Sevenoaks U17s reach Nat Cup SE Final

Whilst for many club sides in our age group the season has all but ended, our season continues.  The Kent Cup Final vs Canterbury still awaits as we challenge for National Cup honours.

Following a hard fought victory at Old Albanians in the QF, we travelled away again to Southend for the SE Semi for another tense thriller. Sevenoaks started slowly and conceded 2 early tries to trail 12-0 and give further confidence to Southend and their supporters. An immediate try from the KO by Scottie on the wing settled our nerves. We struggled in the scrum with the referee more so than the opposition, but managed to impose some dominance in the 2nd half and build a lead on the score board. As the game wore on, we looked more confident and found space amid a strong Southend back line to build a score. We ran out relieved victors 39-28. Now onto the SE Final.....

It is still amazing to realise that this side have won a major County or regional title every season from U12s through U16s and another challenge awaits in the National Cup SE Final at Crawley RFC vs Worthing on 3 April 2016.

Oaks fans! Please come along for KO at 16.30 if you can make it?

Sevenoaks U17s reach a 5th successive Kent Cup Final

After claiming our first Kent League title as U17s, we entered the Kent Cup at Quarter-final stage with a challenging home tie against Folkestone.  The visitors were really up for the fight and were determined to upset the form book and pushed us hard throughout the game. Sevenoaks scored two tries early to settle the nerves, but then struggled to assert themselves against a determined Folkestone who scored from a clean line break as the game began to open up.

Sevenoaks struggled against a harsh Referee and conceded too many penalties to maintain pressure against the visitors, however from a penalty given in the Folkestone 22 Sevenoaks scored again to put the tie beyond doubt and a late try by Scottie Thomson completed his hat-trick for the game and sent Sevenoaks into the Semi-final with a 24-7 victory.

The Semi-final was against Beccehamians on 28 February, an unfamiliar opponent for Sevenoaks, but like Folkestone before, a determined and resolute outfit that were out to bloody our noses. Beccehamians started the stronger and scored first. A lack of training and some returning faces served up an uncertain start but as familiarity returned so did more fluid play and passing. Sevenoaks scored and soon settled into the game beginning to dominate the set piece and territory. Quick feet and electric pace helped Henry Marshall to a hat-trick of tries and made the scoreline more comfortable. Sevenoaks ran out winners 45-5 in the end to line up a 5th successive Cup final, this time against an old enemy, Canterbury.

First we face Old Albanians in the National Cup Q.Final, but we look forward to another Kent Final with eager anticipation.

Sevenoaks U17 remain unbeaten to claim Kent League title

Well, how time has flown since our last post. Following early wins against Blackheath (away) and Canterbury at home, we faced our local rivals, TJ's at home in the Kent League.  Both teams were unbeaten at that point in the League campaign and a hard fought 24-7 victory against TJsand a further scrappy and muddy win away at Aylesford (0-25) for Sevenoaks sent us into the Christmas break as League leaders.

Our last league game was due to be against Beckenham at Sevenoaks and should have been before the Christmas break, however as was the case with a number of fixtures in the League this year, Beckenham conceded the game at the last minute and whilst it was not how we would have preferred to end the campaign, we finished as Kent U17 League champions.

A great achievement for an exceptionally talented squad, that only manages limited time on the training field. Throughout the campaign the boys have been resolute in defence conceding only one try on the way to winning the League.  Huge credit must be given to our U16s, particularly Ross Sinclair and Michael Johnson who have been immense when called upon to assist us in our campaign.

So we now enter the Kent Cup campaign with a home draw against Folkestone in the Quarter-final stage and with our sights firmly set on chasing a remarkable 5th successive Cup title.