Match Report Archive
Sevenoaks II 80 T.Wells II 7
23 Nov 2008
Sevenoaks Extra 1st XV: 80
Tries: Sayers, Hutcheson, Bowler, McCory, A Barber (2), W Barber (3), Scott (3); Cons: Bantin (6), Kelly (1); Pens: Bantin (2).
Tunbridge Wells 2s: 7
SEVENOAKS bounced back to form with a huge win on Saturday thumping local rivals Tunbridge Wells in their second biggest win of the season.
The Extra 1st XV ran riot at Knole Paddock, rattling in a total of 12 tries in response to Tunbridge Wells' single score as they looked to make amends after losing their last four games on the trot.
Tunbridge Wells never looked like upsetting the home team who fielded a typically fast backline and with a pack to match their strength up front, Sevenoaks looked as strong as they had done all season.
Playing in as good a conditions one could hope for in November, Sevenoaks soon found themselves buried in Tunbridge Wells' half early on.
A powerful and resilient start from the forwards saw a number of errors from the visiting side and Sevenoaks soon had a scrum on Wells' 22.
A quick pass from scrum half George Bantin enabled fly half Alex Barber to run a clever move, using both of Sevenoaks' centres to draw in the defence.
Moving the ball away from the dummy runners, Barber spun the ball wide and after some quick hands Alex's younger brother Will finished off a well executed try, as he dived over in the corner.
Not unfamiliar to a strong start, this was usually where Sevenoaks would take their foot off the pedal and often let their opposition back into the game.
This time though Oaks were straight back into Tunbridge Wells' half and a clever grubber kick minutes later saw Wells' fullback driven backwards over his try-line, conceding a 5-metre scrum, which Oaks scored from seconds later.
Sevenoaks' defence were given little to do all day, but a brief lapse saw Wells' fly-half break through the home side's armour and find his way under the posts.
The small glimmer of light for the away side was soon cancelled out however as Dan Scott used his pace and power to score what would be his first try of the afternoon.
Despite Tunbridge Wells' small moment of glory, Sevenoaks played a near perfect performance and at the break were leading comfortably 34-7.
Fuelled by their lack-lustre performances in recent weeks, Sevenoaks never looked like slowing down as they went on to put a further 46 points against their rivals in the second half.
Several powerful breaks from Dan Scott and Alex Barber had Tunbridge Wells constantly on the back foot, and even some of the home team's forwards got in on the scoring action.
Sevenoaks' unrelenting play saw hat-tricks for Scott and Will Barber as well as a brace for his older brother Alex, but the pick of the bunch was the younger Barber's third.
Scrum half Bantin broke quickly from the back of the scrum and took a note out of Carlos Spencer's book as he put a clever kick off the outside of his boot in behind Tunbridge Wells' defence.
While most of the players were slow to react, Barber was as quick in thought as he is on foot as he made up 30 yards to beat Well's fullback to the bounce and dived on the ball to claim his hat-trick.
The polished performance saw Sevenoaks walk off the pitch with a smile for the first time in five weeks, and they hope to still be wearing it when they visit Old Elthamians on November 29.