1s Man of the Match George Burgess
Hertford RFC U18A 7-10 Sevenoaks RFC Academy 1st XV
In February of 2022, Sevenoaks Academy 1s and 2s travelled to Hertford for the first of what will hopefully be many double header fixtures between two massive clubs.
The weather that day was cold, crisp and clear. The rugby benefitted hugely as Oaks came away with two hard fought wins in high quality games.
Unfortunately, as Oaks travelled to Hertford for another double header in January 2023, the weather had other ideas.
The rain and wind was constant, from the moment the teams took the field to warm up to the moment the referee called the game 5 minutes early due to visible standing water. Indeed, the only interruption to the rain was for an even more spectacular hailstorm just before kick-off.
The conditions made any enterprising rugby highly unlikely.
To their credit, the Hertford players seemed far the more comfortable with the conditions as they dented the Oaks defence early on with some seriously robust carrying. Oaks maintained their shape, but a clever grubber kick from the Hertford 10 proved too much to deal with and the Hertford centre pounced on the loose ball for an early score.
Sevenoaks struggled hugely to get anything going as the weather combined in a perfect storm (no pun intended) with some ferocious Hertford defence. Ultimately, the difference between the two teams were two perfectly executed scrum strikes from the visitors.
Winger Oli Ebsworth was put away twice down the right hand side. The first time, he was pulled down short. However, Oaks strung together their only truly threatening multi-phase attack of the match to work the ball in field before sweeping back right to send Ebsworth over in the corner. The second time, Ebsworth cut out the middle man by going over from 60m out after a wonderful in-and-out on the Hertford cover defence.
The score was 7-10 to Oaks at half-time.
It remained that way as the weather somehow got even worse, making it impossible for either team to construct anything meaningful in attack. Oaks had the wind behind them in the 2nd half and so were able to pin Hertford back repeatedly until, with 5 minutes left on the clock, the referee wisely decided to call an end to the game for safety reasons.
This was a very difficult game to take any meaningful lessons from, but there were definitely bright moments. Ebsworth's finishing aside, captain for the day and fly half Louis Bouverie played the territory game exceptionally well and debutant George Burgess put in a Man of the Match display in the back row.
Oaks now look forward to their first Kent League game of the season, at home vs Old Colfeians, on January 22nd.
Academy 2s
In the 'B' game, Sevenoaks Academy 2s took the spoils 0-12 after tries from Jon Odeyimi, as well as a mightily impressive touchline conversion from returning Max Lindsay. Indeed, the sharper minds appeared to be on the 2nd team pitch as the B game was called somewhat earlier than the A game as players from both sides dashed inside to try and regain feeling in their limbs!
The Academy 2s look forward to a friendly fixture vs new friends Park House at home on January 29th.
Academy 1st XV Squad list: Jack Wilson, Frank Kitchen, Drew Mercer, Ben McClinton, Zach Johnson, George Burgess, Ryan Dixon, Elliot Wright, Mac Leason, Louis Bouverie (C), Isaac Canham, Freddie Rudd, Jake Tucker, Oli Ebsworth, Juan Barnard
Subs: Peter LaTrobe, Tom Hewitt, Toby Goodman
Academy 2nd XV Squad list: Nic McLean, Andrich Skein, Charlie Andrews, Max Gilbey, Sam Keenan (CC), Jamie Catchpole, Alexander Blackmore, Raphi Simmonds-Dance, Rhys Williams, Max Lindsay, Alex Holden, Sam Sherwood, Jon Odeyimi, Max Avery, Finn Good (CC)
Subs: Ollie Smith