Guildford RFC 1st XV 15 - 26 Sevenoaks RFC 1st XV
Similar score and remarkably the exact same try scorers in the same pattern, yet perhaps that’s where the similarities between Sevenoaks RFC 1st XV performance against Wimbledon RFC and Guildford RFC ended.
Oaks travelled to Guildford RFC in good heart, having put their performance of the season in the week before against Wimbledon RFC. Changes to the side remained at a minimum, with Sam Porter coming in for the injured Josh Pettet in the pack, whilst Matt Holmes took over from Henry Galligan at scrum half. On the bench, Oaks welcomed Josh Thorneycroft back into the fold after some time away due to injury.
Almost immediately, it became apparent that Oaks had the ascendency in the set piece, with a dominant scrum and well-functioning line out, whilst the home side had spark, particularly in the backs, with a scooting scrum half, good distribution from the fly half and excellent running from the full back.
Oaks were first to strike though, with Savills Man of the Match Rich Adeniyi-Jones starting where he finished the week before, spotting a gap on the left hand side of a maul. Oaks scrum half Holmes drew the defenders in, giving Adenyi-Jones more than half a chance and the wing scooted over for Oaks first try, which was unconverted.
Within five minutes, Oaks returned to the home side’s 22 and gleaned a penalty, which fly half Gray duly converted and Oaks were 8-0 to the good with 20 minutes gone. From there on, Guildford started to get more of a foothold into the game and played some excellent rugby, with some superb handling bringing them over the Oaks line, but the referee deeming that the ball had been held up. From the resultant scrum, Oaks were able to rely on their superiority and drove the home side off the ball, the referee awarding a penalty to Oaks, who duly cleared their lines.
On the stroke of half time, Oaks were to go further ahead through that man Adeniyi-Jones. The flying winger received the ball off a set move, rounded the first defender and then crashed through the covering tackle, stretching to score a superbly taken try. With the wind playing havoc for Gray, the try was unconverted but Oaks went in at half time 13-0 to the good.
If Oaks supporters thought that the 13-0 lead would provide a base for the away side to kick on in the second half, then the home side had other ideas. A penalty to Guildford brought them back to within ten points, and it took good defence from Oaks to stem more strong attacking play from the home side. The next score was crucial and it went the way of the men in gold, as replacement prop Dan Power made an instant impact, barrelling his way past two defenders on the left hand side before giving a deft offload to Adeniyi-Jones, who completed his hat-trick for the second week in a row. The score went unconverted but Oaks now had a 18-3 lead.
Guildford RFC struck back though, scoring a try soon after, which was converted to bring them back to within two scores of Oaks, but the game was almost settled with Oaks fourth, as centre Leighton Ralph punched a hole in the Guildford defence with a typically powerful run. The centre drew three men into the tackle before giving another deft offload to the oncoming back rower Matt McRae, who, in a mirror image of the week before, stormed towards the line and evade the would-be tacklers to score Oaks bonus point try, which was converted by Gray.
Oaks back row Matt McRae went over for Oaks bonus point try. Photo Credit: David Purday
The remainder of the game belonged to Guildford, save for one more penalty from Gray, and the home side got their just rewards towards the end of the match when they scored their second try after more good handling and pressure. Final score 26-15 to Oaks, a result that moved Oaks up to fourth in London Premier, with a game in hand.
After the match, Head Coach Adam Bowman said ‘Whilst I’m pleased with the result and getting another bonus point, I can’t help but feel frustrated with the level of performance. Of course, part of that is due to Guildford and their pressure and good attacking play, but I also think that we didn’t match the intensity we played at last week. If we want to continue to stay in fourth, we need to be better at getting ourselves up to the same performance levels each week.’
‘I also think that it shows the level this group are at and the standards we expect. We have to be honest with one another when performances don’t hit the desired level.’