Match Report Archive

Sevenoaks 22 - Medway 5

01 Nov 2009

 

‘Pinch and a punch for the first day of the month and no returns’. Indeed, there was plenty of punch from the Sevenoaks forwards on this wet and windy first day of November. Coaches were all smiles and had to pinch themselves as the players put into practice what they had been taught to great effect.

 

Against previously unbeaten Medway the game sprang into life from the off with Rugg kicking deeply into enemy territory. Medway were unable to clear their lines, Sevenoaks won the ball and showed great continuity, keeping the ball tight and recycling quick ball through a series of rucks. With the opposition in disarray the ball was eventually spun out to Rugg who feigned the pass, stepped inside the defence and went over in style. (7-0).

 

This was the pattern of play for most of the match. The atrocious conditions dictated a tight game and this fitted perfectly with previous coaching sessions where the forwards had been working on driving in and around the rucks in pods. The boys showed they had been listening and there were some great driving runs from many of the forwards with blind side George Reilly and the dynamic hooker George Leahy making some powerful runs over and beyond the gain line.

 

The second try soon came as Medway were stripped of the ball within their 22. Karg broke for the line was held up and quick ball led to a swift interchange between forwards and Tom Barnes went over for his second try of the season. 12-0.

Medway attempted to take advantage of the conditions that were in their favour in the first half but could not find the game to seriously trouble Sevenoaks. Their powerful backs had little quality ball and when in possession were quickly smothered. They were clearly second best in the scrum with George Leahy out playing the Kent hooker taking several balls against the head. Indeed, it was from the back of the scrum that all of Sevenoaks remaining tries were to come.

 

Either side of half time the Sevenoaks back row took it on from the back of a stable, dominant scrum with Alex Park bagging a brace of tries and the all powerful Joss Morgan again bulldozing through three or four defenders to score again. Despite playing with the wind in the second half and camping in the Medway 22 for most of the half the avalanche of tries did not materialise. This was partly due to some spirited, if at times frantic defending by Medway and maybe a touch of ‘white line fever’ on the part of the Sevenoaks forwards.

 

However, it was not the day to spin it wide and the boys played to instructions. The backs played there part with some well executed kicks to touch by both Karg and Rugg but it was really the forwards day. Despite a last minute consolation try by Medway this was an excellent performance by Sevenoaks against opposition that were boasting a crop of Kent players, a 100% record and the scalp of Cranbrook. Congratulations to all Sevenoaks players who took the field and played their part in an impressive victory!

 

Final Score Sevenoaks 27 Medway 5

Scorers

Alex Park 2

Joss Morgan

Tom Barnes

Harry Rugg

Coversion Karg

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