Oaks show good form and win pre-season trophy

As part of their pre-season preparations, Oaks traveled to Grasshoppers RFC in London to take part in a tournament containing nine other teams.  The format would see the men from Knole Paddock play 24 minute games against sides that were of similar league status.

The conditions were bright for the first match against Reading Abbey and Oaks got quickly into their stride with some devastating counter attack play, with Sean Derrick to the fore.  Indeed it was no.8 Derrick who scored the try of the game, picking up the ball in his own half from a kick-off before slicing through defenders before stepping the full back and sprinting in from 40 yards.  It was a good start with no tries conceded and five scored, with Adams adding the extras on three occasions. 

The second game saw Oaks take on late replacements to the tournament in the form of Ashford.  Oaks had won twice handsomely when the sides met in the league last season, but took time to get into their stride, until the deadlock was broken by Winter.  Ashford defended well and Oaks were making small frustrating errors.  It was Derrick again who forced his way over and Oaks rounded off proceedings with two more scores before the final whistle, with new man Edwards getting his name on the scoreboard after some solid work from the forwards.

                                                                                   Oaks warm up ahead of the first game

Oaks then faced their stiffest test so far in High Wycombe.  After Adams dotted down in the corner, he was to get six throughout the tournament, Oaks were to concede their first points of the day and went behind after High Wycombe converted a penalty.

The structure that new coach Adam Bowman is putting into place then started to come into play and rather than panicking, the men in blue and gold started to play with the accuracy and ruthlessness that had eluded them in the first half.  New man Dan Phoenix, who had an outstanding day, cut a beautiful line off skipper Stu Coleman to send Oaks into the lead and with Adams converting, victory was assured.

The final league match would determine who would go into the Final to play the winners of the other side of the draw.  The hosts were the opposition and it was another new man, Shadyn Osgood who stamped his authority on the game from centre.  After putting two big hits in midfield, Osgood also showed his attacking prowess and sprinted in from fifty metres out for the try of the match.  Oaks were starting to hit their straps, and despite conceding one score, they were now playing with a confidence and cruised into the Final with three more tries.

The Final saw Oaks drawn against Sutton and Epsom, who were promoted from London 1 South to National 3 South at the end of last season.  Oaks were out of the blocks quickly and played hard, physical and direct rugby, with half-backs Goodhew and Winter conducting play well.  It was Osgood who broke the deadlock, after Oaks had swung the ball from side to side, some good hands in the centre of the field saw the big centre head over in the corner.  Adams converted with an excellent touchline conversion. 

Two minutes later and Oaks were at it again, this time with Jonny Briggs finishing off some fine hands in the backs after good work up from John Henley.  Oaks were buzzing.

What will please the coaching staff is the relentless attitude shown by the team in the Final and this was epitomised with the next score.  Almost immediately off the kick-off,  Oaks secured ball in midfield, Winter and Phoenix combined to swing the ball to the right wing where Adams was standing.  Taking the ball at pace, the young winger, who has clearly worked hard in the off-season, chipped ahead and won the footrace the the bouncing ball and sprint in under the sticks.  His conversion would be the final score of the day, as Oaks showed aggressive defence and composure in a strong wind to see out the game 21-0.

In summary, it was a very good performance against strong opposition and showed that the hard work that Oaks have been putting in over pre-season is bearing dividends.

After the Final, Head Coach Adam Bowman commented 'It's been an excellent day and I'm really pleased with how we have performed.  We have steadily improved and the level of rugby in the Final was where we want to be.  It's always tough at tournaments because of the break in between games, but it was so well run here we weren't waiting around at all.  This was a real squad effort with each and every man making telling contributions.'

'As I said after last week's match against Medway, there's lots to work on still.  Our accuracy in the first couple of matches wasn't really there, but overall I'm really pleased.  We have a week's break now and that will give us good time to work on a number of areas within our game.  A big thank you to the tournament organisers at Grasshoppers for their work and also to the supporters who battled through the M25 to give us support.'

Squad: J.Walker, D.Power, B.Martyr, S.Sedgewick, J.Simmons, M.Simmons, J.Henley, S.Coleman (C), M.Dodd, W.De-Smith, S.Derrick, S.McCorry, A.Suttill, S.Goodhew, I.Winter, O.Shirtcliff, D.Phoenix, S.Osgood, S.Tree, A.Edwards, B.Adams, J.Short, J.Briggs

Oaks take a break now before their first games of the season on September 3rd, with the 1st XV taking on Gosport and Fareham at home and the 2s away at Tunbridge Wells.

                                          Captain Stuart Coleman with the Grasshoppers Pre-Season Tournament winners trophy

Oaks enjoy stern test at Medway

The Sevenoaks Senior Squad enjoyed their first pre-season test away at Medway, with a number of new and returning faces making key contributions.

Playing in four twenty minute blocks, the game gave the coaching department an opportunity to try new combinations and put into practice some of the hard work from the previous six weeks of training.

It was the hosts that started brightly with a large share of the possession, but each and every time they were met by aggressive and clinical Oaks defence, led by the back row of Henley, Sinclair and De Smith.  Not to be outdone by his former Skinners school mate De Smith, the returning no. 9 Goodhew made a number of crucial turnovers that allowed Oaks to relieve pressure.

Indeed it was the visitors who were to break the deadlock and after Shirtcliff had moved the play down field with a couple of telling kicks, Oaks worked their way to an attacking platform in the 22.  With clinical back play, moving through a number of hands, it was the speedster Weston who dashed over to give Oaks the lead.

After a number of heavy midfield tussles, just before the twenty minute break, after a number of minutes knocking at the defensive door, Medway managed to create an overlap, working a three on two which they clinically finished.

Oaks started the second quarter brightly, and after more good hands in the backs, particularly from wing Karg, Shirtcliff showed a clean pair of heals to round his man and go over.  However, the referee deemed that the grounding was not clean, and Medway were awarded a 5 metre scrum to relieve pressure.  Encouraging signs saw the axis of Suttill and Shirtcliff working well, whilst Rugg and Edwards were looking a dangerous attacking threat.

Oaks once again showed resolute defence and went ahead again after a good drive at the lineout which saw hooker Sedgewick dab the ball over the line. It was just reward for the man who, along with Matt Dodd, was a consistent thorn in the oppositions side all day.

Disappointingly though,  Oaks switched off in the final five minutes of the first half, and Medway barrelled their way over to bring the score level once more.

The third quarter saw the home side take control and show the young Oaks what intensity is needed at London 1 level, scoring three well taken tries, including a penalty try.

The final quarter saw Oaks come back into the game and create their best spell of the occasion.  After bursts up the field which included some good offloading between De Smith, Short and Goodhew, the Oaks gained an attacking scrum ten metres out.  After holding a strong Medway scrum well, Oaks backs showed some sumptuous skill in the backs, as Tree and Shirtcliff worked an opening for Jamie Owen, who cruised in under the posts for the score of the game.

Following on from the match, Head Coach Adam Bowman commented 'Today gave us an opportunity to try new combinations and see where we are in our development.  I was really pleased with lots of aspects, against a strong Medway side.  However, we are always striving to improve and we have lots to work on in training over the next few weeks.'

'I want to thank Taff Gwilliam and his team for today.  Talking after the game, we both agreed it was exactly what both sides needed - a good hard game of rugby with both sides wanting to play some attacking play.  We now move onto the Grasshoppers next week, which will pose another challenge for the squad'.

Oaks head to the Grasshoppers tournament next week, which will pose the last test ahead of the first league games of the season, when the 1st play Gosport and Fareham at home, and the 2nd take on Tunbridge Wells away.

Squad: D.Power, S.Sedgewick, T. Simmons, J.Simmons, A. Rolfe, O. Boatwright-Smith, S. Coleman (C), M. Dodd, R. Philpot, D. Sinclair, W. De-Smith, J. Henley, S. Goodhew, A. Suttill, O. Shirtcliff, I. Winter, H.Rugg, A.Edwards, S.Tree, J. Short, C.Karg, M. Weston, O.Dinsmore, J. Owen

London 1 awaits for victorious Oaks

Sevenoaks 37 London Cornish 31

Last Saturday saw Oaks welcome London Cornish to Knole Paddock for their eagerly anticipated promotion play off fixture, the prize at stake, London 1 rugby next season. Both sides have had tremendous seasons but their year would be defined for all 38 players, coaches, managers, physios and fans by 80 minutes of almost unbearable tension that would end in joy for the victor and despair for the vanquished.  

In the opening stanza, Oaks embraced the pressure of the day, played high tempo expansive rugby and opened up a substantial early lead that had the home faithful believing that it was not a question of who would win but by how many. Outside half Winter, back for the first time in a month and still only half fit (If he was a horse they would have shot him)  opened up holes almost at will with his canny distribution skills. Scores from Coleman, Anderson and a brace for Academy starlet Adams, who turned from a sapling to a fully fledged Oak before everybody’s disbelieving eyes.  Due to Winters uncooperative knee, Adams also had to take over the kicking duties. The fact that he kicked five from seven on the day proved this Oak has got some sizeable Acorns too. As the whistle blew for half time Oaks lead had stretched out to an impressive 29-9. Job done………..or was it?

Over the sucking of the proverbial half time orange, London Cornish, who had only three penalties and a dysfunctional lineout to show for their efforts, decided to put their underpants on outside their shorts and come out in the second half and play like Supermen. Early pressure in the Oaks twenty two led to a string of penalties and the inevitable yellow card and ten minutes on the naughty step for centre Vaihu. In the next twelve or so minutes Cornish ran in three tries, the last of which was a fine solo effort. 

Oaks brains were now well and truly scrambled, sphincters tightened at an alarming rate in the crowd, the stroll in the park had turned into the rugby equivalent of climbing Everest, in flip flops whilst carrying a fridge. Game very much on. Oaks emptied their bench of a tenacious pair of young Simmons, a Dodd and a May. Panic not quite over but the patient was definitely coming round. 

Oaks regained the initiative through the rather large and capable hands of Anderson who was in all probability the best in show on the day. His score in the corner edged Oaks out to a 34-28 lead. The defining moment of the day came shortly after as winger Adams, who wouldn’t cut an imposing figure in the U10’s, strode forward and notched a penalty to take the lead to over one score. There was a large and universal exhaling of breath as the ball sailed over the black dot.

Much to your correspondent’s consternation and totally unlike the script I had in mind, Cornish came back YET AGAIN. Awarded a penalty in the final minute, just inside their own half, the Cornish skipper eschewed the kick to touch and summoned his kicker to go for the posts. With his size 10’s loaded with Semtex, he boomed the ball into orbit and over the uprights. 37-31.

With time just enough for the restart, a small town in West Kent collectively held its breath as the final few phases played out. The final knock on brought a final whilst and delirium to all those of a blue and gold persuasion. A great game, played by two excellent teams in exactly the right spirit. 

In the any game there can only be one winner, which is why we keep score and today Captain Robinson, who had the calmest head in the house and his men held sway with a deserved win. London Cornish will undoubtedly dust themselves off, keep the Y Fronts outside the shorts and come hard again next year. Good luck to them.