Match Report Versus Thanet 25th September 2005

Ashford Recover Momentum After Slow Start

Thanet 5 - Ashford 27
Ashford started slowly and seemed to find it difficult to shake out the journey to Broadstairs. Early in the match, a lack of concentration saw the Ashford back line fail to cover a high kick. When the ball bounced into the Ashford in-goal, a Thanet centre followed up and dived onto the loose ball to open the scores with an unconverted try.

The shock of going behind brought Ashford into life. From the restart the Ashford forwards drove into Thanet territory. Eventually a scrum was forced on the Thanet 5 metre line and fly half Louis Burdon intercepted a loose pass and touched down to level the scores.

Despite the equalising score Ashford still failed to demonstrate their full potential. However, just before half time hooker Ashford forced s series of 5 metre scrums. From the resulting pressure Ashford secured the ball at a maul and Hooker Patrick MacEnri was driven over by the pack to score the team’s second try.

Half time Thanet 5 – Ashford 10
The second half saw a big improvement in the performance of the Ashford pack. This meant that most of the half was played in Thanet territory. 5 minutes into the half, from a scrum 10 metres out, No. 8 Chris Albrow picked up from the base and dived over to open up a two try gap.

The rest of the match was played in heavy rain. As the conditions deteriorated the Thanet defence resorted to kicking the ball to relieve the Ashford pressure. One of the kicks was retrieved by winger Harry Atkins who ran into space before feeding centre Grant Noremac who broke through the defence and dotted down. Noremac re-appeared on the score sheet a few minutes later when Ashford broke from their own half and created space for Noremac to touch down under the posts. This final score was converted by Burdon to conclude the match at 27-5. Player of the week was Karl Clayton. Next Sunday – 2nd October – Ashford Under 13s entertain Whitstable at home.

Northampton Tour 17th/18th September 2005

Northampton visit leads to meeting with World Cup winner

Last weekend represented the first ever occasion when Ashford’s Under 13 boys would be playing 15 aside rugby on a full-size pitch. To prepare for the youth version of the game, the Ashford team started their season with a tour to Northampton. The midlands town is, of course, home to premiership side Northampton Saints. Over the weekend the boys the boys attended the Saints versus Newcastle premiership match and played matches against local junior clubs Northampton Old Scouts and Wellingborough.

Whilst at the Franklins Gardens ground, the boys had the opportunity to meet some of the international stars of rugby. These included Sean Lamont and Tom Smith of Scotland, Ben Cohen of England and Carlos Spencer of the New Zealand All Blacks. Pick of the rugby stars on show though was England and British Lions hooker Steve Thompson. Despite sustaining a torn neck muscle, World cup winner Thompson found time to meet all the boys, pose for a team photograph and sign autographs for boys and parents alike.

In their matches against local opposition the Ashford boys produced two wins.

Northampton Old Scouts 5 – Ashford 22
In Saturday’s match Ashford started confidently despite the step up in pitch size. After 3 minutes they went ahead when the ball was passed wide and winger Luke Chinnery ran in for a try from 45 metres. Ashford then scored tries by centre Grant Noremac and prop Billy Stevens before the Old Scouts scored a try from a tap penalty. In the closing stages, Chinnery again out sprinted the opposition to score a try under the posts. A conversion was also scored by Louis Burdon.

Wellingborough 5 – Ashford 39
On the Sunday, Ashford faced Wellingborough. The run out the day before showed no ill effects as the team played sufficiently well to score seven tries and two conversions against a single try. In a rough but well tempered match the Ashford forwards asserted their dominance to produce both an ample supply of ball and territory. Winger Harry Atkins opened the scoring with a try out wide. This was then followed by tries from prop Patrick MacEnri, No. 8 Christopher Albrow (two tries), prop Billy Stevens, centre Grant Noremac and hooker George Sladden. Burdon kicked two conversions.