Match Report Archive
Sevenoaks U16 7 Lewes 7
09 Apr 2009
Oaks get wake-up call before final
On a bright sunny day at Knole Paddock Sevenoaks and Lewes, county championship finalists from
Kent
and
Sussex
respectively, provided an hours worth of committed, physical entertainment for their supporters.
Amidst the thud and blunder a general pattern of play emerged with Oaks dominating territorially, but attacking with all the subtlety and stodginess of an undercooked Yorkshire Pudding with numerous good chances being spurned while Lewes defended with tenacity and heart and a blind eye to the offside line which was to cost them dearly later in the game.
After the scoreless first half Sevenoaks continued to attack at every opportunity. The first score came after another Oaks raid had foundered on the Lewes defence & a long hopeful hack from deep in their own half produced an error in the Oaks rearguard. After recycling and moving the ball quickly a try under the posts gave the visitors a 7-0 lead.
Oaks poured forward in search of an equalising score. Despite showing a worrying lack of composure and craft the points duly arrived courtesy of the referee. Oaks camped for the final 15minutes on the Lewes line. After a string of penalties and warnings, and Lewes' insistence that the offside line didn't apply to them, the referee had little option but to award a penalty try.
Oaks now move on to the county final two weeks hence. They will put this performance behind them and use it as a wake up call to dispel any complacency.