The academy 1st XV travelled to the Canterbury on Sunday, hoping to make it two wins from two in the Kent League. Canterbury have had the better of the exchanges at U18s level in recent seasons, so a stern test was expected.
The game started in a frenetic and somewhat error-strewn manner. Both sides looked to play at a very tempo, arguably faster than either could manage!
Oaks looked the more dangerous of the two sides and began to pin Canterbury back into their half. A strong defensive set forced a long Canterbury clearance kick that didn't find touch. Winger Oli Ebsworth returned it with interest, before linking with fullback Angus Hall and centre Ruben Le Roux to get the ball wide-left to Isaac Canham. Canham had a lot to, but his quick feet turned the Canterbury cover inside-out before he dotted the ball down in the corner. Hall added the extras and Oaks took a 0-7 lead.
The 1st half settled into a somewhat frustrating rhythm for the visitors. Strong defensive sets led to multiple possessions inside the Canterbury half. The Oaks carrying game was strong and multiple opportunities were created, but time and again an Oaks player would force an offload to an isolated teammate or players would go early and leave the ball behind them. It continued much in this fashion until Oaks finally did show some patience in attack and worked a resulting shortside overlap to put Canham in for his 2nd try. Hall was unable to add the extras this time. 0-12.
Oaks were on top for the remainder of the half, with Canterbury unable to escape their own territory. Fly half Bouverie appeared to have added a 3rd try with a razor sharp inside step during phase play, but was unlucky to be called back after the referee deemed that he had accidentally impeded a potential tackler.
Oaks went in at half-time 0-12 to the good, but frustrated that they had failed to really capitalise on their first half ascendency.
The pattern of errors reared it's ugly head immediately into the 2nd half, as Oaks gifted possession to the home side time and again. This became a real problem as the heavy duty Canterbury runners, who had been dealt with very effectively in the 1st period, began to make bigger and bigger dents in the Oaks defence as the half wore on.
A clever inside ball from the Canterbury 10 to their winger opened up the previously air-tight Oaks defensive line, with the winger showing outrageous feet to step two players and score from 40m out. It was now 5-12 and suddenly the missed opportunities of the 1st half were viewed in a completely different light.
The rest of the 2nd half fell into a pattern. Oaks would defend stoically, win possession back, almost score a wonder try on the counter and then either cough up possession or get carried away and give a penalty away somewhere inside the Canterbury 22. Canterbury would kick the ensuing penalty to touch inside the Oaks half and the process would start again.
Finally, the visitors managed to push Canterbury back into their half and keep them there for a sustained period. This resulted in a kickable penalty, which Bouverie - on his way to a Man of the Match award - slotted to take Oaks to a 5-15 lead.
This would proved to be the game winning moment just seconds later as an Oaks mix up at scrum time gifted the impressive Canterbury flanker with a run-in from 20m out, which with the conversion duly added brought the score to 12-15.
The final phase of play was heart-stopping for the coaching staff. A missed tackle directly from the kick-off led to a Canterbury line break and possession deep in the Oaks half. The Oaks defence were out on their feet by now and only a forward pass to the Canterbury winger down the short side saved them from a conceding again. Oaks conceded a penalty as they tried to exit from the scrum and Canterbury had a choice - take the 3 and draw the game or go for the win.......
To their credit, they went for the win. To Oaks' credit, they summoned the energy and physicality to force a turnover from the lineout starter play before spreading the ball wide and breaking the line themselves via replacement fullback Luka Crowcroft. Canterbury somehow got Crowcroft to floor, but in their desperation to win back possession they infringed. Oaks tapped and kicked the ball out to an overwhelming sense of relief.
The emotions in the post-match huddle were mixed to say the least. On the one hand, Oaks could and arguably should have been 3 or 4 tries up by half-time. To end up clinging on for dear life was hugely disappointing. On the other hand, Canterbury would be well within their rights to feel that had the game gone on for another 5 minutes, they would have won it. It would have been hard to argue that point at full time.
Sevenoaks now have a couple of weekends off before they play Bromley at The Paddock in round 3, before a date with old rivals and friends TJs in the 4th and final round on March 19th. Sevenoaks have the weapons in their arsenal to be a handful for any team in the country, but they will want to address the lack of a ruthless edge when they are clearly on top in matches.
Squad list : Gregor Pauling, Dom Stangroome, Oli Langley, James Kerton (C), Rui Beaufoy, George Burgess, Elliot Wright, Frank Kitchen, Mac Leason, Louis Bouverie, Isaac Canham, Fin Stables, Ruben Le Roux, Oli Ebsworth, Angus Hall
Subs : Jack Wilson, Drew Mercer, Max Gilbey, Tom Hewitt, Luka Crowcroft, Jake Tucker