There was more than a whiff of spring in the air on a beautiful morning at the equally beautiful Eltham College as Sevenoaks RFC Under 16s travelled to take on their rivals and fellow Kent title contenders Old Elthamians RFC.
With a close to full strength side ready for their first run out of 2022, Oaks got into their stride early and some surging forward play, at both the maul and in the loose, gave early field position. After some sustained pressure, Oak’s fly half Max Lindsay jinked his way gracefully through the OEs defence to dot down and open the scoring. Oaks full back on the day Angus Hall duly added the extras from in front of the sticks.
After the restart it was again to be the Oaks’ forward pack who asserted themselves. A clever break from Oaks’ captain Kitchen at the front of the lineout catapulted the young Oaks into the OE’s 22 and eventually the men from the Paddock’s prowess at the maul came to fruition as prop Wilson got his name on the scoresheet by converting from the back of a surging drive. Hall made sure it was worth seven.
Next followed some sustained pressure from the OEs attack with their big ball carriers enjoying time on the ball. However, they were met with fierce defence as again and again their attacks were stoically resisted by the navy and golds. Thomas and Skein in particular deserve credit for the intensity and ferocity of their efforts during this period. The Oaks managed to hold out until the half time whistle blew with the score at 0 – 14.
The Navy and golds started the second half much the stronger as their ball players in the back line begun to come to the fore. Finn Stables came off the bench to carry strongly through the centre and some lovely handling in the outside channels from the likes of Johnson and Ebsworth got them up into the 22. It was here that a moment of magic from half back Pearl wowed the large crowd. A big dummy and step saw a gaping hole open in front of him and he duly finished with finesse. Hall again impressively stroked the conversion through the up rights.
It was to be the home side who claimed a claimed a much-deserved score next. After a string of penalties provided them with field position, the men from South East London capitalised on confusion at the back of the lineout to open their account with a seven pointer.
This was a wake-up call to the young Oaks and they again showed their skills in the outside channels with Johnson once more at the centre of things before Alfie Stratton capped an impressive day on the wing by finding a score of his own. After that, as the minutes ticked away, Oaks became slightly wasteful in the gold zone as OEs defence held impressively firm despite significant pressure coming on from the hard carrying visiting forwards. However, the pressure eventually told as captain Kitchen claimed a well deserved try of his own from a pick and go move near the oppositions line. With that, the music stopped with a final score of OEs 7 – Sevenoaks 31.
This was a very competitive match played at high pace and with serious skill levels on show across the field. Both sides showed why they are expected to be close to the top of the standings by the time the bell tolls on the season in April, next up for the Oaks is a visit from Medway on 13th February.
Squad list: Peter LaTrobe, Andrich Skein, Jack Wilson, Rui Beaufoy, Zac Johnson, Ryan Dixon, Liam Thomas, Frank Kitchen (C), Ben Pearl, Max Lindsay, Alfie Stratton, Sam Sherwood, Raphi Simmonds-Dance, Oli Ebsworth, Angus Hall
Subs: Fin Thomas, Jacob Bund, Tom Hewitt, Joe Sussmes, Fin Stables