Match Report Archive
Sevenoaks v Saracens ( friendly! )
19 Oct 2009
Like all good things, it finally came to an end, or did it? Sevenoaks under 15s unbeaten in full one hour club rugby matches for almost two years were narrowly beaten by Saracens this weekend. Missing four of their most talented players including their inspirational captain, fourteen man Sevenoaks put up more than a brave fight-they should have won.!
Harry Rugg began the match with the first of many powerful drop kicks deep into enemy territory. Saracens found these kicks difficult to deal with all morning and from this first kick they infringed at an ensuing ruck and Will Cook kicked the penalty solidly for Sevenoaks first three points.
It was not long however before the extra man made a real difference. Sevenoaks seven man scrum was driven back by the Saracens eight, the ball was spun wide and Saracens were awarded a try even though the Saracens try scorer seemed to drop the ball as he went over. Saracens second try soon followed after Harry Ruggs clearance kick was charged down.
Rugg’s deep restarts again caused problems for Saracens andgood forward pressure culminated in a determined drive and score by Josh Morgan (score 12-8). Saracens managed another try before half time as again Sevenoaks were driven back at the scrum. Half time Sevenoaks 8 Saracens 17.
The second half belonged to Sevenoaks. Determined forward play from Adam Renton in both the loose and the line out and the continued driving ‘hard yards’ from Josh Morgan pinned Saracens back in their own half. A brilliant cross field kick by Rugg was matched by an exceptional catch and swerving run by Tommy Craddock who was just held up on the line. In this period of play a Saracens player was sin binned for foul play and Sevenoaks 14 definitely looked the stronger. Camped out on the Saracens line however, they failed to take advantage of their domination and it was not until a superb individual Chris Karg run across and round the Saracens defence resulted in a try that the second half deadlock was broken. The converted try brought the score to 17-15.
Sevenoaks continued to dominate for the remainder of the second half and all the forwards toiled magnificently. However, ball coming out the back of the ruck and the scrum was rarely stable, invariably scrappy and silly mistakes resulted in little continuity. Second and third phase ball were rare and consequently there was little quality ball for the Sevenoaks backs to launch a telling attack. It should be noted that much of this was due to the quality and the size of the opposition who were excellent in the counter ruck and disrupted both set and loose play to good effect.
Despite this defeat, this was a great effort by a fourteen man team who worked their socks off on an enormous pitch against quality opposition and came extremely close to pulling off what would have been an amazing victory. The boys met ‘fire with fire’ but must always remain disciplined and play within the laws of the game- ‘Handbags at ten paces’ can cost matches. As for the unbeaten record-it still stands in full 15 a side matches-does it not?. Our thanks go to Saracens for hosting a fine game at short notice and showing great hospitality in the true spirit of the game.
Sevenoaks scorers
Trys - Chris Karg, Josh Morgan
Conversion - Will Cook
Penalty - Will Cook