Sevenoaks RFC Academy 1st XV 12-28 Canterbury RFC U18s
Sevenoaks welcomed Canterbury to the Paddock on a crisp, but clear morning for their return Kent League fixture.
Oaks' availability struggles had cost them dearly in the first fixture, with a strong Canterbury side coming out 53-3 winners. In the pre-match build up, there was a real fear that history would repeat itself. Late dropouts from injuries sustained in school matches the previous day, combined with the fact that Oaks were fielding an Academy 2s team, also against Canterbury, meant that Oaks started with a bare 15.
When lock Damien May went down a couple of minutes into the game with a shoulder injury after a huge shot on a Canterbury ball carrier, things looked bleak. Oaks would have to play the rest of the game with 14 men.
What happened next defied belief.
It has not been an easy season for this group. A tough Kent League campaign combined with last weekend's National Cup loss have understandably dented confidence within the group. It would have been so easy to surrender to another Canterbury battering after such a demoralising start. Instead, the group rolled up their sleeves and proceeded to climb into Canterbury from minute one.
They got rewarded for their bravery. Captain Zac Shirtcliff - self-admittedly quiet in defeat the week before - cut a superb line from an early scrum strike and was put through by his fellow centre Pat Spice. The momentum Oaks gained from this line break led to a succession of lineouts close to the Canterbury line. From one such lineout, Oaks' maul came down just short of the line. Scrum half Adam Davies reacted quickest and darted in down the short side for Oaks' 1st score. Shirtcliff added the conversion and 14-man Oaks found themselves 7-0 up.
Canterbury were clearly missing a few players themselves. This, combined with ferocious Oaks tackling from the likes of Drew Mercer, James Kerton and Barnaby Thomas meant that instead of customary Canterbury line breaks, passes were being dropped and possession often conceded on the floor. The away side still had plenty of quality however. A frankly mesmeric crossfield kick from their 10 was caught by the right winger without even breaking stride for Canterbury's 1st try. They converted the score to level the game at 7-7.
Oaks took this setback in stride and applied huge pressure from the kick-off, led by pack leader for the day Elliot Peters. There were big carries from Gregor Pauling and Alby Butt which opened up gaps for fly half Billy Boyd to dart through and win Oaks a penalty inside Canterbury territory. Oaks went straight to their driving game and once again were stopped just short of the try line. A couple of pick-and-gos towards the posts pulled the Canterbury defence inwards and Oaks again exploited the short side to put winger Joe Ryder into the corner for their 2nd try. No conversion this time around, but Oaks were back in front at 12-7.
Canterbury struggled to find their usual fluidity in attack, but showed their invention when another outstanding kick from their 10 found space in the depleted Oaks backfield. Oaks scrambled but were turned over on the floor and several phases later Canterbury were over in the corner. They added the conversion to go in at halftime 12-14 up.
The first 20 minutes of the 2nd half were full of action and endeavour from both sides, but short on outcomes. Canterbury would work a promising attack to then be foiled by heroic Oaks scramble defence. Oaks would then fashion a line break in phase play before throwing one offload too many or being turned over on the floor by relentless Canterbury jackalling.
It was all great entertainment for the watching supporters but the 14-man elephant was slowly creeping into the room. Canterbury's extra man began to tell as their big carriers started to dent Oaks' defensive line more consistently. Yet again, the visiting 10 took advantage of the space out wide and a crossfield kick was fielded on the bounce by their right winger. He was chopped down by Mac Leason - playing out of position at fullback - but he got the ball away back inside to his fullback who raced in under the posts for Canterbury's 3rd try. 12-21.
Oaks were now being penned into their own half and were forced to chance their arm from deep. One such attempt back fired as Oaks were charged down from a scrum strike insider their own 22 and Canterbury pounced to score their 4th try and head into a 12-28 lead. This was ultimately how the game would finish.
Despite the defeat, there was a mood of optimism in the Oaks huddle post-match. The players had been challenged by Head Coach Dawson before the match to "show visible pride and desire in wearing the Oaks colours". This they certainly achieved. They defended brilliantly for huge chunks of the match and scored two well-worked tries in the early game before energy levels got too depleted. Recent arrivals to the club like prop Drew Mercer and fullback/winger Oli May put down strong claims for further 1st team inclusion. Players who had underperformed in the National Cup loss to TJs came back spitting and snorting in a manner that has not previously been seen from this group.
Oaks have one more Kent League game away at Blackheath on December 5th - their last opportunity register that elusive win against Kent's elite. After that, the coaches and players look forward to (hopefully) having much stronger availability for the Kent Cup post-Christmas, with school XVs largely stopping after December. If the group approaches the cup with anything like the energy and enthusiasm on display vs Canterbury, they might just surprise a few people.
Squad list: Drew Mercer, Elliot Peters, Gregor Pauling, Damien May, Luke Walter, James Kerton, Alby Butt, Barnaby Thomas, Adam Davies, Billy Boyd, Oli May, Pat Spice, Zac Shirtcliff (C), Joe Ryder, Mac Leason
Sevenoaks RFC Academy 2nd XV 12-41 Canterbury RFC U18Bs
Sevenoaks Rugby Academy 2nd XV had a tough run out versus their Canterbury counterparts on Sunday 28 November. Thanks to Sevenoaks School for supplying the pitch on a bright and clear winter morning.
Canterbury started strongly and only resolute defending by the Oaks kept them at bay in the opening salvos. Rhys Owen (C) was leading from the front and helped marshal the pack to keep the Oaks line in tact.
However with the slope in their favour it wasn’t long before Canterbury, who played some great rugby on the day used field position to scythe through a gap in the Oaks back line. A tough match was made harder for Oaks when very early in the match a head clash between Toby Goodman and Cameron Davies forced them to leave the pitch and we wish them both a speedy recovery.
Two subsequent tries for Canterbury opened a 0-17 advantage; Oaks having squandered their own ball on several occasions were being quickly punished.
Then Oaks began to hit their stride and managed to retain possession through phase play. Jon Odiyemi after several penalties to Oaks and catch and drives from the ensuing line outs from five yards out saw the winger athletically dot the ball down. The teams entered the sheds at 5-17 and with the slope to their advantage it seemed the Oaks fight back was on.
Canterbury however had other ideas and played decent fluid rugby to take the first points in the second half and extended their lead to 5-24.
For Sevenoaks the pack including Ed Cross, Will Dinsmore, Adam Vickers, Charlie Day, Daniel Craig, Sam Keenan, and Harry Fulcher all put in big shifts especially as Oaks through injury went to 14 and then 13 players on the park. Fulcher, Keenan and Owen all carried the ball well to make hard yards for Oaks at vital stages in the game.
In the backs Rhys Williams bossed from 9 and established a strong combo with Ben Graham at 10, who was immaculate with the boot securing some great field position in closed and open play.
Outside the half backs Henry Lynch, Christian Dolly and Juan Barnard plus Sam Hopkins all stuck to their task.
On several occasions in the second half Oaks pressed the Canterbury line but then turned the ball over a little too easily with the visitors making the most of these errors to romp up the pitch. Canterbury showed great handling and awareness to move into a 5-41 lead.
Sevenoaks as you would expect stayed in the fight. The lads were duly rewarded when Keenan crashed over the line for a much deserved try before Graham’s conversion marked the end of proceedings.
Credit to both squads and thanks must go to referee Jonathan Wright for his help in the staging of a lively and game Sunday run out.