Sevenoaks Rugby 24 – 22 Henley Hawks RFC

Sevenoaks Rugby held on for a tight 24-22 win over Henley Hawks after a compelling second half comeback by the visitors. Oaks dominated the first half, but they left too many points out there and squandered solid field position on numerous occasions. So, despite the 15-7 half-time advantage, Oaks could and should have been a few more to the good at half time. When Hawks with their tails up took the game to Oaks in the second half, the match become a proper battle. In the end Oaks managed to hang on.

To begin with it was looking simple for the home side. Debutant and man of the match Jacob Ivell raced in under the posts for a try on the five-minute mark with his first touch of the ball. Jacob has come all the way through the Oaks juniors section and this was a fitting culmination of his rise through the ranks. Ben Adams slotted the conversion. Oaks continued to press, and it wasn’t long before they found another opening, this time on the opposite wing as Harry Barker dived over the line in the left-hand corner.

While Sevenoaks had all the ascendancy and numerous breaks, it was Hawks who had the next say and a try under the posts by Ben Collins that Toby Howe converted brough them back into the game. An Adams penalty gave Oaks a 15-7 cushion to take into the half-time sheds.

Oaks had all the first half momentum, but from the get go of the second half, the pendulum well and truly swung. Hawks came out for the second half full of verve and were up for it. This was a cracking encounter and huge credit to Hawks for the energy they brought. First a Max Titchener penalty pegged Oaks back. Then after relentless pressure Leo Webb secured the try for Henley. Fortunately for Oaks, an Adams penalty gave them breathing space and so when Jamar Richardson barrelled over in the last play of the game for a try that Titchener duly converted, Oaks had edged home.

Sevenoaks Rugby: Simmons. J; Sedgwick ©; Strainge; Southon; Green; Johnson; Rufai; McRae. Jones; Livett; Barker; Corrigan; Shirtcliff; Ivell; Adams. Moran; Rolfe; Lee; Begbie; Horner.

Henley Hawks RFC: Coliins; Langley; Hayhow ©; Lowe; Wallis-Downham; Noone; White; Benning. Pattison; Howe; Gordon; Webb; Jones; Wood; Richardson. Bailer; Kinningburgh; Poiner; Stentiford; Titchener.

Referee: Harry Parsons, RFU National Panel. Asst Referee 1: John Durrin. Asst Referee 2 Chris Goss. Fourth officials: Glann Waltham, Grant Scandling.

Half time Sevenoaks Rugby 15 – 7 Henley Hawks RFC

Full time Sevenoaks Rugby 24 – 22 Henley Hawks RFC

Sevenoaks RFC Scorers:

5’ Jacob Ivell T Ben Adams C

13’ Harry Barker T

30’ Ben Adams Pen

41’ Ben Adams Pen

48’ Ben Adams Pen

73’ Ben Adams Pen

Henley Hawks RFC Scorers:

27’ Ben Collins T Toby Howe Conversion