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Edenbridge vs Aylesford, Kent Merit League 'B'
After a lacklustre performance the previous week against TJs The ‘Bridge travelled (yet another game on the road) to Aylesford; a team that was flying high in the league and who had put 40+ points on the 2nd XV only 2 weeks before. Beset by injuries and a lack of regular players, Edenbridge make the best of what was available to them.
The game began positively with the Black and Gold demonstrating their biggest threat; pace out-wide as well as in the pack. Having played them recently we knew going into the game that taking them on up-front would be to our cost and sure enough the Edenbridge pack suffered at scrum time. It was a similar story in a lot of the mauls in the early exchanges. It didn’t take long for Edenbridge to utilise their most recent acquisition with Gary Stevens running in the first of his two on his debut in senior rugby. He converted his own try; a fair reflection of the opening 10 minutes.
Aylesford were not in the upper reaches of the league for nothing though and back they came to score a try of their own in reply. Fortunately their kicker did not match up to the ability of the forwards and he scuffed it wide. 7-5 to The ‘Bridge.
It was in the following passages of play that Edenbridge showed another string to their forwards’ bow; winning the turnover. With Weaver and Mussi leading the charge, countless Aylesford players were stripped of the ball only to see it spread wide to the dangerous looking Edenbridge back line. The pressure began to tell on the Aylesford players and eventually Edenbridge won a penalty just out to the left of the posts. Despite the kick being almost from the same spot as the easily taken conversion, Stevens missed the left upright.
He soon made amends though running in a try in very much the same style as his first; skinning his opposite number for pace to touch down just outside the 15 metre line. He duly added the extras to his own 5 and the score read 14-5 to Edenbridge.
Half time came not that long after with the score still in the favour of the visitors.
Aylesford obviously re-discovered their dedication and came crashing back with a try shortly followed by their kicker registering his first points of the game through a conversion and then a penalty. 14-15 Aylesford; Very much game on.
Again Edenbridge applied what they had done in the first half; spreading it wide and using the pace on the wings. Eventually the ball reached Lucas who ran in from 15 metres out to score in the corner. It proved too wide for Stevens boot however. 19-15 to Edenbridge.
Aylesford chose to use their forward strength again and began to look dangerous. After some spirited defence on the try line including turning over two 5 metre scrums and surviving a held up try, Aylesford drove their way over only to watch their kicker squander the valuable extras.
10 minutes to go and Edenbridge were trailing by 1 point; it was time for the ever dependable Chris Norris to demonstrate why he seems to score in every game he plays. More of less straight from the restart he found himself in space with only a winger in front of him. He chipped ahead and collected the ball on the bounce to dot down in the corner. Stevens added the extras with an excellent touch line conversion.
The remainder of the game was a case of dogged defence with The ‘Bridge doing their best to keep Aylesford in their own half.
This was an excellent display by the whole team. Honourable mentions must go to Gary Stevens, Jasper Mussi, Trevor Smith and Aidan Purvis. Stevens and Purvis in particular who are still acclimatising to senior rugby (and in Aidan’s case rugby in general!)
Edenbridge: Scorers: Tries: Stevens, G (2), Lucas, Norris Cons: Stevens, G (3) Pens: Team: 15. Sedgwick, S.; 14. Clarke, R; 13. Stevens, G; 12. Norris, C; 11. Caskey, R (Rep. Lochhead, O); 10. Wallis, D; 9. Purvis, A; 1. Coates, M; 2. Lucas, P (Rep. Daniels, S); 3. Lacey, P (Capt.); 4.Mussi, J; 5. Stevens, B; 6. Barnes, T; 7. Weaver, B (Rep. Moody, T); 8. Smith, T |
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