On a cold, blustery and rainy day, Sevenoaks A came up against the 2017-18 Surrey Champions, Dorking. The following boys represented the A Team:
Dixon, Skein, Baker, Kitchen, Killick, Gilbey, Smith, Latrobe, Pearl, Maynard, Lindsay, Johnson, Ebsworth, Parker, Lay, Brooke
The first competitive game of the season at Dorking saw the A team absorb a lot of pressure early on from a very well drilled Dorking side. Dorking looked good from the outset and after a couple of slipped tackles, they nearly scored but for a last gasp ankle tap from Max Lindsay which brought the winger down inches from the try line. Sevenoaks slowly but surely got back in the game and after some good play, the ball went wide to Sam Lay who crossed the line for a try in the right hand corner with a number of opposition players trying to force him out. Inspired by the try, Sevenoaks soon scored an excellent team try in the left hand corner through Louis Parker after slick handling by the backs. The second half began as the first had ended and with the slope of the pitch on their side. Sevenoaks piled on the pressure scoring again. Sevenoaks led 2-0 and with the forwards taking control of the scrums, Ben Pearl started to control the game from scrum half. Although Dorking managed to score a try, Pearl’s clever breaks from the scrums and rucks led to two tries for him, which brought the final score to 4-1 in Sevenoaks’ favour. Although the team hasn’t played together for 5 months, it was an encouraging start to the season especially considering the playing conditions and strength of the opposition. A great start from the Kent champions to convincingly beat their Surrey equivalents.