Archive Match Reports
Sevenoaks 13 v Blackheath 12
9 Sep 2006
The season got underway with a friendly against a combined Blackheath 3's and 4's outfit.
The season got underway with a friendly against a combined Blackheath 3’s and 4’s outfit. They had been at preseason training and hail from a highly respected club, we had got together as a collective group for the first time since last season and the introductions before kick off were amusing (but worrying) to be a part of. Line outs were going to be a problem...I hasten to add we hail from a highly respected club too!
Blackheath are a very well drilled outfit and there was a lot of structure to their game. Being early season the structure was relatively easy to disrupt and the natural rugby instinct of a Sevenoaks team brimming with youthful talent, balanced by the mature ones and lead by inspirational skipper Phillips combined well to frustrate and hound Blackheath. Sevenoaks opened the scoring with a very well taken penalty from Golden boot George Bantin.
Blackheath hit back with 2 very well taken tries and a lesser team than the AXV may have thrown in the towel but as has become the trait of this side shoulders were lifted and we hit Blackheath hard. Evergreen Roger Mckerlie scoring one of his trademark crash tries after a quick tap penalty from Sam Ladbury, Blackheath players hanging all over Roger. Bantin duly converted. The try just before half time lifted Sevenoaks spirits and we went into half time 12-10 down. Unfortunately Mckerlie had to go off with what looked a serious hand injury.
The second half while fairly scrappy was again characterised by the aggression and determination of both sides. The game swayed back and forth and each side had periods of pressure with no points. Even though Blackheath were by far the fitter and more drilled side Sevenoaks defence retained structure and Blackheath could just not get that decisive score. Blackheath captain “Bomber Harris” and “the big guy in the backline” putting in some bollocking runs but the defence held. Special mention must be made of Jon Lapham and Tom Kelly at backrow who were everywhere and for an opening game of the season showed that rare commodity... fitness! We will miss you Jon!
Luke Hearn marshalled his backs well and the whole backline deserves praise for the defence shown. You know who you are boys. Up front we destroyed Blackheath and big credit to the tight five for this. Even after a bad looking injury to talisman Eaton and no replacement second row because Browning decided to have a shower and beer when he went off at halftime; did we maintain dominance in the scrums. Mckerlie coming back on even with two breaks and a ligament gone in his hand! Tighthead Harbour moved to second row and Denny sportingly accepted having to be sacrificed. Townsend also came back on after going off for injury! The stuff legends are made from!
The final score of the game came from George Bantin, a perfect penalty kick from the 10 yard line sailed majestically through the sticks... there was still plenty of time left and Blackheath pulled out all the stops. Had the tap penalty under our posts been taken for goal it may well have been us with broken hearts! The subsequent knock on and final whistle was very sweet and sets us up for a big season ahead.
A final note to Blackheath, thanks for coming down and playing the game the way it should be played and we look forward to the next time. It was also good to have a half decent ref. (In my opinion!)