Ashford RFC U14s vs. Cranbrook 4th February 2007

Normal service resumed

Cranbrook 5 – Ashford 24

Ashford returned to Rammell’s Field only two months after a 38-0 victory. This time round both sides were at full strength and Cranbrook were in a more determined mood. Cranbrook elected to kick down the slope and immediately put Ashford under pressure.

After 5 minutes Cranbrook’s tall lock Josh Pettet won a lineout throw 5 metres from Ashford’s line. Pettet offloaded to prop Jasper Thompson, who barged his way over to score a try.

5 -0 down Ashford soon lost centre Gareth Jenner and prop Billy Stevens to injury. Their replacements, Charlie Williams and Patrick Macenri, slotted in seemlessly and Ashford began to nudge ahead in the battle for possession. Only an adverse penalty count allowed Cranbrook to contain Ashford’s momentum during the remainder of the half.

Turning round, Ashford immediately took advantage of the slope and drove deep into Cranbrook territory. 5 minutes into the half Ashford pressure forced Cranbrook to concede a free-kick just 10 metres from their line. Quick-witted No.8 Chris Albrow, tapped the kick and darted through a retreating Cranbrook defence to open Ashford’s try account and level the scores.

The restart kick was caught by Charlie Williams, now playing at lock, who charged 20 metres downfield. The ball was quickly recycled and passed to centre Grant Noremac. Noremac sliced through the Cranbrook cover and sprinted 50 metres to touch down for a converted try.

Two minutes later, Williams again caught the restart and charged downfield. This time the Cranbrook defence came up much faster and a looping pass by fly half Louis Burdon, saw inside centre Adam Batt cut through the defensive line. Batt fed centre partner Noremac who made a simple run-in to touch down under the posts. Converted, the try gave Ashford a 14 point cushion.

Ashford then rang the changes, giving a debut appearance on the wing to Tom Mead. As the match entered its final phase Ashford drove into Cranbrook territory winning a scrum on the 22. Scrum half Rory Beech dummied to the open side, then broke down the blind side and dotted down for a final score of 24-5.

Player of the week was Charlie Williams. Louis Burdon scored two conversions. Next weekend, the Ashford Under 14s entertain Westcombe Park.