Match Report Archive
Sevenoaks 17 - Brighton 10
07 Mar 2010
John Rugg and the full team of coaches have taught, nurtured, and cajoled, most of this under 15’s Sevenoaks rugby team since they were six years old and it was payback time again this Sunday as they produced another fine victory against one of Sussex’s finest sides. Brighton, currently lying fourth in the Sussex premier league, travelled to the Paddock with three county players, a crop of burly six footers (one of whom is in the elite south eastern squad), and high expectations of victory.
Indeed, it was Brighton who dominated the early stages of this game as Sevenoaks yet again failed to tidy up from the kickoff and gave away early penalties that culminated in a powerful run form Brighton’s Frankie Taggart, a stubble chinned 15 year old, who blasted through some very weak Oaks’ tackles (0-5). Slow and statuesque it was more like Rugg’s rusty rugby machine as the home side spluttered and stuttered through the most forlorn first few minutes of the season.
However, there were soon signs of what was to come as Scott caught and returned a Brighton clearance with interest. Brighton were forced to concede a lineout ten yards out from their line. It was time for the Oak’s signature lineout move. The whole of the line out unit make a huge ‘song and dance’ and back pedal immediately before the hooker delivers the ball. If the opposition take the bait as they invariably do, they back pedal with the Oaks forwards. The ball is then thrown in short and the flanker, standing out of the line out bursts in from deep to take a short throw and score a try. Unfortunately, on this occasion, the back row’s fingers must have been suffering from the biting cold wind as everything went according to the script other than the fumble and resulting ‘knock on’ as the blind side crossed the line.
The elements continued to play their part for the remainder of the match as in accordance with Coach Rugg’s pre match team talk the boys were instructed to, ‘kick with purpose and only where appropriate’. With the force of the wind behind them both Scott and ‘Roo’ Harris kicked over and prodded through the Brighton defence respectively and to good effect. Rupert Harris’s early first touch was especially effective as his low angled kick was like a scalpel opening up and turning the Brighton defence. The Sevenoaks forwards gleefully pounced on the ball and the bustling Leahy went over but was judged to have been held up. Still smarting from conceding the early try the Sevenoaks forwards smelt blood and determined to even the score they drove the Brighton pack towards their line. The ball came out the back of the scrum and was spun wide where Karg was held up just yards from the try line. Nevertheless, thanks to some determined forward play the ball was recycled and slickly delivered across the full width of the pitch. Unfortunately the finish did not match the quality of what went before and the ball was knocked on with the Brighton try line completely exposed.
Brighton’s good fortune could not last for much longer and when Tom Barnes eagerly pounced on a loose ball in the Brighton half a period of good continuity ensued. Joss Morgan picked up not once but twice from the back of the ruck and powered forward creating the momentum for Sevenoaks and Kent’s Alex Rolfe to go over and level the score (5-5).
From the restart Brighton rallied and when Scott was judged to have put the ball in crooked, the Brighton pack drove towards the line from the short penalty and Sevenoaks were thankful for a brilliant steal from Henry Keevis to relieve the pressure. From this ruck, Rugg kicked deep into the Brighton half and Rupert Harris was on the full back in a flash. With the Brighton defence in disarray and ball carrier Rugg, spoilt for choice he chose to split the remnants of the Brighton defence with a short pass to Briggs. Unfortunately, the pass was forward and again, with the line at their mercy, there were no additional points. Half time 5-5.
From perhaps Sevenoaks best restart of the season, the second half began with Alex Park sprinting and bravely rising to catch Ruggs kick. The Brighton pack appeared a little taken aback but were soon brought back to life as Lessops delivered a bone crunching legal hit to a Brighton forward that almost shattered the windows of the clubhouse. From the resulting ruck Rory Martin exquisitely timed his decoy run to draw the defence out of position and Rugg went on an arcing run through the gap created by Martin to finish brilliantly (10-5). This try was soon followed by another try of sheer class as Scott drew the Brighton defence on to him and released Perrera-Slater who sliced through the defence and offloaded to the most reliable and consistent of finishers Chris Karg. The try was converted by Cook and Oaks were in the driving seat (17-5).
Brighton rallied from this point and with the wind at their backs went over for a further five points and but for some determined defence and some courageous tackling from Musker, Sewell, et al. the final scoreline may have been other than it was. In the event, the Sevenoaks defence held out for the final ten minutes and yet another victory against quality opposition was registered.
In the refreshment area after the game both hosts and guests agreed that this was a fine game of rugby by two quality sides. From Sevenoaks point of view it is hoped that the match served to blow away the cobwebs of a ring rusty lack of match fitness brought about by weeks of postponements and cancellations and will serve to bring this exciting and talented squad up to speed in preparation for the preliminary rounds of next weeks Kent cup. In this competition a lack lustre start in a ten minute game may well result in an early exit from the competition.
Final Score; Sevenoaks 17 Brighton 10
Tries; Alex Rolfe, Harry Rugg, Chris Karg
Conversions; Will Cook