RFU U18 National Cup 1st Round
Sevenoaks Academy played Haywards Heath for the 2nd time in 3 weekends on Sunday at The Paddock.
The first encounter, down in Sussex, was a 4x20 minute preseason friendly in which both clubs utilised as many players as possible in awful conditions. That game ended 19-19 amid many smiles and wet, muddy match tops.
Sunday's encounter was an entirely different affair, with a place in the 2nd round of the National Cup at stake.
Oaks started quickly as lineout pressure saw 2nd row Noah Bruce take a steal around halfway before setting off at surprising speed towards the HH tryline. He was pulled down 10m out, but the Oaks ruck ball was recycled and moved very quickly from right to left. Centre George Rehbein cut an excellent line off of fly half Will Brook to score just to the left of the uprights. Brook was unable to add the conversion. 5-0 Oaks.
Oaks' line speed and physicality in defence were causing a talented HH side all manner of problems, until flanker Ed Karsak was adjudged to have been high when shooting out of the line for a particularly monstrous shot in midfield. The HH kicker stepped up and slotted the penalty to bring the scores to 5-3 with roughly 10 minutes gone.
Oaks responded almost immediately as good kick chase pressure won them a scrum around half way. Massive pressure from the HH scrum half actually led to the home side somewhat fluffing their lines on the scrum strike move. However, centre Gerran Prescott showed some outstanding feet to slip out the would-be tackle before moving the ball wide to flying winger Tom Hyde. He beat his man before offloading to fullback Joel Walter who scored Oaks' 2nd try. No conversion again meant Oaks only had a 7 point lead despite having had much the better of the opening exchanges. 10-3.
There was a feeling that the lack of conversions might prove costly as a botched Sevenoaks exit gifted HH an attacking scrum around the 10m line. A well executed scrum move got HH to the outside and their rapid winger round the cover to score in the corner. Fortunately the conversion was missed and Oaks still led 10-8.
After several occasions last season where Oaks were left kicking themselves for not converting early pressure into points, the lads could have been forgiven for tightening up after this setback. To their credit, they kept playing with ambition and intent. They were rewarded several minutes later when Rehbein scored his 2nd try, having gotten on the end of a powerful line break through the midfield by the forwards. Brook added the conversion, plus two further penalties to send Oaks in at half time 23-8 up.
The high octane nature of the 1st half had left the Oaks starters a little bit fatigued and unfortunately, the HH bench provided significantly more impact in the early stages of the 2nd half than the home bench managed. Oaks had to weather several periods of prolonged attack from the away side, before finally stacking some 'little wins' on top of each other and advancing up the pitch. This proved to be decisive as they won a penalty around halfway which was kicked into the HH 22 for a lineout. The maul was well constructed and was only stopped just short of the line by a visiting team who were desperate to stay in the game after their purple patch had yielded no points. Hooker Harry Gullett was the last of several close range pick-and-go attempts as he powered over. Brook added the conversion and with around 15 minutes to play, Oaks were in a commanding position at 30-8.
To their credit, HH continued to press for the try that their 2nd half performance deserved. They got their reward after another period of prolonged pressure saw them awarded a close range scrum. Another well-worked move finally got them over wide out to the left, but the missed conversion didn't really matter as they were still 17 points down with less than 10 minutes to go.
Another promising HH attack inside the Oaks half went against them as captain George Booth stole a crucial lineout before setting off down the field at speed in a carbon copy of Bruce's break at the beginning of the game. He was eventually brought down, but the tackle was deemed to be high and with the clock almost in the red, Brook pushed the ball into the HH 22 for one last attack.
Oaks once again mauled the best part of 15 metres before being told to use the ball. Their strike play was defended well by HH, but a penalty was conceded. Booth wasted no time as he took a quick tap and caught the visitors napping to pile over from 5 metres out. Brook added the extras and Oaks celebrated a final score of 37-13.
This result sets up a 2nd round rematch with Dorking, who knocked Oaks out last season on their way to winning the competition for the first time. There was a feeling after last years game that Oaks had gone out rather meekly, playing within themselves when it mattered most. One suspects that this group will not leave The Paddock on October 6th wondering if they could have done more.
Squad list : Charlie Gillespie, Harry Gullett (vc), Colby Bedford-Eatwell, George Booth (C), Noah Bruce, Tom Kerton, Ed Karsak, Josh Martin, Zac Loder, Will Brook, Tom Hyde, George Rehbein, Gerran Prescott, Hugo Schwemm, Joel Walter (vc)
Subs : Sam Pearl, Jamie Wishart, Harry Perman, James Wiseman, Jayden Jackson