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.