Win over Worthing - a great opposition!

Image Credit: David Purday

Sevenoaks Rugby15  –  10 Worthing RFC

Sevenoaks toughed out a battling 15-10 win over Worthing with all the Oaks points coming from the trusty boot of Ben Adams.

This was attritional rugby at its very best and the packs from both sides put in proper shifts. For Oaks the two Simmons at props presented a very solid foundation for the home side tackling everything in sight. While Charlie Naismith when he arrived off the bench for the Oaks front row delivered impressive impact to the Oaks catch and drive, which was the weapon that secured the territory and pressure and ultimately penalties that enabled Oaks to win.

In the first half the play of the match arrived when the Worthing centre Harry Forest scythed through Oaks and under the posts for a try that Josh Bellamy converted. Worthing then sieged the Oaks line and somehow Oaks managed to hold out for the teams to head into the sheds with the scores at 0-7 to the away side.

The second half was a topsy turvy game of territorial kick and chase dominated by the half and full backs. Oaks with the wind at their backs more than held their own. After an exchange of penalties inside the first ten minute of the second half, first with one to Oaks and then with one to Worthing through Bellamy.

And so it as that in the final quarter Oaks drove at Worthing and three penalties from Adams on the 60, 74 and 78 minute marks edged the home side home.

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Adams; Hicken; Stone; Corrigan; Short; Livett; Galligan. Simmons.J; Sedgwick; Simmons.T; Burmeister; Southon; McCrae; Galligan; Derrick ©. Naismith; Rolfe; Lee; Horner; Higgins.

Worthing RFC

Ellis; Bowen; Forrest; Sims; Rigelsford; Bellamy; Dobinson. Sargent; JDP; Featherstone; Lakey ©; Macadmas; Grief; Knight; Taggart. Gatford; Magda; Ambrose; Day; Spencer.

Referee: Phil Russel From RFU National Panel; Assistant Referee1: Fraser Todd Assistant Referee 2: Simon Bourne Fourth Officials: Glenn Waltham; Grant Scandling

Scorers

Oaks 

41 Ben Adams penalty 

60 Adams penalty 

74 Adams penalty 

78 Adams penalty 

Worthing 

33 Harry Forest T Josh Bellamy Converted 

44 Bellamy P

We take the first set against Wimbledon! 19-27 Final Score!!

Slipped away in the last play of the game vs Esher

Sevenoaks Rugby 18 – 22 Esher RFC 

Esher RFC secured two late tries to come from behind against a combative Sevenoaks Rugby Club for an away victory in a cracking encounter at Knole Paddock on Saturday 4 November 2023. The first of these telling brace of tries came in the shape Esher outside half Sam Morley who marched through under the posts with seven minutes to go then converted his own try. Ultimately at the death Esher winger Dan Rowland, after several phases, finally found a gap in Oaks’ resolute defensive unit. The missed extras was the last play of the game.

Sevenoaks acquitted themselves outstandingly, and would feel a little hard done by in the light of the final phases of the match. Esher enjoyed the best of the first 10 minutes but couldn’t capitalise, before Oaks opened the scoring with the play of the game as a well-executed backs move turned the key on the Esher midfield. Barney Stone was put through under the posts by Josh Livett and with the Ben Adams conversion Oaks were 7-0 up.

Oaks continued to press and the reward was an Adams penalty before Esher flanker Harvey Scott scythed through Oaks for a try that Morley converted. Oaks responded swiftly and marched the ball upfield and from a catch and drive at the lineout Kenny Lee drove over the line. Esher were pinged just before half time and, clearly frustrated, the back chat saw them marched to within kickable territory and Adams duly obliged to give Oaks an 18-7 half-time lead.

Oaks had their opportunities in the second half but Esher used all their nous and experience to get themselves back into the game. They secured a penalty that Morley slotted on 50 mins. And during the final throes of the match closed out the win.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Kenny Lee

ATTENDANCE

320

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Adams; Valentine; Stone; Corrigan; Forrester; Livett; Davenport. Simmons.J; Sedgwick; Simmons.T; Burmeister; Lee; McCrae; Ruffai; Derrick ©. Cambier; Horner; Galligan; Naismith; Higgins. 

Esher RFC

Faulkner; Rowland; Donnelly; Rawstron Rudd; Lang; Morley ©; Thompson. Lowes; Crawley; Skoumbordis; Leckey; Wem; Wilkins; Scott; Kirby. Hamilton; Murphy; Bullett; McBreaty; Ham.

Referee: Alex Rose From RFU National Panel And London Society; Assistant Referee1: Gavin Scott Assistant Referee 2: Paul Carroll Fourth Officials: Glenn Waltham; Grant Scandling 

HALF TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 18 – 10 Esher RFC

FULL TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 18 – 22 Esher RFC

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES 

8 mins Barney Stone T Ben Adams Con

23 mins Adams Pen

40 mins Adams Pen 

ESHER RFC SCORES PLUS TIMES

30 mins Harvey Scott T Sam Morley Con

45 mins Morley Pen

72 mins Morley T and Con

79 mins Dan Rowland T

Nearly secure the win against TJs away!

Sevenoaks Rugby 29 – 29 Tonbridge Juddians RFC

Sevenoaks Rugby versus Tonbridge Juddians RFC is always a special encounter. Saturday’s 29-29 draw at The Slade in Tonbridge lived up to the hype.

The visitors arrived as underdogs, so when within five minutes of the opening whistle TJs bundled over in the shape of Joe Parkes for a try that Sam Evans converted, the omens for Sevenoaks were not looking great. But the riposte was swift and the navy and gold took the ball up the field and the game to TJs. Their efforts to breach the TJs try line were rewarded with a penalty try. 7-7. Sevenoaks then found some space out wide to take the lead as winger Drew Forrester dived over and Ben Adams slotted the extras. 

TJs had the slope and you felt they had another score in them as the game entered the final stages of the first half. They gained ascendancy and from a lineout catch and drive inside the Oaks 22, Will Holling was the one with the ball in his hands at the bottom of the pack move and with Evans’ extras the two teams headed into the sheds 14 apiece. Game on 

Indiscipline resulted in a procession of yellow cards for Oaks and they began the second half with 14 players. TJs capitalised and an expansive movement up the pitch put Holling over for the second of his well-worked brace. However once again Oaks rallied and established field position well into TJs territory, when a wonderful cross-field kick from Oaks 10 Josh Livett slotted into the welcoming arms of Angelo Valentine in the outside channel resulted in a try for the visitors. Adams secured the conversion to give Oaks a 21-19 lead, which was soon 24-22 after each side slotted a pen.

In a game of ebb and flow, it was then TJs who took the match by the scruff of its neck. Only scrambling Oaks corner flagging managed to keep a rampant TJs at bay in an impressive all-round defensive display by Oaks however the pressure told and TJs ultimately secured a penalty try of their own and with it a 29-24 lead to take into the last five minutes of play. The match seemed all but done. Sevenoaks, however, had other ideas. In the dying throes of the game, Barney Stone was found in space in the left wing and did the rest to get the ball down for a try that was awarded following a short conflab between the linesman and the ref. The five points levelled the match. The conversion faded to the left of the uprights so a cracking derby ended honours even, in what many saw as the right result. 

Sevenoaks 2s and 3s enjoyed convincing victories over Gillingham Anchorians and Westcombe Park IIs on Saturday. The 1s now have a couple of weeks off and all eyes this Saturday evening will be on former Sevenoaks Junior player and England rugby dynamo Ben Earl as he goes toe to toe with World Champions South Africa at the RWC2023 semi-final.

Sevenoaks come on song in second half!

Sevenoaks Rugby 43 – 15 North Walsham

Sevenoaks Rugby entertained North Walsham at the Paddock on Saturday 7 October. For all of sixty minutes this match was full on, with in fact Oaks indiscipline seeing them 7-12 behind at half-time. 

Two second half yellows further slowed the Oaks progress before eventually the home team romped home in some style. This was a must win match for two sides that have had their struggles this season and Walsham battled Oaks in the early encounters. However, Oaks opened the scoring when Finlay Davenport dived over in the corner after an Oaks scrum in the middle of the park with the trusty boot of Ben Adams securing the extras. That was it for the Oaks first half account. Walsham knocked over four first half penalties thanks to their pressure at the breakdown and a strew of Oaks’ errors.

A Walsham penalty and a Charlie Corrigan try in the corner for Oaks that Adams also converted brought the scores to 14-15. Then a third try for Oaks in the shape of Drew Forrester stretching his legs in the outside channel and Adams again getting the extras offered Oaks some breathing space. Although two yellow cards halted Oaks’ second half progress, an Adams penalty kept the score board ticking over for the home side. Then the floodgates opened. Three late tries for Oaks secured the match. And the bonus point victory. First Barney Stone through the centres before replacement Charlie Galligan powered over the line and Davenport for the second of a fine brace. The solid home victory evidences the developing maturity in a very youthful Oaks line up and all credit to North Walsham for pressing to the end.

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Livett; Adams; Stone; Corrigan; Forrester; Shirtcliff; Davenport. Simmons.J; Sedgwick; Simmons.T; Burmeister; Lee; Southon; McCrae; Derrick. Strainge; Heunes; Galligan; Naismith; Higgins.

North Walsham RFC

Hewitt; Mcguire; Smith (C); Magnus; Kandemwa; Langbridge; Dudley. Weber; Mccall; Brightman; Homewood (Vc); Baldwin; Tait; Brooks; Langbridge; Brodie; Sokia; Ehret; Atherton; Steward

Referee: Tom Bird From RFU National Panel And London Society; Assistant Referee1: John Richardson Assistant Referee 2: John Durkin Fourth Officials: Glenn Waltham; Grant Scandl

HALF TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 7 – 12 North Walsham RFC

FULL TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 43 – 15 North Walsham RFC

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES 

5 mins Finlay Davenport T Ben Adams C

45 mins Charlie Corrigan T Ben Adams

50 mins Drew Forrester T Ben Adams C

55 mins Ben Adams Penalty

63 mins Barney Stone T Ben Adams C

74 mins Charlie Galligan T Ben Adams C

78 mins Finlay Davenport

NORTH WALSHAM RFC SCORES PLUS TIMES

6 mins Penalty

12 mins Penalty

22 mins Penalty

33 mins Penalty

43 mins Penalty

Attendance 360

Man of the Match: Sean Derrick 

Henley take the win!

Sevenoaks Rugby 13 – 29 Henley Hawks RFC

Henley Hawks enjoyed a quality win over Sevenoaks Rugby on Saturday 30 Sept at Knole Paddock. Oak pushed the visitors during the first two thirds of the match before the solid performance on the road by Hawks saw them home. Hawks had pressed hard onto the Sevenoaks line during the first half and the 6-12 advantage to Henley at the break was capitalised on in the second half as Hawks cut loose with some quality ball in hand play.

Oaks opened the scoring through the trusty boot of Ben Adams but the 3-0 ascendancy was cancelled out shortly thereafter through a pushover try by Henley as Omar Ellabody charged over the line and Max Titchener slotted the extras. The same trick was repeated fifteen minutes later, as the Hawks catch and drive from the lineout resulted in Will Benning ending up at the bottom of the pile. Adams having slotted a penalty for Oak in between those tries and a huge amount of defending by Oaks in midfield managing to keep Hawks at bay as they pressed during the final salvos of the first half.

Hawks got the opening score of the second half through a Tictchener pen and then found a lot of fluidity with ball in hand. The field position they established saw Adam Hakimian scythe through the Oaks breakdown for a try that Titchener converted. Neil Wood then dived out for Hawks following a move up the right flank. Oaks had their chances to peg Hawks back and a well-worked try that Barney Stone secured for Oaks was converted by Ben Adams before the final score of the match by Hawks’ Tom Emery. 

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Rosillo; Carter; Stone; Heunes; Forrester; Adams; Davenport. Simmons.J; Sedgwick; Simmons.T; Burmeister; Southon; McKean; Nicholls; Higgins. Rolfe; Lee; Corrigan; Galligan; Naismith.

Henley Hawks RFC

Evans; Rawsthorn; Hall; Hakiman; Scott; Titchener; Webb. Manning; Totic; Mason; Lowe; Ellabody; Benning; White; Vooght. Emery; Collins; Lunnon; Bradley; Strugar

HALF TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby  – Henley Hawks RFC

6-12

FULL TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby  – Old Albanian RFC

13-29

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES 

• Ben Adams Pen 5 mins

• Ben Adams Pen 12 mins

• Barney Stone T Adams Con 69 mins

HENLEY HAWKS RFC SCORES PLUS TIMES

• Omar Ellabody T Max Titchener Con 8 mins

• Will Benning T 25 mins

• Tichener P 52 mins

• Adam Hakiman T Titchener Con 60 mins

• Tom Emery T Titchener Con 75 mins

Attendance: 300

Man of the match: Max Titchener

Old Albanian stretch out a good lead!

Sevenoaks Rugby 16 – 51 Old Albanian RFC

Sevenoaks Rugby hosted Old Albanian RFC under the heat of the September sun at Knole Paddock on Saturday 16 September. OAs romped home 51-16 thanks to some clinical finishing and excellent fluidity with ball in hand while Oaks’ lacklustre defensive performance in the final third of the match cost them dear. The home side was in the game at 16-20 down with 25 minutes left, before the visitors pulled away in some style. 

The start saw OAs Ajeigbe Oluwaseyi dot the ball down following a muddle in the Oaks midfield before a penalty from the centre of the park from Ben Adams following a high tackle by OAs brought it back to 3-10. Then OAs man of the match Price Kemp was the one driving the ball over the line for a try from a catch and drive, before a wonderful dab kick through the centre of the park was collected by OAs wing Alex Ricci who went in unopposed. This was quickly followed by a try from the restart for Oluwaseyi’s second so that after 27 mins, the visitors had a 20 points to 3 advantage. Oaks pressured the OAs corner and a fracas during that phase of field position ended in a yellow card for the Oaks lock and a red for the OAs flanker. From the resulting penalty, Oaks kicked for the corner, then caught the lineout ball and drove the ball over the line with Scott Sedgwick dotting the ball down for a try that Adams converted to make it 10-20 at half time.

Oaks came out fired up for the second half and within short order, two Adams penalties brought the game back to 16-20. At this stage Oaks were well in contention however Old Albanian had other ideas. They secured two tries from catch and drives in the shape of Charlie Fleckney, with Sam Jones slotting the extras on both occasions. Oaks were chasing the game and could never quite manage to retain the possession they needed to break a solid OAs defence.

A try from Jones and a second from Price on the break added the icing on the cake for the visitors, with both tries converted by Jones. The cherry on top was a closing penalty by Jones as OAs romped home 51-16 victors.

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Adams; Valentino; Stone; Corrigan; Forrester; Livett; Davenport. Simmons.J; Sedgwick; Simmons.T; Burmeister; Southon; McKean; Ruffai; Derrick ©. Rolfe; Higgins; Galligan.H; Galligan.C; Nicholls.

Old Albanian RFC

Nurse; Ricci; Jones; Sage; Ajeigbe; McPhunn. Giani. Chamnagui; Fleckney; Samuel; Sylvester; Illston; Mummery; Barnes; Price. Curtis; North; Gibbs; Bundy; Legg.

HALF TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 10 – 20 Old Albanian RFC

FULL TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 16 – 51 Old Albanian RFC

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES 

• Ben Adams Pen 7 mins

• Scott Sedgwick T Adams Con 36 mins

• Adams Pen 42 mins

• Adams Pen 50 mins

OLD ALBANIAN RFC SCORES PLUS TIMES

• Ajeigbe Oluwaseyi Try 3 mins

• Price Kemp Try 14 mins

• Alex Ricci Try 20 mins

• Oluwaseyi Try 21 mins

• Charlie Fleckney Try 58 mins Sam Jones Con

• Charlie Fleckney Try 68 mins Sam Jones Con

• Sam Jones Try 74 mins Jones Con

• Price Kemp Try 78 mins Jone Con

• Sam Jones Pen 79 mins

Oaks just miss out on bonus losing point in Guernsey!

Win to start the season!

MATCH REPORT 

Sevenoaks Rugby hosted Canterbury RFC for a scintillating opening match of the season, with the home team edging out Canterbury 23-22. This was a typical initial match of the season in that both sides were finding their rhythm and securing phase play at the expense of a number of unforced errors. Of course on a warm day it was extra hard work for everyone involved and we must give a shout out to Oaks fly half Tom Simmonds who left the pitch with a serious shoulder injury deep into the first half. 

The visitors had much of the possession and ascendancy in the opening salvos. They made decent ingressions into Oaks territory yet failed to convert the territory into points. So it was that a couple of penalties from Ben Adams chalked up the first points of the season for Sevenoaks. Canterbury then responded by putting together a number of phases before a catch and drive from the lineout positioned the visitors beneath the posts and repeated infringements from Oaks resulted in a penalty try. A fracas following the try saw a Canterbury player binned and the resulting penalty re-start was slotted by Ben Adams. 9-10 was the half time score.

The pattern of the second half mimicked the first and Canterbury again pressed into Oaks territory. However Oaks then found field position and with Ollie Shirtcliff pulling the string at 10 he set up Barney Stone for an outstanding direct line to zip in under the posts. Adams secured the extras. Canterbury then took the game fully to Oaks and onslaught after onslaught finally resulted in Alfie Orris diving over in the corner and Reynolds slotting the extras. Game on with ten minutes left in a one point game.

The next event was hesitation in the Canterbury back line through an exit, which was charged down by Oaks and it was again Stone who romped under the posts. The game however wasn’t done and Tom Williams went over in the corner for Canterbury and Reynolds produced an outstanding conversion to bring it back to a one point with five minutes to go.

There was drama at the finish as Canterbury broke out of their half and on the final play, Olly Rossilo delivered an amazing try-saving tackle in the corner to deny the Canterbury left wing the winning score. Hats off to both teams for putting on a proper National League Two spectacle.

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Livett; Adams; Stone; Corrigan; Forrester; Simmonds; Davenport. Rolfe; Galligan; Simmons; Burmeister; Southon; Cambier; McRae; Derrick ©. Strainge; Galligan; McKean; Shirtcliff; Rossilo.

Canterbury RFC

Hollidge; Morgan; McGann; Jones; Best; Orris; Reynolds; Parrance; Holland; Morris; Herriott; Murray; Stephens ©; Rogers; Furneaux; Oliver. O’Donoghue; McColl; Kerry; Williams; Dayes

HALF TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 9 – 10 Canterbury RFC

FULL TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 23 – 22 Canterbury RFC

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES 

35' Ben Adams P

36' Ben Adams P 

38’ Ben Adams P

53' Barney Stone T; Adams C

73' Barney Stone T; Adams C

CANTERBURY RFC SCORES PLUS TIMES

38' Canterbury Penalty Try

70' Alfie Orris Try 60' Ethan Smith T Thomas Con

76' Tom Williams T; Reynolds C

PLAYER OF THE MATCH Josh Livett 

ATTENDANCE 420

Sevenoaks keep the score ticking for 80 minutes vs. Westcliff

MATCH REPORT 

Sevenoaks Rugby welcomed Westcliff to Knole Paddock on Saturday 22 April for a highly entertaining encounter that saw Sevenoaks secure their National Two status thanks to a bonus-point win. What we have to do however is applaud Westcliff. Sport is about highs and lows, and the saying says that ‘you don’t let the highs go to your head or the lows go to your heart’. Westcliff came to the Paddock and never stopped playing despite the impressive Oaks performance. Huge credit to the lads from the Essex coast on today’s performance and also for playing hard for the full 80 minutes in every match this season despite often being under pressure.

As for the Oaks, the maths were simple. Win and they secured National Two status, so win they did in some style. The scoring opened early in the match with a move down the left hand side that saw Matt Holmes pop up and dot the ball down. Sevenoaks secured the bonus point for four tries when Tom Simmons bundled over just before the half time whistle, after tries by Shadyn Osgood and Jack Martin. Ben Adams slotted two of the four conversions making it 24-0 to the Oaks going into the sheds.

The opening salvos of the second half were the Ben Adams show, as he used his deft footwork to evade the Westcliff defence to secure two tries for Oaks, one of which he converted.

Westcliff worked hard to get back into the game and did have some purple patches however it was the home side that closed in the ascendency.

Barney Stone secured a brace of tries showing electric pace, and Elliot Munnelly was rewarded for an abrasive performance as he crashed over the line while Jack Horner got in on the action connecting with an excellent burst of pace onto a pop pass to dot the ball down under the posts. Martin converted two of these tries and Adams another.

The effervescent Fred Richardson was a dominant force for Oaks in midfield as was Sean Derrick who carried strong all day.

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Livett; Adams; Osgood; Fotheringham; Mullaly; Martin; Holmes. Simmons; Thomson; Simmons; Morris; Higgins; Richardson; McRae; Derrick. Naismith; Ganley; Stone; Rossilo; Stone; Horner.

Westcliffe RFC

Brown; Sykes; Bannister; Whitting; Tyler; Rea; Barrell. Miller; Moss; Fisher; Einchcomb, Tom; Webster; Einchcombe, Alex; Hatton; Nicholls. Bauso; Doyle; Lynch; Walker; Webber.

HT SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 24 – 0 Westcliff RFC

FULL TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 62 – 0 Westcliff RFC

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES 

5' Matt Holmes Try

10' Shadyn Osgood  T Ben Adams Con

30' Jack Martin T

38’ Tom Simmons T Adams C

45' Adams T

50’ Adams T Adams C

55’ Stone T

60’ Munnelly T Jack Martin C

75’ Horner T Adams C

78’ Stone T Martin C

PLAYER OF THE MATCH Matt Holmes

ATTENDANCE 510

Single point loss in last play of game against North Walsham - 1st April, 2023

MATCH REPORT 

Sevenoaks Rugby welcomed North Walsham to the Paddock on Saturday 1 April for a highly entertaining encounter that saw North Walsham edge home by one point with the final kick of the game.

Sevenoaks had every chance to secure the win however Walsham kept playing and were rightfully jubilant with the last play, a penalty from just outside the Oaks 10 yard line about 15 metres in from the left touch line that hit the right hand upright and rebounded inside the posts by the narrowest of margins. The win gives Walsham a lifeline in National 2 whereas Oaks will feel disappointed yet in charge of their own destiny with both Rochford Hundred and Walsham below them with two matches to play.

The opening salvos belonged to Walsham and having ascertained field position in the opening encounters they duly romped over the line for the first of a brace of tries by number eight Charlie Fethney that Matt Hodgson converted.

There was a rapid reply from Oaks after they moved the ball expertly into the Walsham 22 for Johnny Short to speed over the line and Bend Adams secured the extras. Then Oaks added to this with an excellently-worked move that saw Josh Pettet barrage up the middle of the pitch and send the Walsham defenders the wrong way with a sublime dummy before he crashed over the whitewash. Oaks then finished the first half pressing into the Walsham corner however to thanks to defensive resilience the visitors held out. 17-14 half-time.

This was a very tight encounter and it was important for both teams to take points away from the game to ensure their survival in National 2 rugby. Oaks started the second half positively and the pressure on Walsham told in the shape of a penalty to Oaks. However Walsham wanted to play and with 10 minutes to go worked their way up the field and secured an excellent try in the shape of scrum half Alfie Coop.

Oaks then applied further pressure and twice had opportunities through penalties to retain the lead before Jack Martin put a penalty for Oaks over from just inside the 10 yard line. With three minutes to play Oaks were 23-21 up.

From the restart Oaks immediately took the ball up the field thanks to some deft work by Josh Livett from 15 and were unlucky not to secure the try. Having nudged the ball forward from five yards out, Walsham sniffed blood from their own scrum and through man of the match Matt Hodgson bossing the phases executed their way up field and secured a penalty. It was on the edge of the fly half’s range and he slotted the penalty over thanks to the rebound to bring a cracking encounter to a close.

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Livett; Adams; Osgood; Corrigan; Short; Martin; Holmes. Simmons; Sedgwick; Simmons; Pettet; Higgins; Hackett; McRae; Derrick. Naismith; Ganley; Munnelly; Naismith; Richardson; Horner.

North Walsham RFC

Ottis; Mustard; Jones; Coates; Bltyh; Hodgson; Coop. Scott; Knight; Youngs; Musindi; Holmwood; Basarah; Haynes; Pethney. Weber; Brightman; Knight; Kirkham; Dye.

HT SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 17 – 14 North Walsham

FULL TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 23 – 24 North Walsham RFC

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES 

5' Jonny Short Try

10' Josh Pettet T Ben Adams Con

33' Shadyn Osgood

60' Adams Penalty

77' Martin P

NORTH WALSHAM RFC SCORERS PLUS TIMES

3' Pethney T Hodgson Con

23’ Pethney T Hodgson C

69’ Coop T Hodgson C

80’ Hodgson Penalty

PLAYER OF THE MATCH Josh Pettet

ATTENDANCE 420

Great clash at The Paddock against Barnes - 18th March, 2023

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

Great game against Guernsey sees Oaks take the victory - 11th March, 2023

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

Another close one... Bury St Edmunds - 25/02/23

MATCH REPORT 

Sevenoaks Rugby hosted Bury St Edmonds for a thrilling Nat 2 encounter on Saturday 25 February at Knole Paddock. Bury played with ball in hand all day and after pressing on the Oaks line for the final 5 minutes of the match were duly rewarded when Man of the Match Matt Bursey trotted over the line from short quarters for a try that was converted by Charlie Reed to seal a five point victory for Bury.

Bury also opened the scoring of this thrilling match, when Ciaraan Leeson found space on the left wing following a well-worked move for a try and Reed slotted the extras. Sevenoaks then took the game to the visitors in the shape of four unanswered tries. The pick of these was without doubt Josh Pettet romping down the left wing to dot the ball down over the whitewash. Before then, Jonny Short had darted over for a trademark try form 20 yards out that Adams converted. The next brace for Oaks came through first James Fotheringham bursting through from midfield and then Olly Rossillo scored following a delicate nudge through by Jack Martin. A telling close to the first half came in the shape of a well-worked try by Bursey who carried the ball from close quarters and dotted it down under the posts.

Bury came out full of verve and duly took the game to Oaks in the second half, coming back from 24-14. If the home side had owned the first half, the lads in green from Suffolk certainly bossed the second half. Samir in the centres was a handful all day and carried strongly and scythed through the Oaks defensive line early into the second half. Reed slotted the extras. Game on. Bury then pressed again into the Oaks half but it was Oaks who found the interception in the shape of Shadyn Osgood, immense in defense all day, and he raced all but the length of the pitch before an interchange found Ban Adams in the right hand channel and he duly converted his own try.

The reply was rapid and Bury stormed back up the pitch, with some excellent interplay resulting in Leeson darting over for his second. Oaks then squandered some field position before a thrilling crescendo to the match with the visitors hammering the Oaks line. After a sequence of penalties to Bury, Bursey found space on the flank of an attacking ruck and scored the try that sealed it for Bury, which Reed converted.

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Rosillo; Adams; Gumbleton ©; Osgood; Short; Martin; Glason. Ganley; Sedgwick; Naismith; Pettet; Higgins; Hackett; McRae; Derrick. Rolfe; Hicken; Osinibi; Stone.

Bury St Edmonds RFC

Reed; Leeson; Brown; Kharbouch; Attfield; Drury-Hawkins; Chsistie; Hill; McCartney; Cooper; Conquest; Brown;Bursey; Meyers; Stevenson. Kingdon; Jeffery; Grigss-Pettitt; Strath; Hall.

HALF TIME SCORE Sevenoaks Rugby 24 – 14 Bury St Edmunds RFC

FULL TIME SCORE Sevenoaks Rugby 31 – 35 Bury St Edmunds RFC

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES 

10' Jonny Short Try Ben Adams Con

20' Josh Pettet Try

30' James Fotheringham Try Ben Adams Con

35' Ben Rossilo Try

49' Adams T Adams Con

BURY ST EDMONDS RFC SCORERS PLUS TIMES

4' Ciaran Leeson T Charlie Read Con

40' Matt Bursey T Charlie Reed Con

45' Samir Kharbouch T Reed Con

60' Ciaraan Leeson T Reed C

79' Bursey T Reed C

PLAYER OF THE MATCH Matt Bursey

ATTENDANCE 411

High scoring, narrow loss away to Canterbury - 18/02/23

Tough outing at league leaders Blackheath - 11th February, 2023

A win at home vs. Rochford - 28th January, 2023

Sevenoaks Rugby welcomed Rochford Hundred RFC to the Paddock on Saturday 28 January for a highly entertaining encounter that saw Sevenoaks take away four points for the win plus the four-try bonus point.

Having been slow out the blocks in previous games it was an electric start for Sevenoaks as Matt Holmes got over the line for a brace inside the first five minutes. The first was set up by Jonny Short darting down the left wing and the second resulted from a Scott Sedgwick interception from inside the Oaks half before popping the ball to Holmes to score a try that Ben Adams converted. Sevenoaks' third try involved Sedgwick romping down the right wing and over the try line following some solid phase play from Oaks and a worldie of a 20 metre pass by Oaks fly half and man of the match Jack Martin.

Rochford countered with two tries of their own either side of a try by Adams for Oaks, the first for the visitors was from an excellent interception by right wing Kyle Johnson who finished the score superbly from outside the Oaks 22 and the second just before half-time was a pushover try for Rochford hooker Rob Gardner converted by Chris Dudman. The 22-10 score at half time meant that both sides were very much in the fray and the opening phases of the second half would be crucial.

As it was Oaks started the second half stronger and following some excellent work in midfield from Josh Pettet and Fred Richardson moved the ball wide to Adams who used his feet and his strength to work his way over the line before converting his own try. Oaks were pressing again when the Rochford lock Ben Thomas was removed from play following a head clash in a tackle scenario that seemed a result of poor timing versus anything more malicious; he sportingly checked on the opponent involved before leaving this field of play. The red card sapped some energy from the game and it all become a bit fragmented, with Oaks capitalising on their possession and patience in the shape of two penalties from the trusty boot of Ben Adams.

Rochford then really took the game to Oaks for the final quarter with centres Damien Brambley and Sam Cappaert orchestrating proceedings with verve. 

Every penalty it was tap and go and with Conor Ganley in the bin for Oaks, despite some excellent defending by Oaks, the ambition was rewarded as Najee Mundicha barrelled over the line from short quarters for a try that Dudman converted. 

Both sides had chances for further scores before the final whistle brought it all to a close with Oaks 35-19 victors in an important result for them given how tight the lower third of the National Two South table is beginning to look.

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Livett; Adams; Gumbleton ©; Fotheringham; Short; Martin; Holmes. Simmons; Sedgwick; Simmons; Pettet; Higgins; Hackett; Hicken; Richardson. Naismith; Ganley; Nicholls; Stone; Galligan.

Rochford Hundred RFC

Dudman; Johnson; Bramley; Cappaert; Ikhifa; Henwood; Spivey; Moran; Gardner; Mundicha; Thomas; Jennings; Shields; Rufai; Duaibe. Phelps-Knights ; Rasor; Cornish; Gould; Muzuzu

HT SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 22 – 12 Rochford Hundred RFC

FULL TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 35 – 19 Rochford Hundred RFC

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES 

2' Matt Holmes Try

4' Matt Holmes T Ben Adams Con

20' Scott Sedgwick T

35' Adams T

41' Adams T

60' Adams Penalty

63' Adams P

ROCHFORD HUNDRED RFC SCORERS PLUS TIMES

25' Kyle Johnson T

40' Rob Gardner T Chris Dudman C

71' Najee Mundicha T Dudman C

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Jack Martin, Sevenoaks Rugby

ATTENDANCE - 340

Sevenoaks Rugby v Worthing Raiders RFC - Saturday 7th January 2023

MATCH REPORT 

Sevenoaks Rugby welcomed Worthing Raiders RFC to the Paddock on Saturday 7 January, as the two teams looked to use the blustery conditions to blow away any seasonal excess.

In very wind conditions, the sports cliché of a 'game of two halves' aptly describes a match when Raiders secured 21 unanswered points with the wind at their backs in the first half, and Oaks scored 19 points without reply in the second hand playing with the wind. 

The hosts fell just short of levelling the match in a conversion kick that was the last play of an outstanding match of rugby played in the best spirit.

Raiders earned their first half ascendancy on the basis of excellent recycling through the phases superbly marshalled by Player of the Match Will Regelsford from 9. He opened the Worthing scoring by darting over the whitewash for the first of Raiders' three tries, each well converted by Matt McLean.

The second Worthing try was the pick of the match, as fluid movement following several phases saw winger Tom Bowen waltz over the line. Sevenoaks tried their best to make incursions but it was the Raiders handling from deep that impressed, and ultimately resulted in their third try by Jack Forrest following a well-worked play from the midfield.

The second half was highly competitive from the get go, and with the wind against them Raiders were finding it hard to clear their lines. In attempting to move the ball out of their own 22 through the hands, an errant pass presented an interception opportunity for Oaks wing Drew Forrester which he snaffled to romp home for a try converted by Ben Adams.

When Henry Galligan darted over for another converted try for Oaks on 65 minutes the game was well and truly afoot. Oaks applied the pressure and with the Raiders number eight sent to the bin following a sequence of penalties for Oaks, Jonny Short found a gap on the blind side after an Oaks scrum from five yards out to dive over the line for Oaks, ten feet in from the left touch line. This presented Adams with a challenging opportunity to level the match, and unfortunately for Oaks his kick – the last play of the game – sailed to the right of the right hand upright and Worthing claimed what was on balance a deserved hard-fought victory.

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Adams; Forrester; Osgood; Fotheringham; Short; Martin; Holmes. Simmons; Sedgwck; Simmons; Pettet ©; Higgins; Richardson; Hickin; Derrick. Ganley; Thompson; Osinibi; Galligan; Livett.

Worthing Raiders RFC

McLean; Bowen; Forrest; Sims; Barnes; Evans; Rigelsford. Bruce; Luks; Sargent; Browne; Perkins ©; Carr; Taggart. Jibulu; Clarke; Hoare; Derrick.

HT SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 0 – 21 Worthing Raiders RFC

FULL TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 19 – 21  Worthing Raiders RFC

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORERS PLUS TIMES 

49' Drew Forrester T Ben Adams C

65' Henry Galligan T Ben Adams C

80' Jonny Short T

WORTHING RAIDERS RFC SCORERS PLUS TIMES

9' Will Rigelsford T Matt McLean C

25' Tom Bowen T McLean C

37' Jack Forrest T McLean C

ATTENDANCE 310

TJs Home - 10th December, 2022

MATCH REPORT 

Sevenoaks Rugby welcomed Tonbridge Juddians RFC to the Paddock on Saturday 10 December, for their first competitive encounter in over a decade.

The opening salvos were predictably abrasive with the match played between each side’s ten yard line and no penetration made by either team.

After a magnum of pod play, tackling, line outs and breaks half made by both teams finally TJs established field position and stayed patient before scoring in the Oaks corner a try by Hugo Watson that was excellently converted by Tom White.

Oaks replied by finding a great opportunity in the TJs 22 just before the half time whistle but didn’t manage to yield any points 

The second half promptly followed the template of the first as first TJs then Oaks looked to make incursions. Oaks had their chances. Ultimately TJs pressure in the Oaks half resulted in a try from close quarters by Duncan Tout again excellently converted by White.

TJs then got a penalty before Oaks finally got reward for stoic persistence and Ben Adams raced over for a try but just missed out on converting his own try in what was the last play of the game.

SQUADS

Sevenoaks Rugby Club

Adams; Corrigan; Osgood; Gumbleton ©; Forrester; Martin; Galligan. Simmons; Sedgwck; Ganley; Pettet; Osinibi; Higgins; Hickin; Hall. Simmons; Nicholls; Morris; Shirtcliff; Livett. 

Tonbridge Juddians RFC

Hotston; Lucas; Tout; Newey; Watson; White; Walsh©. Boon; van Vuuren; Bratton; Parker; Seif; Reid; Sullivan; Munnelly. Conlon; Freeman; Groocock; Petrozzi; Young; Fenley.

HT SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 0 -  7 Tonbridge Juddians RFC

FULL TIME SCORE

Sevenoaks Rugby 5 -17  Tonbridge Juddians RFC

SEVENOAKS RUGBY SCORES PLUS TIMES 

80” Adams T 

Tonbridge Juddians RFC SCORERS PLUS TIMES

35” Watson T White C

55” Tout T White C

60” White P

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Alex Reid

ATTENDANCE - 650

Away to North Walsham - 3rd December, 2022