Reports 13
Sevenoaks A 24 Westcombe Park A 0; Oaks B 50 Park 7
16 Feb 2009
On a day that felt, relatively, like spring but on a heavy sloping pitch Sevenoaks u13's played some superb rugby to inflict two defeats on a strong Combe squad. The coaches have impressed on the boys the importance of a good start and it couldn't have been better. Although 6 regular players were either injured or away this is a strong squad and it showed. From a quick the ball was moved left and fullback Urquhart timed his entrance to the line perfectly and scythed through the hosts defence for a try which McKerlie converted.
Combe are a tough side however and Oaks early dominance was tempered by some resolute defence and with the Oaks forwards suddenly forgetting how to ruck the score stayed at 7-0 for a while. Again it was Urquhart's power and pace that opened the scoring again after some superb handling in the backs. A simple move down the line in Oaks own half put the fullback into some space and no one was going to stop him. At 12-0 Oaks relaxed and started to play more open rugby with Martyn and Parker on the wings looking very dangerous, whilst the new centre pairing of Fearn and McKay started to gel nicely. A third converted try was scored, again by Urquhart, after some powerful forward drives, led by man of the match Morgan, sucked in the defence and the backs had time and space to score at will.
However, Oaks had to play up the hill against the wind in the second half and it was time for their character to show through. The coaches urged them to play like dogs and this they duly did. The home side through everything at the visitors but forward drive after forward drive was repelled through aggressive defence. Hooker Small was his usual tenacious self and emerged from a Combe maul with the ball on three occasions, whilst the rest of the pack worked tirelessly. From a disrupted attack lock Wheadon powered past several defenders and the backs and forwards combined superbly to work their way up the pitch. Great interplay between winger Hosiene and new centre Martyn led to a ruck wide on the left. The ball was moved at pace in the other direction and after some desperate defence Morgan scored the decisive try and Combe couldn't get back into the game. A decent overall performance given that this was only the boys' second game of the year.
The B team took to the field with many new combinations in place but with the same resolute attitude that permeates the whole squad. The forwards started very aggressively with props Rolfe and Briggs particularly dominant in the tight. From one of many superb quick rucks fly half Harber, playing with real confidence and authority, moved the ball wide and from a perfectly timed pass by inside centre Burleigh to his partner Holland the 13 was away. Hauled down just short of the line the ball was recycled but the referee, bizarrely gave a scrum to Oaks. There was only one thing on number 8 Jepson's mind and he crashed over under the posts for a converted try. Oaks confidence now grew and they attacked, using the conditions and from a short penalty Jepson was over again. At 12-0 down Combe were hoping to get to half time and then apply the pressure but outstanding centre Holland had other ideas as he stepped past half the home team to score in the corner. However, from a stray pass Combe's pacy winger picked the loose ball and outstripped the defence to get a converted try against the run of play. Reaching half time at 19-7 up Oaks coaches again called for the team to be dogs and they got this and whole lot more as Holland took over. Breaking from mid way in his own half he left the defence for dead and scored in the corner. This was the try that killed Combe and invigorated Oaks as the boys cut loose and played some truly outstanding rugby. The forwards must take huge credit as they tackled their hearts out and gave scrum half Scarsi the quick ruck ball that the backs craved. Harber impressively ran everything and it paid off. Holland scored a further three tries to rightly claim the man of the match award but Hosiene bagged arguably the best when the back line spun early passes out to the winger who went the virtually the length of the pitch to score a superb try. What a brilliant performance from every team member.