The academy 2nd XV kicked off their Kent League campaign with a promising win away at Gravesend on Sunday.
The 2nd XV group this season is comprised almost exclusively of last season's U16s, who managed one win in the league out of six games last time out.
That win however, was in their final match of the season and the objective this season is to build on that confidence boost and attempt to make winning a habit. This was a great start!
The 1st half was very much tit-for-tat as two converted Gravesend scores were cancelled out by tries from centre Callum Le Roux and captain Tom Kerton, both of which were converted by MotM George Rehbein.
The theme of the game was established very early on. Gravesend had some very direct and physical carriers, who Oaks dealt with well around 50% of the time. When they didn't line breaks and tries followed. On the attacking side, Oaks strung more passes together in one half than they had managed for most of the previous season combined. This was inevitably accompanied by a high error count as the final pass missed it's mark on more than one occasion.
14-14 at half time and the messaging was simple - keep playing with ambition and if the error count could be brought down a little, the game was there for the taking.
Oaks started the 2nd half perfectly as Gravesend conceded a penalty during their exit attempt. Number 8, Harry Perman, was the beneficiary of the close range attack that ensued and Rehbein converted again to take Oaks into a 14-21 lead. Oaks scored again shortly afterwards with probably their best attack of the game as a lovely pull back pass from the forward pod inside the Gravesend 22 meant the ball was able to find Rehbein in space. He stepped off his outside foot and beat the scambling defence to score and convert. 14-28.
Gravesend were stung into life and started carrying with even more ferocity. Some poor Oaks discipline in the middle third gave the home side the entry they needed into the 22. One maul and several bruising carries later, the ball was moved and Oaks couldn't get across in time. Fortunately for Oaks, the try went unconverted. 19-28.
Rehbein settled a few nerves a couple of minutes later with penalty kick through the uprights for a 19-31 lead and then he capped off a fantastic individual performance with a fly hack through and score off a Gravesend error in midfield as they chased a 4th try. Final score, 19-36.
This was a pleasing win for Oaks. There are still massive work-ons if this group wants to become genuine contenders in their U18 season next year (where many will be hoping to secure places in the academy 1st XV). However, their ambition to play was encouraging, as was the simple fact that they won the game. Scoring 5 tries when on average last season they managed 1 or 2 per game was another big positive.
Next up, the 2s play Canterbury Colts B at the Paddock in what will be a huge challenge on November 10th.
Squad list : Dexter Williams, Jack Kaye, Gurvan Oliver, Tom Kerton (C), Ben Thomson, Yiannis Papadopoulos, Tait Anderson, Harry Perman, Will Blackmore, Arthur Luboinski, James Banks, George Rehbein, Callum Le Roux, Alex Hayward, Preston Williams
Subs : Jack Pearson, Owen Abel, Herman Waschefort, Toby Shrimpton, Charlie Vowls, Priam Van Asche