Sevenoaks Rugby 23 – 28 Colchester RFC
Sevenoaks Rugby Club entertained Colchester RFC on Saturday 16 November at Knole Paddock for an encounter that represented high stakes for both teams toughing it out in the lower levels of National Two South. The compelling match ended with a bonus point win for the visitors who backed their ambition with some quality execution towards the closing sections of the match. In all but the last play of the game, a try for Colchester under the posts by outside half Gabe Jones on which he then slotted the extras, after they returned a kick into their territory from Sevenoaks through a well worked move, secured victory. While Oaks had the opportunity with a close quarters lineout in the last play of the game, Colchester turned the ball over and with it earned the vital result.
The match started at a canter and within the first 10 minutes there were three tries. The first score went to Colchester who found space down the right wing and then Jonah Varela dotted the ball down while Jones added the extras. Oaks replied immediately, and from the kick off Barney Stone latched onto the restart and snaffled the ball before evading the Colchester cover and putting the ball down in the right-hand channel. Ben Adams slotted the conversion. Colchester then had a scrum within striking distance of the Oaks line and Danny Whiteman romped over the line and Jones converted.
The rest of the first half was combative with Oaks in the ascendency and gaining their reward when Stone secured the second of his brace, Adams again slotting the extras for the two sides to go into the sheds all square at 14-14.
Sevenoaks certainly had the better of the early stages of the second half, while Colchester defended resolutely. Oaks resorted to the trusty boot of Adams to take the lead to 17-14 and then a further penalty meant Oaks entered the last twenty minutes of the match with a 20-14 advantage. Colchester then retook the lead with a well-worked move down the left and despite Adams reclaiming the ascendancy for Oaks, it wasn't to be as Colchester edged home.
Sevenoaks Scorers
5 mins Barney Stone Try Ben Adams Conversion
35 mins Barney Stone Try Adams C
51 mins Adams Penalty
63 mins Adams Penalty
73 mins Adams Penalty
Colchester Scorers
3 mins Jonah Verela Try Gabe Jones C
9 mins Danny Whiteman Try Jones C
65 mins Cory Button try Jones C
79 mins Gabe Jones try Jones C
Man of the Match Ethan Jones
Attendance 380
