On Saturday 4th December, Sevenoaks 4XV (the Gents) welcomed Ashford 2XV to the Paddock. In recent weeks the Gents had a tough defeat to Cranbrook 2XV away (41 – 7) and a hard-fought win away against Medway 4XV (12 – 15), so were keen to repeat their winning ways under the Captaincy of Simon Seal.
In good Rugby spirit Ashford travelled to play with just 12-Men, and three Gents swapped shirts and joined the opposition - Phil Woolacott, Paul Vickers and Ben Williams. But with insufficient front row, scrums would be uncontested, a welcome relief for veteran Gents’ Hooker Ben Martyr, donning his boots for the first-time post-Lock Down!
The Gents lined up to receive the kick-off, facing into the wind on a fresh and clear but blustery winter afternoon. Without the strain of the scrum, the pack put their conserved energies to good use, chalking up a quartet of tries in the first half. Early tries following dynamic runs by No. 8 Dan Scott and Second-Row James Anderson (12 – 0).
Michael Johnstone back for a visit as the Gents’ Scrumhalf marshalled the Team well, making sniping line breaks at every opportunity. Johnstone darting to the right of a ruck in Ashford’s ’22 but was cut down short of the try line. With a dented defensive line, Second-Row Pete Wilson collected the ball and touched down for an easy 5-points from 5-metres out (19 – 0).
Following some bruising encounters with the Ashford Team, including their King of Carries – Phil Woolacott, the Gents lost three players to knee injuries. A sorry exit for James Vigis, having just returned from years’ away from the pitch, with Connor Kelly and Karl Floyd also hobbling off. Nonetheless, the Gents’ attacking ways continued with a phenomenal try scored by Prop Yas Shiraishi, unleashing his blistering pace from the Ashford 10-metre line down the left-wing and crashing over in the corner (26 – 0).
Into the second-half, now with the wind in their favour, the Gents aimed to capitalise on the four-try haul. Dan Scott now in the Centres, Tom Rutter on at wing, with Paul Farrand, Luke Welton and Ben Bellew into the pack, and Jonny Recaldin pulling on an Ashford jersey.
Early on, Barber brothers Jonny at Flyhalf and Al at Centre scored a try a piece. Jonny’s a nine to ten combo from the back of a 5-metre scrum; and Al taking a sweet pass from his brother and cutting a fine line through Ashford’s ’22 (38 – 0).
Despite the game now gone from them, Ashford continued courageously with the Gents’ discipline dissolving – a yellow card to Prop Carl Eden for a high-tackle. The Gents failed to put any more points on the board, with Paul Farrand held up under the sticks, and Dan Scott and Simon Seal both losing control of the ball over the Ashford try line.
A Man of the Match performance for James Anderson following some electric line breaks, and a trip away to play Canterbury 3XV next weekend.