Ashford RFC U14s vs. Beckenham 29th October 06

Beckenham 0 – Ashford 46

For their 50 mile journey to south east London Ashford fielded a side short of their normal players in the pivotal positions of No.8 and fly half. The reorganised team were captained for the day by lock Lukas Warrilow. Beckenham fielded a big forward pack and Ashford’s game plan was to move the ball wide at every opportunity.

Ashford received the kick off. The ball was gathered and inside centre Gareth Jenner stormed up the pitch to score the opening try after just 30 seconds. 4 minutes later Ashford spun the ball right and wing Harry Atkins outpaced the defence to score in the corner. Inside centre Jenner was back on the score sheet with a second try after just 10 minutes. On 14 minutes he was joined on the score sheet by centre partner Adam Batt who arced around the defence and dotted down under the posts. Due to an injury to a Beckenham player the first half was concluded at this point.

Half time score Beckenham nil Ashford 22.

Straight from the restart Ashford stormed into Beckenham territory. Open side flanker Glenn Caton broke down the left wing and the recycled ball was fed to No.8 Danny Herriott. Herriott drove over the try line but unfortunately dropped the ball in the act of scoring. From the resulting scrum Ashford took the ball against the head and scrum half Luke Ransley darted around the narrow blindside to score just inside the corner flag.

At this point Ashford took control of the match as Beckenham failed to contain Ashford’s passing and running game. 8 minutes into the half left wing Grant Noremac burst through two tackles to score. This was quickly followed by a try from right winger Harry Atkins and a second try from Noremac. After 31 minutes of play the match was called to a halt.

Three conversions were kicked by Daniel Head. Player of the week was Grant Noremac. Despite the shortened nature of match it was a satisfactory performance by Ashford. Their forward pack had dominated the set pieces but their expansive game saw all 8 tries scored by their rapidly improving back division.

Ashford RFC U14s vs. Thanet 22nd October 2006

Thanet 0 – Ashford 34

Ashford returned to Broadstairs just 4 weeks after a 27-10 win. This time the occasion was the semi-final of the East Kent Cup.

The home side started confidently and it took 18 minutes for Ashford to break through for the first score when centre Adam Batt raced in to touch down in the right corner. Following the score Ashford resumed their pressure. Despite dominating Ashford struggled to convert pressure into points as Thanet used the advantage of the slope and the gusting wind to kick the ball from defence. On the stroke of half-time, the Ashford pack drove close to the line and open side flanker Glenn Caton dived over to score a converted try under the posts.

Half time score Thanet nil Ashford 12.

The second half resumed brightly when 5 minutes into the half winger Grant Noremac outpaced the cover to score in the left corner.

With a 17 point cushion Ashford took control of the match. The forward pack with prop Danny Herriott, and the back row trio of Chris Albrow, Glenn Caton and Tom Healy to the fore, increasingly dominated the close quarter exchanges. With a continual supply of good ball the Ashford backline repeatedly broke through a wilting Thanet defence only for two seemingly good tries to be disallowed. Despite these hold ups, Ashford crossed the line on three more occasions. First came a second try from Noremac on 45 minutes. Then on 50 minutes prop Patrick MacEnri broke down the right hand touch line and passed to winger Harry Atkins who dived over to score in the right corner. With time almost up, Ashford gathered the restart and swept upfield. The ball was recycled in the Thanet 22 and number 8 Chris Albrow sidestepped his way through the defence to dot down under the posts for a concluding converted try.

Player of the week was Patrick MacEnri. There was also a good debut performance from Under 13 replacement Owen Fussell. This was an improving performance from Ashford and they have secured a place in the East Kent Cup Final on 17th December.

Ashford RFC U14s vs. Tonbridge 8th October 2006

Ashford Under 14s 32 – Tonbridge Juddians 14

Ashford hosted their first home match of the season and recorded their fifth successive win.

A bright start was made when Ashford received the kick-off, span the ball wide and immediately charged into the Tonbridge 22. When Tonbridge failed to clear their lines, lock George Woodrow secured the loose ball and dived over to score a converted try after just 2 minutes. Another try followed 3 minutes later when the ball was again moved wide and winger Grant Noremac outpaced the defence to dot down in the corner.

With two minutes of the first half remaining, fly half Harry Atkins kicked a penalty to take a 15 point lead. With a minute of the first half still to play Tonbridge kicked the restart. Number 8 Chris Albrow gathered the ball and ignited a sweeping move down the left wing. Eventually the ball was passed inside and fly half Harry Atkins scored a converted try under the posts to make the half time score 22 points to nil in Ashford’s favour.

Tonbridge turned round expecting a second half onslaught from the pacy Ashford backline. Instead, Ashford eschewed the wide passing game that had brought early dividends. When the ball was eventually passed out a “drift” attack crowded the outside backs into narrow, easy to defend channels. This game played to Tonbridge’s strength, who began to show increasingly superior nous at close quarters. 8 minutes into the half, Tonbridge opened the second half scoring with a converted try.

Ashford’s pick and go game eventually yielded a score when prop Patrick MacEnri scored from a forward drive on 15 minutes into the half. Tonbridge broke through to score a second converted try 5 minutes later. As the match drew to a close, Ashford player of the week Tom Collins was driven over for the final try.

Ashford RFC U14s Vs. Aylesford 1st October 2006

Aylesford 5 – Ashford Under 14s 34

Ashford recorded their fourth victory of the season when Whitstable conceded their East Kent cup tie on Friday evening. However, a walkover wasn’t the sort of win that the Ashford Under 14s were looking for and Aylesford duly obliged by agreeing to host a friendly at short notice.

Ashford travelled up the M20 without their two biggest forwards and fielded a revised backline as their two regular scrum halves were unavailable through injury.

Ashford received the kick off with the wind, rain and slope against them. Despite the elements, Ashford began to dominate territorially and after 8 minutes centre Gareth Jenner burst onto a well timed pass and powered through the Aylesford defence for the opening try.

Against the run of play Aylesford scored a try on 13 minutes. The half time score was 5 points all.

Ashford turned round with the elements in their favour and proceeded to play their best half of rugby this season. From the kick off Ashford immediately pressured the Aylesford line. At a short line out No. 8 Christopher Albrow was held up and open side wing forward Glenn Caton picked up the ruck ball and dived over to score the opening try of the second half after 2 minutes.

From the restart Ashford gathered the ball and a drive upfield from the forwards immediately put Aylesford on the back foot. Camping in the opposition half, Ashford won a scrum and fly half Harry Atkins probed right before changing direction. A sweeping movement down the left outflanked the covering defence and winger Grant Noremac charged 30 metres to touch down.

With a 10 point margin Ashford used their passing game to maximum effect as their smaller but more mobile forward pack outmanoeuvred their larger opponents. Quick ruck ball saw outside centre Adam Batt go over in the left corner for a try converted by fly half Harry Atkins on 36 minutes. Then inside centre Gareth Jenner powered over just two minutes later.

The coup de grace came on 43 minutes when fly half Atkins probed right before sending the ball left. Winger Noremac and prop Tom Collins combined to keep the ball alive before the ball was moved to the left. A move involving 12 was concluded when No.8 Albrow was held up 2 metres short and the recycled ball was popped up for outside centre Batt to dot down.

Aylesford were excellent hosts and the Ashford team received complimentary credit from Fijian coach and first team player Api Kata. Player of the week was scrum half Louis Burdon. Next Sunday (8^th October) Ashford Under 14s entertain Tonbridge Juddians.