling Oaks corner flagging managed to keep a rampant TJs at bay in an impressive all-round defensive display by Oaks however the pressure told and TJs ultimately secured a penalty try of their own and with it a 29-24 lead to take into the last five minutes of play. The match seemed all but done. Sevenoaks, however, had other ideas. In the dying throes of the game, Barney Stone was found in space in the left wing and did the rest to get the ball down for a try that was awarded following a short conflab between the linesman and the ref. The five points levelled the match. The conversion faded to the left of the uprights so a cracking derby ended honours even, in what many saw as the right result. 

Sevenoaks 2s and 3s enjoyed convincing victories over Gillingham Anchorians and Westcombe Park IIs on Saturday. The 1s now have a couple of weeks off and all eyes this Saturday evening will be on former Sevenoaks Junior player and England rugby dynamo Ben Earl as he goes toe to toe with World Champions South Africa at the RWC2023 semi-final.

Sevenoaks come on song in second half!

Sevenoaks Rugby 43 – 15 North Walsham

Sevenoaks Rugby entertained North Walsham at the Paddock on Saturday 7 October. For all of sixty minutes this match was full on, with in fact Oaks indiscipline seeing them 7-12 behind at half-time. 

Two second half yellows further slowed the Oaks progress before eventually the home team romped home in some style. This was a must win match for two sides that have had their struggles this season and Walsham battled Oaks in the early encounters. However, Oaks opened the scoring when Finlay Davenport dived over in the corner after an Oaks scrum in the middle of the park with the trusty boot of Ben Adams securing the extras. That was it for the Oaks first half account. Walsham knocked over four first half penalties thanks to their pressure at the breakdown and a strew of Oaks’ errors.

A Walsham penalty and a Charlie Corrigan try in the corner for Oaks that Adams also converted brought the scores to 14-15. Then a third try for Oaks in the shape of Drew Forrester stretching his legs in the outside channel and Adams again getting the extras offered Oaks some breathing space. Although two yellow cards halted Oaks’ second half progress, an Adams penalty kept the score board ticking over for the home side. Then the floodgates opened. Three late tries for Oaks secured the match. And the bonus point victory. First Barney Stone through the centres before replacement Charlie Galligan powered over the line and Davenport for the second of a fine brace. The solid home victory evidences the developing maturity in a very youthful Oaks line up and all credit to North Walsham for pressing to the end.

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Livett; Adams; Stone; Corrigan; Forrester; Shirtcliff; Davenport. Simmons.J; Sedgwick; Simmons.T; Burmeister; Lee; Southon; McCrae; Derrick. Strainge; Heunes; Galligan; Naismith; Higgins.

North Walsham RFC

Hewitt; Mcguire; Smith (C); Magnus; Kandemwa; Langbridge; Dudley. Weber; Mccall; Brightman; Homewood (Vc); Baldwin; Tait; Brooks; Langbridge; Brodie; Sokia; Ehret; Atherton; Steward

Referee: Tom Bird From RFU National Panel And London Society; Assistant Referee1: John Richardson Assistant Referee 2: John Durkin Fourth Officials: Glenn Waltham; Grant Scandl

HALF TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 7 – 12 North Walsham RFC

FULL TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 43 – 15 North Walsham RFC

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES 

5 mins Finlay Davenport T Ben Adams C

45 mins Charlie Corrigan T Ben Adams

50 mins Drew Forrester T Ben Adams C

55 mins Ben Adams Penalty

63 mins Barney Stone T Ben Adams C

74 mins Charlie Galligan T Ben Adams C

78 mins Finlay Davenport

NORTH WALSHAM RFC SCORES PLUS TIMES

6 mins Penalty

12 mins Penalty

22 mins Penalty

33 mins Penalty

43 mins Penalty

Attendance 360

Man of the Match: Sean Derrick 

Henley take the win!

Sevenoaks Rugby 13 – 29 Henley Hawks RFC

Henley Hawks enjoyed a quality win over Sevenoaks Rugby on Saturday 30 Sept at Knole Paddock. Oak pushed the visitors during the first two thirds of the match before the solid performance on the road by Hawks saw them home. Hawks had pressed hard onto the Sevenoaks line during the first half and the 6-12 advantage to Henley at the break was capitalised on in the second half as Hawks cut loose with some quality ball in hand play.

Oaks opened the scoring through the trusty boot of Ben Adams but the 3-0 ascendancy was cancelled out shortly thereafter through a pushover try by Henley as Omar Ellabody charged over the line and Max Titchener slotted the extras. The same trick was repeated fifteen minutes later, as the Hawks catch and drive from the lineout resulted in Will Benning ending up at the bottom of the pile. Adams having slotted a penalty for Oak in between those tries and a huge amount of defending by Oaks in midfield managing to keep Hawks at bay as they pressed during the final salvos of the first half.

Hawks got the opening score of the second half through a Tictchener pen and then found a lot of fluidity with ball in hand. The field position they established saw Adam Hakimian scythe through the Oaks breakdown for a try that Titchener converted. Neil Wood then dived out for Hawks following a move up the right flank. Oaks had their chances to peg Hawks back and a well-worked try that Barney Stone secured for Oaks was converted by Ben Adams before the final score of the match by Hawks’ Tom Emery. 

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Rosillo; Carter; Stone; Heunes; Forrester; Adams; Davenport. Simmons.J; Sedgwick; Simmons.T; Burmeister; Southon; McKean; Nicholls; Higgins. Rolfe; Lee; Corrigan; Galligan; Naismith.

Henley Hawks RFC

Evans; Rawsthorn; Hall; Hakiman; Scott; Titchener; Webb. Manning; Totic; Mason; Lowe; Ellabody; Benning; White; Vooght. Emery; Collins; Lunnon; Bradley; Strugar

HALF TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby  – Henley Hawks RFC

6-12

FULL TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby  – Old Albanian RFC

13-29

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES 

• Ben Adams Pen 5 mins

• Ben Adams Pen 12 mins

• Barney Stone T Adams Con 69 mins

HENLEY HAWKS RFC SCORES PLUS TIMES

• Omar Ellabody T Max Titchener Con 8 mins

• Will Benning T 25 mins

• Tichener P 52 mins

• Adam Hakiman T Titchener Con 60 mins

• Tom Emery T Titchener Con 75 mins

Attendance: 300

Man of the match: Max Titchener

Old Albanian stretch out a good lead!

Sevenoaks Rugby 16 – 51 Old Albanian RFC

Sevenoaks Rugby hosted Old Albanian RFC under the heat of the September sun at Knole Paddock on Saturday 16 September. OAs romped home 51-16 thanks to some clinical finishing and excellent fluidity with ball in hand while Oaks’ lacklustre defensive performance in the final third of the match cost them dear. The home side was in the game at 16-20 down with 25 minutes left, before the visitors pulled away in some style. 

The start saw OAs Ajeigbe Oluwaseyi dot the ball down following a muddle in the Oaks midfield before a penalty from the centre of the park from Ben Adams following a high tackle by OAs brought it back to 3-10. Then OAs man of the match Price Kemp was the one driving the ball over the line for a try from a catch and drive, before a wonderful dab kick through the centre of the park was collected by OAs wing Alex Ricci who went in unopposed. This was quickly followed by a try from the restart for Oluwaseyi’s second so that after 27 mins, the visitors had a 20 points to 3 advantage. Oaks pressured the OAs corner and a fracas during that phase of field position ended in a yellow card for the Oaks lock and a red for the OAs flanker. From the resulting penalty, Oaks kicked for the corner, then caught the lineout ball and drove the ball over the line with Scott Sedgwick dotting the ball down for a try that Adams converted to make it 10-20 at half time.

Oaks came out fired up for the second half and within short order, two Adams penalties brought the game back to 16-20. At this stage Oaks were well in contention however Old Albanian had other ideas. They secured two tries from catch and drives in the shape of Charlie Fleckney, with Sam Jones slotting the extras on both occasions. Oaks were chasing the game and could never quite manage to retain the possession they needed to break a solid OAs defence.

A try from Jones and a second from Price on the break added the icing on the cake for the visitors, with both tries converted by Jones. The cherry on top was a closing penalty by Jones as OAs romped home 51-16 victors.

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Adams; Valentino; Stone; Corrigan; Forrester; Livett; Davenport. Simmons.J; Sedgwick; Simmons.T; Burmeister; Southon; McKean; Ruffai; Derrick ©. Rolfe; Higgins; Galligan.H; Galligan.C; Nicholls.

Old Albanian RFC

Nurse; Ricci; Jones; Sage; Ajeigbe; McPhunn. Giani. Chamnagui; Fleckney; Samuel; Sylvester; Illston; Mummery; Barnes; Price. Curtis; North; Gibbs; Bundy; Legg.

HALF TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 10 – 20 Old Albanian RFC

FULL TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 16 – 51 Old Albanian RFC

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES 

• Ben Adams Pen 7 mins

• Scott Sedgwick T Adams Con 36 mins

• Adams Pen 42 mins

• Adams Pen 50 mins

OLD ALBANIAN RFC SCORES PLUS TIMES

• Ajeigbe Oluwaseyi Try 3 mins

• Price Kemp Try 14 mins

• Alex Ricci Try 20 mins

• Oluwaseyi Try 21 mins

• Charlie Fleckney Try 58 mins Sam Jones Con

• Charlie Fleckney Try 68 mins Sam Jones Con

• Sam Jones Try 74 mins Jones Con

• Price Kemp Try 78 mins Jone Con

• Sam Jones Pen 79 mins

Oaks just miss out on bonus losing point in Guernsey!

Win to start the season!

MATCH REPORT 

Sevenoaks Rugby hosted Canterbury RFC for a scintillating opening match of the season, with the home team edging out Canterbury 23-22. This was a typical initial match of the season in that both sides were finding their rhythm and securing phase play at the expense of a number of unforced errors. Of course on a warm day it was extra hard work for everyone involved and we must give a shout out to Oaks fly half Tom Simmonds who left the pitch with a serious shoulder injury deep into the first half. 

The visitors had much of the possession and ascendancy in the opening salvos. They made decent ingressions into Oaks territory yet failed to convert the territory into points. So it was that a couple of penalties from Ben Adams chalked up the first points of the season for Sevenoaks. Canterbury then responded by putting together a number of phases before a catch and drive from the lineout positioned the visitors beneath the posts and repeated infringements from Oaks resulted in a penalty try. A fracas following the try saw a Canterbury player binned and the resulting penalty re-start was slotted by Ben Adams. 9-10 was the half time score.

The pattern of the second half mimicked the first and Canterbury again pressed into Oaks territory. However Oaks then found field position and with Ollie Shirtcliff pulling the string at 10 he set up Barney Stone for an outstanding direct line to zip in under the posts. Adams secured the extras. Canterbury then took the game fully to Oaks and onslaught after onslaught finally resulted in Alfie Orris diving over in the corner and Reynolds slotting the extras. Game on with ten minutes left in a one point game.

The next event was hesitation in the Canterbury back line through an exit, which was charged down by Oaks and it was again Stone who romped under the posts. The game however wasn’t done and Tom Williams went over in the corner for Canterbury and Reynolds produced an outstanding conversion to bring it back to a one point with five minutes to go.

There was drama at the finish as Canterbury broke out of their half and on the final play, Olly Rossilo delivered an amazing try-saving tackle in the corner to deny the Canterbury left wing the winning score. Hats off to both teams for putting on a proper National League Two spectacle.

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Livett; Adams; Stone; Corrigan; Forrester; Simmonds; Davenport. Rolfe; Galligan; Simmons; Burmeister; Southon; Cambier; McRae; Derrick ©. Strainge; Galligan; McKean; Shirtcliff; Rossilo.

Canterbury RFC

Hollidge; Morgan; McGann; Jones; Best; Orris; Reynolds; Parrance; Holland; Morris; Herriott; Murray; Stephens ©; Rogers; Furneaux; Oliver. O’Donoghue; McColl; Kerry; Williams; Dayes

HALF TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 9 – 10 Canterbury RFC

FULL TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 23 – 22 Canterbury RFC

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES 

35' Ben Adams P

36' Ben Adams P 

38’ Ben Adams P

53' Barney Stone T; Adams C

73' Barney Stone T; Adams C

CANTERBURY RFC SCORES PLUS TIMES

38' Canterbury Penalty Try

70' Alfie Orris Try 60' Ethan Smith T Thomas Con

76' Tom Williams T; Reynolds C

PLAYER OF THE MATCH Josh Livett 

ATTENDANCE 420

Sevenoaks keep the score ticking for 80 minutes vs. Westcliff

MATCH REPORT 

Sevenoaks Rugby welcomed Westcliff to Knole Paddock on Saturday 22 April for a highly entertaining encounter that saw Sevenoaks secure their National Two status thanks to a bonus-point win. What we have to do however is applaud Westcliff. Sport is about highs and lows, and the saying says that ‘you don’t let the highs go to your head or the lows go to your heart’. Westcliff came to the Paddock and never stopped playing despite the impressive Oaks performance. Huge credit to the lads from the Essex coast on today’s performance and also for playing hard for the full 80 minutes in every match this season despite often being under pressure.

As for the Oaks, the maths were simple. Win and they secured National Two status, so win they did in some style. The scoring opened early in the match with a move down the left hand side that saw Matt Holmes pop up and dot the ball down. Sevenoaks secured the bonus point for four tries when Tom Simmons bundled over just before the half time whistle, after tries by Shadyn Osgood and Jack Martin. Ben Adams slotted two of the four conversions making it 24-0 to the Oaks going into the sheds.

The opening salvos of the second half were the Ben Adams show, as he used his deft footwork to evade the Westcliff defence to secure two tries for Oaks, one of which he converted.

Westcliff worked hard to get back into the game and did have some purple patches however it was the home side that closed in the ascendency.

Barney Stone secured a brace of tries showing electric pace, and Elliot Munnelly was rewarded for an abrasive performance as he crashed over the line while Jack Horner got in on the action connecting with an excellent burst of pace onto a pop pass to dot the ball down under the posts. Martin converted two of these tries and Adams another.

The effervescent Fred Richardson was a dominant force for Oaks in midfield as was Sean Derrick who carried strong all day.

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Livett; Adams; Osgood; Fotheringham; Mullaly; Martin; Holmes. Simmons; Thomson; Simmons; Morris; Higgins; Richardson; McRae; Derrick. Naismith; Ganley; Stone; Rossilo; Stone; Horner.

Westcliffe RFC

Brown; Sykes; Bannister; Whitting; Tyler; Rea; Barrell. Miller; Moss; Fisher; Einchcomb, Tom; Webster; Einchcombe, Alex; Hatton; Nicholls. Bauso; Doyle; Lynch; Walker; Webber.

HT SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 24 – 0 Westcliff RFC

FULL TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 62 – 0 Westcliff RFC

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES 

5' Matt Holmes Try

10' Shadyn Osgood  T Ben Adams Con

30' Jack Martin T

38’ Tom Simmons T Adams C

45' Adams T

50’ Adams T Adams C

55’ Stone T

60’ Munnelly T Jack Martin C

75’ Horner T Adams C

78’ Stone T Martin C

PLAYER OF THE MATCH Matt Holmes

ATTENDANCE 510