MATCH REPORT
Sevenoaks Rugby hosted Barnes RFC for a compelling Nat 2 encounter on Saturday 18 March at Knole Paddock. Barnes came up against a highly determined Sevenoaks team and post half-time the period that put distance between the visitors and Oaks was ultimately a brace of Barnes tries. Sadly a red card for the Barnes prop following an early fracas in the first half introduced an element of niggle to an otherwise entertaining match.
At the outset, Sevenoaks had their share of early field position in the shape of the boot of Ben Adams but it was Barnes who opened the scoring, with the first of three first-half pushover tries – one to Oaks and two to Barnes. Boggy underfoot condition limited the expansive ambitions of both sides so from a lineout drive Barnes barrelled over thanks to Ryan Nixon and then Simon Keller – very effective from the tee all day – slotted the extras.
The reply from Sevenoaks involved establishing field position through Jack Martin combining with Jonny Short and then from a penalty and lineout, Aidon Higgins was the one at the bottom of the pile with ball in hand over the whitewash after several pick and go's and Ben Adams slotted the extras. Barnes then secured the advantage going into the sheds thanks to another catch and drive, this time all the backs got involved in the maul and Connor Cross drove the ball over the line with Keller again securing the extras. 7 – 14 halt time.
Barnes then put in a purple patch at the start of the second half and really took the game to Oaks. They secured the try of the match as following a series of excellent handling, and move through to the right hand wing Giles Bromley Martin jinked his way over the line. Barnes then again breached the Oaks as Paul O'Dell scythed a line through to score under the posts, Keller slotting the extras.
Barnes therefore had a solid lead however Oaks roared back to put the visitors under a degree of pressure and this paid off when Scott Sedgwick popped up at the bottom of a ruck to secure a try for the hosts. Sevenoaks then pressed with a huge amount of pressure on Barnes, who ultimately held out for the win.
SQUADS
Sevenoaks Rugby Club
Adams; Stone; Osgood; Corrigan; Short; Martin; Horner. Simmons; Sedgwick; Naismith; Osinibi; Harries; McRae; Derrick. Richardson; Morris; Nicholls; Hickin; Shirtcliff.
Barnes RFC
Davies; Keller; Stegmann; Bromley-Martin; Souter; O'Dell; Cross. Wood; Hope; Marsh; Ashcroft-leigh; McLean; Kassapian; Harbinson. Hennesey; Short; Leigh; Kirkham; Lloyd.
HALF TIME SCORE
Sevenoaks Rugby 7 – 14 Barnes RFC
FULL TIME SCORE
Sevenoaks Rugby 12 – 28 Barnes RFC
SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES
35' Higgins Try
35' Adams Con
60' Sedgwick Try
BARNES RFC
30' Nixon
30' Keller Con
39' Cross
39' Keller Con
52' Bromley-Martin Try
52' Keller Con
58' O'Dell Try
58' Keller Con
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Sean Derrick & Charlie Corrigan
ATTENDANCE - 310
