A win at home vs. Rochford - 28th January, 2023

Sevenoaks Rugby welcomed Rochford Hundred RFC to the Paddock on Saturday 28 January for a highly entertaining encounter that saw Sevenoaks take away four points for the win plus the four-try bonus point.

Having been slow out the blocks in previous games it was an electric start for Sevenoaks as Matt Holmes got over the line for a brace inside the first five minutes. The first was set up by Jonny Short darting down the left wing and the second resulted from a Scott Sedgwick interception from inside the Oaks half before popping the ball to Holmes to score a try that Ben Adams converted. Sevenoaks' third try involved Sedgwick romping down the right wing and over the try line following some solid phase play from Oaks and a worldie of a 20 metre pass by Oaks fly half and man of the match Jack Martin.

Rochford countered with two tries of their own either side of a try by Adams for Oaks, the first for the visitors was from an excellent interception by right wing Kyle Johnson who finished the score superbly from outside the Oaks 22 and the second just before half-time was a pushover try for Rochford hooker Rob Gardner converted by Chris Dudman. The 22-10 score at half time meant that both sides were very much in the fray and the opening phases of the second half would be crucial.

As it was Oaks started the second half stronger and following some excellent work in midfield from Josh Pettet and Fred Richardson moved the ball wide to Adams who used his feet and his strength to work his way over the line before converting his own try. Oaks were pressing again when the Rochford lock Ben Thomas was removed from play following a head clash in a tackle scenario that seemed a result of poor timing versus anything more malicious; he sportingly checked on the opponent involved before leaving this field of play. The red card sapped some energy from the game and it all become a bit fragmented, with Oaks capitalising on their possession and patience in the shape of two penalties from the trusty boot of Ben Adams.

Rochford then really took the game to Oaks for the final quarter with centres Damien Brambley and Sam Cappaert orchestrating proceedings with verve.

Every penalty it was tap and go and with Conor Ganley in the bin for Oaks, despite some excellent defending by Oaks, the ambition was rewarded as Najee Mundicha barrelled over the line from short quarters for a try that Dudman converted.

Both sides had chances for further scores before the final whistle brought it all to a close with Oaks 35-19 victors in an important result for them given how tight the lower third of the National Two South table is beginning to look.

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Livett; Adams; Gumbleton ©; Fotheringham; Short; Martin; Holmes. Simmons; Sedgwick; Simmons; Pettet; Higgins; Hackett; Hicken; Richardson. Naismith; Ganley; Nicholls; Stone; Galligan.

Rochford Hundred RFC

Dudman; Johnson; Bramley; Cappaert; Ikhifa; Henwood; Spivey; Moran; Gardner; Mundicha; Thomas; Jennings; Shields; Rufai; Duaibe. Phelps-Knights ; Rasor; Cornish; Gould; Muzuzu

HT SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 22 – 12 Rochford Hundred RFC

FULL TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 35 – 19 Rochford Hundred RFC

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES

2' Matt Holmes Try

4' Matt Holmes T Ben Adams Con

20' Scott Sedgwick T

35' Adams T

41' Adams T

60' Adams Penalty

63' Adams P