MATCH REPORT
Sevenoaks Rugby hosted Guernsey Raiders RFC for a compelling Nat 2 encounter on Saturday 11 March at Knole Paddock. A highly determined Sevenoaks team won home thanks to a great all round team performance, however Guernsey opened the stronger and in the shape of loose forward Matt Creber got the scoring underway with an excellent barraging carry over the line that Owen Thomas duly converted.
Raiders owned the opening salvos and were pressing with all the show and go. Thomas at 10 in particular pulling the strings and making it hard for Oaks to get into the game with some deft kicks from hand.
Sean Derryck was a stalwart in the Oaks defensive unit and thanks to his and other efforts by the home pack in the final quarter of the opening half Sevenoaks began finding field position. Following a very effective lineout five yards out from the Raiders line, Sevenoaks opened their account after a catch by Josh Pettet and drive over the line saw Aidon Higgins score a team try. Sevenoaks then took a lead into the sheds after an excellent carry by Elliot Munnally – a handful all day for the Raiders backs to contain; he made it over the whitewash. 10-7 half-time.
Image credit Dave Purday
The second half was a much more open and fluid engagement than the first, although the game had its share of niggle. Both teams exchanged early field position before Sevenoaks managed to secure a penalty in Raiders territory that Adams slotted. Then it was Ben Adams again who popped up in the outside channel and carried over the line converting his own try. A further penalty to Oaks gave the navy and golds ascendancy.
Raiders swiftly replied and Ethan Smith secured an excellent try that Thomas again converted. This was quickly cancelled out by the play of the game as Adams fly hacked the ball forward from midfield before collecting it on the bounce and then converting the try from the right hand touchline.
Sevenoaks didn't then baton down the hatches and Raiders come back strongly, with Jacob Pinkney romping through the middle of the park and scoring under the posts for a try that was converted with a quick drop goal. The restart was the last play of the game and when Raiders were pinged in front of their own posts Jack Martin slotted the penalty to make the match safe for Oaks.
Cracking match and credit to both teams as Oaks took away five vital points while Guernsey took two well deserved bonus losing and try points back to the island.
Image credit Dave Purday
SQUADS
Sevenoaks Rugby Club
Livett; Adams; Osgood; Munnelly; Short; Martin; Glashan. Simmons; Sedgwick; Naismith; Pettet; Osinibi; Higgins; McRae; Derrick. Rolfe; Hicken; Fotheringham; Horner; Harries.
Guernsey Raiders RFC
Roberts; Armstrong; McGann; Teasdale; Smith; Thomas; Boyland; Bellingham; Morgan; Bray; Hillier; Webb; Creber; Rice; Smiler. Steventon; Pinkney; Smith; Sayer; Barnes.
HALF TIME SCORE - Sevenoaks Rugby 10 – 7 Guernsey Raiders RFC
FULL TIME SCORE - Sevenoaks Rugby 33 – 26 Guernsey Raiders RFC
SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES
35' Higgins Try
37' Munnelly Try
43' Adams Penalty
48' Adams Try Adams Conversion
60' Adams P
70' Adams Try Adams C
78' Adams Try Adams C
80' Martin P
GUERNSEY RAIDERS SCORES PLUS TIMES
4' Matt Creber T Owen Thomas Con
60' Ethan Smith T Thomas Con
70' Ciaran McGann T
79' Jacob Pinkney T McGann Con
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Charlie Naismith
ATTENDANCE - 260
