The Oaks U16 Academy team travelled down the A21 to their local rivals Tunbridge Wells on a very wet and windy Sunday, a complete contrast to their last Kent League match. Unfortunately, T Wells only had 14 players, so the Oaks cut their team to 14 to match their opponents.
Oaks played up hill in the first half, but had the considerable wind behind them. Clever kicking by the Oaks 10, Hamish McQueen, kept their opponents pinned in their own half. The opening score was a long range run in from Oaks Centre Joel Walter who cut a great line through the T Wells defense. The conditions made the game very scrappy with lots of knock ons from both teams. However, the Oaks forwards dominated the breakdown and kept possession of the ball for most of the first quarter. After a couple of close catch and drives from line outs near the T Wells try line, Oaks prop Colby Bedford-Eatwell barreled over for the second try of the game. Oaks open side flanker, Josh Martin, was everywhere around the pitch and managed to get his hands on the ball more than most. Martin was rewarded by scoring the third try after a very strong run through several T Wells players. Oaks camped in the T Wells 22 and piled the pressure on. The last try of the half came after several phases of play from the Oaks. Bedford-Eatwell found himself with the ball in space with just a couple of T Wells backs to beat. He chose route one, bounced the final defender off his feet and then scored with a rampaging dive over the line. With McQueen converting two of the tries, the half time score was 0-24.
Playing downhill the Oaks grew in confidence. Will Brook, the Oaks scrum half ran the ball from his own 10 metre line. His quality grubber kick through was chased up hard by Oaks centre Brennan O’Keefe. O’Keefe kicked the ball on and grounded the ball over the try line for the first try of the second half. After the kick off, the Oaks prop Taylor Nash started a counter attack in his own 22. He ran through a couple of weak tackles and set off down the left wing. A strong hand off on the T Wells full back enabled Nash to complete a 70m run with a fantastic try. The heavens then opened even more and torrential rain lashed down on the players. The Oaks continued to try to throw the ball around to extend their lead, but several knock ons and forward passes thwarted their efforts. A tighter game plan would have been more rewarding, which I am sure the Oaks will remember for next time! With McQueen slotting the two second half tries, the final score was 0-38. All-in-all a great day out despite the weather.