Sevenoaks 37 vs. Hertford 17
Sevenoaks First XV, already assured promotion, successfully navigated the challenge of an excellent Hertford team to clinch the London and South-East Premier league title at the Paddock on a bright blustery day in front of a large vociferous crowd. Whilst the final score doesn’t reflect fairly what was a very tight match until the 72ndminute, from when Oaks scored three quick tries in response to the visitors taking the lead, remarkably they delivered their sixteenth consecutive victory with typical clinical finishing, strong defence and a low error count. It was the ‘stuff of champions’ in face of an opposition they pressured into making mistakes, but who carried a scoring threat from anywhere on the pitch with blistering pace and attacking intent. It was a very special day for Sevenoaks Rugby club, elevated to the National League level for the first time in their history. With only three defeats all season, two ahead of their nearest rivals, the best defence in the league and the second-best total points scored, few can deny they are worthy league winners.
As the players, coaches, back-room staff and supporters celebrated on and around the pitch, there was recognition that this fantastic success had been a team effort in the widest sense.
The day began early with a buzz of anticipation around the clubhouse, supporters gathering in cautious celebratory mood for drinks and lunch (with record numbers fed and watered by the wonderful catering and bar teams!), but respectful there was a serious game of rugby ahead, facing a highly motivated Hertford team with an outside chance of promotion themselves. As the game kicked off, Sevenoaks had the assistance of the strong wind. After some early territory by the home team, it was Hertford who looked the more dangerous, particularly out wide; choosing to run an early penalty, exerting pressure and from a lineout picked up the loose ball to score in the corner; conversion missed 0-5 after 7 minutes.
A good response from Oaks, with Hertford starting to make mistakes, gaining territory and pressuring the visitors’ scrum half, charging down a clearing kick, for Matt Holmes to follow up to score. On a difficult day for place kickers, Ben Adams converted to make the score 7-5 after 14 minutes. Even exchanges followed but Oaks broke away only for the retreating Hertford defence to offend on the floor. Ben kicked the points and the home team led 10-5 after 18 minutes. Just 2 minutes later, having snuffed out the immediate Hertford breakaway, Oaks countered, and the visitors infringed again, this time on the halfway line. Ben Adams had a kick to make it 13 -5, successfully achieved, and take his personal tally to over 300 points for the season.
Hertford then failed to take advantage of a period of pressure, with their lineout misfiring and Oaks defending fiercely to force errors and then break away to threaten the try line. From one of those breaks, back-row Sean Derrick made good ground out wide, Oaks went through the phases and once again the men from Hertfordshire were penalised now in front of the posts; kicked to make the score 16-5, after 37 minutes. With half time approaching, the men from the Paddock had edged the encounter without having sustained control of the game and Hertford deservedly scored their second try, running the ball at every opportunity, to touch down in the corner. The conversion, near impossible into the teeth of the wind, fell short. The half time whistle blew, the match in the balance with Oaks leading 16-10.
The second half saw Hertford have good periods of territory and possession, making some scintillating breaks, with Oaks counterattacking and Shadyn Osgood achieving some fearsome yardage for the home team. The game became open and a little scrappy with both teams frequently being penalised for offences at the breakdown. Hertford, taking a scrum when Oaks were penalised, built pressure, moved the ball quickly through the hands to find a hole in the Oaks’ defence, to score under the posts. A well-earned try, converted to take the lead, 16-17 with less than 10 minutes remaining. With the Paddock party in danger of falling flat, Oaks then delivered what they have done on numerous occasions this season; an increase in tempo and physicality, attacking flair and a ruthlessness when scoring opportunities arose.
Straight from the restart, Hertford’s clearance was returned by Josh Livett, who fed Pat Pellegrini who collected his own chip-kick, passed to Ben Adams who scored under the posts.; converted to regain the lead, 23-17. Then a break by Awa Morris, quick recycled ball, with an overlap on the right making a try certain, a Hertford hand knocked the ball on deliberately and the referee awarded a penalty try; the game was in effect won at 30-17. There was still time for more attacking forays from both teams, but it was Sevenoaks’ Jonny Short who found space to burst past the Hertford defence to score. Pat Pellegrini kicked the conversion, making the final score 37-17. Hertford could understandably bemoan the margin of their defeat, given the evenness of the match for long periods, but not the result overall.
After the match a jubilant and slightly emotional Director of Rugby and Head Coach Adam Bowman said “what a game that was, both teams giving it everything to win the game. This has been a real squad effort and I am incredibly proud of everyone involved and what we have all achieved.”
A famous season ends and, after celebrations and a well-deserved break for players and staff, attention will turn to the 2022/23 season.
