Archive Match Reports
Sevenoaks II 25 Aylesford II 17
03 Feb 2009
SEVENOAKS earned a much needed boost of confidence on Saturday, winning for the first time since mid December.
The Extra 1st XV tolerated the cold weather and produced a dominant display to win away at Aylesford, making it a double this season over the Bulls.
Fielding a typically strong second string, Oaks had strength mixed with wisdom and youth upfront and had the luxury of too many speedsters to play all of them at once in the backs.
Despite their strength on paper though Sevenoaks were penned back early on, as the home team looked to assert their dominance on the match.
Oaks showed their hand however as they continually chose to run the ball from deep and before long the momentum had switched to the away team.
Sevenoaks asserted their authority at the set piece, regularly stealing ball at the scrum and looking supremely confident at the line-outs.
Spinning the ball wide Oaks used their pace men to run the ball up field with Nick Shenton and John Pollock regularly taking on their opposite numbers, and it wasn't long before Shenton went over for the first try of the game.
Sevenoaks gave the home side a glimmer of hope allowing them to kick a penalty in response, but Oaks were superior in all other aspects of the first half and led comfortably at the break 15-3.
Playing into a low sun the second half was always going to be tougher for the away team but Sevenoaks did not help themselves, as they got off to a sluggish start.
Aylesford quickly scored a try soon after kickoff and it was not long before Oaks found themselves under their own sticks again, the Bulls picking holes in their defence at the breakdowns and out wide.
Kicking both their conversions and with Oaks failing to do the same, Aylesford led at home for the first time in the game.
But Sevenoaks found their form from the first half before it was too late and a succession of fast rucking and great hands saw them move quickly up the pitch.
A lineout inside Aylesford's 22 saw Sevenoaks resort to and master the old catch and drive technique, with the home team powerless to do anything to stop it as Oaks crashed over the line.
Sevenoaks continued to keep the pressure on the Bulls, always retaining possession at the break downs and fast ball from scrum half Todd King allowed Oaks to free their pace men time and again.
But they left it late in the day to put the final nail in the coffin. After a succession of rucks Oaks found themselves just inside Aylesford's 22.
Fly half Adam Suttill looked to go left as he received the ball but changing his mind, he stopped and spun the ball right to centre George Roffey who found himself in acres of space to run in the final try.
Despite failing to convert a possible 10 points from the boot, Sevenoaks were convincing winners come the final whistle 25-17. The Extra 1st XV will look to notch up their second win of 2009 as they host local rivals Westcombe Park on Saturday.