After claiming our first Kent League title as U17s, we entered the Kent Cup at Quarter-final stage with a challenging home tie against Folkestone. The visitors were really up for the fight and were determined to upset the form book and pushed us hard throughout the game. Sevenoaks scored two tries early to settle the nerves, but then struggled to assert themselves against a determined Folkestone who scored from a clean line break as the game began to open up.
Sevenoaks struggled against a harsh Referee and conceded too many penalties to maintain pressure against the visitors, however from a penalty given in the Folkestone 22 Sevenoaks scored again to put the tie beyond doubt and a late try by Scottie Thomson completed his hat-trick for the game and sent Sevenoaks into the Semi-final with a 24-7 victory.
The Semi-final was against Beccehamians on 28 February, an unfamiliar opponent for Sevenoaks, but like Folkestone before, a determined and resolute outfit that were out to bloody our noses. Beccehamians started the stronger and scored first. A lack of training and some returning faces served up an uncertain start but as familiarity returned so did more fluid play and passing. Sevenoaks scored and soon settled into the game beginning to dominate the set piece and territory. Quick feet and electric pace helped Henry Marshall to a hat-trick of tries and made the scoreline more comfortable. Sevenoaks ran out winners 45-5 in the end to line up a 5th successive Cup final, this time against an old enemy, Canterbury.
First we face Old Albanians in the National Cup Q.Final, but we look forward to another Kent Final with eager anticipation.