Sevenoaks Rugby Club’s Academy 2nd XV enjoyed a cracking encounter with their counterparts from Hayward’s Heath RFC on Sunday 26 September, going down 18-29 in four thoroughly entertaining quarters of rugby at Knole Paddock.
Having got back on terms in the final quarter at 18-22 Oaks could have taken the win. It wasn’t to be and the visitors ended with a flourish as they closed the match out with a try when their impressive back line cut through the Sevenoaks midfield.
There were a lot of positives for Oaks and once again Patrick Spice had a commanding game at fly half, while Finn Good was immaculate from the kicking tee as he slotted two penalties in the opening stanzas to keep Oaks in the fray after they shipped two soft tries early on.
The Oaks learned their lessons from those defensive errors and for the rest of the match there was very little between these two sides. Ben Sellors and Rhys Owen were formidable in the loose and ably supported by the doughty Oaks pack. In fact Sellors barrelled over for a much deserved Oaks try that brought the scores to 11-17.
The visitors responded with a score of their own before Jon Odiyemi, a threat on the right wing all day for Oaks, showed his pace to scythe through under the posts for a try that Good duly converted. Oaks were pressing and looking threatening at 18-22 as the match entered its closing phases. Twice they had opportunities to make proper inroads into HH territory only for the accuracy of the passing at pace to be found wanting.
Credit to both squads for the ambition to move the ball at speed and solid commitment throughout. And hopefully the chance to renew acquaintances later in the season will serve up another treat.
Squad Harry Fulcher 2. Tom Hunt3. Harry Corsini4. Rhys Owen5. Sam Keenan6. Charlie Day7. Elliot Peters8. Ben Sellors9. Adam Davies10. Patrick Spice11. Henry Lynch12. Finn Good13. Cameron Davies14. Jon Odeyemi15. Ben Graham16. Fin Rice
19. Rhys Williams
