The Oaks Academy 1st XV bagged their first Kent League win of the season in their final league game away at Blackheath on Sunday.
Both sides were clearly affected by unavailability due to school and county rugby commitments, but it was the new faces on the Oaks side who were better equipped to deal with the step up.
After their disappointing exit from the cup a fortnight ago, Oaks have shifted their attack structures to align more with those used by the senior squad. These are complex shapes, yet the way the group have adapted to them has been nothing short of a revelation.
Oaks started at a rapid pace and settled into their attacking shape in a way previously unseen this season. Hard carries through the middle by the likes of James Kerton and Sam Keenan were complimented by the second wave of runners out the back. Space was fashioned out wide on the left for debuting fullback, U16 Ben Pearl. Slick hands from the midfield backs did the job and Pearl stepped inside a drifting defender to dot down and get Oaks off to the perfect start. 0-5.
Oaks countered immediately from the ensuing kick-off and once again utilised their attacking shape to stretch the Blackheath defence. This time, Oaks decided to play through their opposition and another debuting U16, number 8 Joe Sussmes, cut a cracking line through the heart of the defence before powering through the fullback to score under the sticks. Shirtcliff added the extras to take Oaks into an early 0-12 lead.
Oaks were firmly in control and after Blackheath conceded a penalty around halfway, the ball was pumped deep into their 22. A trademark Oaks catch-and-drive allowed prop Alby Butt, one of the few ever presents in the side so far this season, to dot down and take Oaks 0-17 up. Oaks new boy, Oli May, capped an impressive display by bagging himself two tries before half time. The first came after fly half Billy Boyd found him out the back before May stepped inside the cover and then the fullback to score. His second came after receiving the ball just inside the Blackheath half. The home side were dropping off a lot of tackles by this point and May took full advantage by carving through from long range for a fantastic solo effort. May's tries sandwiched a Zac Shirtcliff score from a Sevenoaks lineout steal close to the Blackheath line. All of this amounted to an Oaks half-time lead of 0-34.
The half-time message was to maintain the levels of intensity and accuracy demonstrated in the 1st half. This is always a challenge when a half has gone so perfectly. Oaks were up to the challenge.
Immediately from kick-off, Butt reminded everyone that aside from being a demon at scrum time, he is also incredibly quick. He burst down the left wing from the kick before bulldozing the covering Blackheath defender. An amazing piece of individual play, but unfortunately the brave home tackler was injured in the collision. Play was stopped and Blackheath were forced down to 14 men. Oaks matched their numbers and the game continued. Oaks pinned Blackheath deep in their own territory. From a 5m ruck, Shirtcliff was able to strip a Blackheath carrier during the tackle before spinning out and diving over the line for his 2nd. He converted his own score. 0-41.
Sadly, the game wouldn't last much longer as another huge carry from the kick-off led to a Blackheath playing suffering from a suspected concussion. Physios from both teams entered the field to provide the very best care to the stricken player. With the prospect of the home side going down to 13 players for the last 20 or so minutes, both sets of coaches agreed to call the game early to reduce the risk of further injury.
Huge credit must go to Blackheath for fulfilling the fixture with such limited resources. At full tilt, they are strong enough to be awaiting news of their National Cup 4th round opposition. Oaks can sympathise with the struggle of getting games played with huge numbers of players unavailable. In a time where teams increasingly just bail on fixtures because they are missing a few players, it has been pleasing that Oaks have been allowed to play all 6 of their league matches this season - even if results have not gone our way.
Now to Oaks. Where to begin really. The starting team was yet again completely different to even a week ago vs Canterbury. Three U16s started the game, two of them debutants. Only 5 members of the starting team featured in Oaks' last win, in the 2nd round of the National Cup back in October. Despite this, Oaks produced a very fluent and intense performance. The speed of the ruck ball combined with the sheer number of options that halfbacks Mac Leason and Billy Boyd had available to them was hugely encouraging.
The last two performances have given Oaks real confidence heading into the post-Christmas Kent competitions. The emergence of so many players as legitimate 1st team contenders, combined with players undoubtedly returning from school duties, should give Oaks the depth to compete at the top table again.
In the short term, the Academy U16s have one final fixture before Christmas - a double header away at Chobham next Sunday (12th Dec).
Squad list: Alby Butt, Tom Hunt, Drew Mercer, James Kerton, Sam Keenan, Elliot Peters, Charlie Day, Joe Sussmes, Mac Leason, Billy Boyd, Oli Ebsworth, Juan Barnard, Zac Shirtcliff (C), Oli May, Ben Pearl
Subs: Harry Fulcher, Christian Dolly, Jon Odeyimi