Gents Match Report - By Peter Wilson
After a near 18-month Rugby drought, a thirsty Mighty Oaks Gents XV took to the Paddock to commence their 2021-22 League campaign against local foe, Tonbridge Juddians 3XV.
With little wind and a cloudless sky, the pitch was set in ideal Rugby conditions, even if a little hot. TJs clearly meant business, already up and running through their pre-season drills, as the Gents stretched off from their COVID hibernation, gently cranking up the gears in readiness for the combat ahead.
Led out under the captaincy of the Dave Paton, the Gents ran on to Home turf facing a determined TJs’ XV. The Gents receiving the kick-off headed into battle. A fierce initial 15-minutes ensued as both Teams tested each other’s defence and sought to break the other’s line.
Despite some smooth passages of play, going through the phases in the forwards and shipping the ball out wide, TJs were unable to get points on the board. A lucky let off for the Gents, as a TJs’ break from deep in their half, with one of their men felled high in the Gents’ 22, was interrupted by an earlier skirmish. The referee only giving TJs a scrum as a penalty went begging.
With a trio of Barbers in the backs, the Gents came close to scoring under the TJs’ sticks with Jonny and Al being brought down within a few yards of the TJs’ try line.
Having been fairly even in the set piece, neither Team losing their scrum, the sides looked to finish the half 0-0. But continued ill discipline at the breakdown by the Gents laid way to a late TJs’ try down their leftwing. Gents scrum-half Nick Couchman missing a penalty-kick at goal. 0-7 at half-time.
With some half-time changes in the Gents’ forwards including man mountain Mick Thurnell replacing Karl Floyd at 8, the close contest between the two sides continued. A lightening dash by Gents’ Openside Conor Kelly down the leftwing saw him dragged into touch 5-metres short.
With 20-minutes to go the Gents were feeling the heat in more ways than one. On came 58-year old Paddock legend, Rob Thurnell for his ‘last’ match in a Sevenoaks shirt, inspiring the Gents to lift their game. As Thurnell Senior joined the pack, Thurnell Junior left it, with Floyd returning to 8.
What followed was a trio of supercharged Sevenoaks tries, firstly with wings Nathan Cosh and Harry Barber being explosively unleashed and each scoring down their respective channels: 10-7.
With under 10-minutes to go, up went the TJs’ restart landing cleanly in Floyd’s hands who like Moses parting the Red Sea serenely swept his way through a dumb struck TJs defence, setting up some skilful forwards and backs interplay, with Stuart Hosiene scoring in the right corner to close out the game.
15-7 win to the Gents; Conor Kelly Man of the Match; and a final match of the Season away at TJs, which promises to be a cracker!