The Oaks Academy 1st XV eventually went down in a hard fought and expansive contest at the Paddock.
Despite a performance that was in a different universe to the previous week vs TJs, old habits came back to bite Oaks as an already potent Blackheath back three were given too many opportunities to put scores on the board.
Indeed, Oaks found themselves 0-14 down in a very short space of time. Much improved phase defence was undermined as first Oaks bit in on the outside from a Blackheath scrum strike to give the right winger a walk-in which was duly converted. This was then followed by Oaks spilling the ball during a scrum strike of their own, which the Blackheath centre gleefully pounced on to go in untouched for another converted score.
The way that Oaks responded deserves credit. Blackheath looked incredibly dangerous out wide and off turnover ball, but defensively they too had their flaws. Oaks exploited such a hole to break the line from their next attacking scrum with Louis Bouverie cutting an outstanding angle. Although they initially failed to convert, Oaks managed to maintain their discipline long enough to win two penalties in short succession. The first, led to a driving maul which fell agonisingly short of the Blackheath try line. The second, after some much improved attacking shape from Oaks, led to Zac Shirtcliff knocking over the 3-pointer to get the home side on the board. 3-14.
Oaks were growing into the game and another line break off scrum shortly after led to a penalty just inside Blackheath's 10m line. Oaks opted to go for the corner and their increasingly impressive lineout driving game - led by captain Will Murphy and the returning Jack Ludden - resulted in a Dominic Stangroome try. Shirtcliff was unable to add the extras but Oaks were firmly back in the game now. 8-14.
Sadly, Oaks' continued inability to stick to process when exiting their own half was becoming a real Achilles heel for them. A charge down just outside the Oaks 22 led to another easy score for Blackheath which was again converted. Oaks, despite having had the majority of the ball and no shortage of territory, found themselves 8-21 down at half time.
Apart from an early infringement which led to Blackheath extending their lead to 8-24, Oaks dominated the majority of the 2nd half. They mounted their most sustained period of pressure in Blackheath territory, winning multiple penalties in phase play and at lineout. One such penalty was taken quickly 5m out by fly half Billy Boyd who darted over the line to score. Shirtcliff added the conversion and Oaks once again had hope at 15-24. They maintained their ascendency and won another kickable penalty. Up stepped Shirtcliff again to bring the Oaks within a single score. 18-24. The Oaks lineout was now dominant and yet another catch and drive from a Blackheath penalty ended with outstanding back row Barnaby Thomas peeling off the back and powering over from close range. Another Shirtcliff conversion took Oaks into a 25-24 lead with less than 10 minutes to play.
Sadly, Oaks were not quite done with offering Blackheath points for free. Another botched exit gave Blackheath's still potent backline possession inside the Oaks 22. They didn't need a second invitation and scored almost immediately to regain the lead. 25-29.
Oaks' basics were letting them down badly when it mattered most and from the ensuing kick-off, a poor kick chase gave Blackheath time and space to move the ball wide and they executed brilliantly. Every time a scrambling Oaks player chopped a Blackheath attacker down, a supporting player was on hand to collect the offload. Oaks eventually ran out of defenders and metres. Final score, 25-36.
In spite of the heartbreak at the final result, Sevenoaks can take massive encouragement from the scale of improvement in this performance. Their attacking structure was vastly improved, their phase defence was solid and their set piece dominated. The overriding work-on for this group is in how they progress up the field, so that they can play in the right areas of the pitch and avoid offering their opposition so many easy points. If they can improve in this area, this may yet be a memorable year for a hard-working group.
Next weekend sees the Academy 2nd XV at home vs Haywards Heath and the much awaited first outing of the academy U16As at home vs Romford.
Squad list: Alby Butt, Dominic Stangroome, Alex Watkins, Luke Walter, Jack Ludden, Elliot Wright, Barnaby Thomas, Will Murphy, Mac Leason, Billy Boyd, Fin Stables, Zac Shirtcliff, Louis Bouverie, Jon Odeyimi, Patrick Spice
Subs: Tom Watkins, Frank Kitchen, Rhys Owen, Sam Hopkins