Ashford RFC U13 Match Report 30th October 2005

Essex boys present tough obstacle.

Ashford 38 – South Woodham Ferrers 0
Having won the season’s first seven matches, Ashford had made this fixture with the Essex side with the express intention of finding a more physically robust challenge. The Essex side certainly didn’t disappoint. They arrived in Kent with a highly combative pack and a hard tackling back division. Ashford had anticipated the intensity of the contest and in the preceding week held a special training session that concentrated on being more competitive at the rucks and mauls. The training paid dividends as Ashford’s forwards went on to dictate the close encounters.

First onto the score sheet was tighthead prop Billy Stevens, who barged over from short range to touch down near the posts. Soon after, Ashford were awarded a penalty near halfway. With the wind gusting strongly, winger Harry Atkins kicked Ashford into the Woodham defensive “22”. Ashford secured the resulting lineout and camped near the Woodham line for a series of 5 metre scrums. Eventually No.8 Christopher Albrow picked up from the base of the scrum and powered his way through three defenders to score the team’s second try. Shortly before half time prop Stevens was back on the score sheet when he crashed over for his second try. With two conversions by Daniel Head, Ashford reached half time 19-0 up.

With 24 players in the match day squad, Ashford made a number of changes for the second half. On came new boy Charlie Williams, as well as a number of the side’s less experienced players. The changes made little difference to Ashford’s momentum. Early into the half inside centre Adam Batt burst through the midfield defence and dotted down for a converted try under the posts.

Despite Ashford’s 26-0 lead the Essex boys refused to buckle. They never stopped tackling and led by their pack leader they continued to battle it out up front. In the end, however, Ashford pressure led to the boys crossing the opposition line twice more, with a second try for No.8 Albrow and a hatrick concluding score for prop Stevens.

Winger Gareth Jenner was awarded player of the week.

Next Sunday – 6th November – Ashford Under 13s entertain Beckenham.

Ashford RFC U13s Match Report 23rd October 2005

Pace combined with handling secures 9 try victory.

Ashford 63 – Dover 0
Following 6 consecutive away wins, this was the Ashford Under 13s first home appearance of the season. Aware from previous encounters that Dover Under 13s are not a strong side, Ashford used the fixture to experiment with selection. As a result, several new players were given their first experience of a place in the starting line up.

With many familiar faces on the bench, the Ashford forward pack initially struggled to generate momentum in the battle for possession against a plucky Dover side. However, once the formation had bedded down, the Ashford forwards created a solid territorial platform for their pacey back division to exploit.

Centre Luke Chinnery opened the try scoring after a quick passing movement and a flanking run took him outside the Dover defensive cover. This score was soon followed by debut tries from winger Gareth Jenner, wing forward George Woodrow and prop Tom Collins. With all 4 first half tries being converted by fly half Daniel Head, the team reached the break a 28-0 lead.

For the second half Ashford fielded a more experienced line up and the players were asked to concentrate on utilising their passing and support game. The objective was to move the ball from contact rapidly into the wide open spaces where, Ashford had the advantage in pace. Within a minute of the restart, the tactics were rewarded with a try from centre Adam Batt. This was followed by two tries from wing forward Christopher Albrow, then a second try from Chinnery. With the clock running down, the try scoring was concluded when scrum half Rory Beech touched down following an end to end passing movement.

Daniel Head converted all 5 second half tries, adding to his 4 successes in the opening half. Having achieved a remarkable 100% goal kicking record, Daniel was also rewarded with the “player of the week” accolade.

Next Sunday – 30th October – Ashford Under 13s entertain Essex side South Woodham Ferrers.

Ashford revival topples Kent champions

Ashford RFC Under 13s Match Report 16th October 2005

Cranbrook 10 – Ashford 19
This match, away to the Kent champions in this age group, was originally scheduled as a home fixture. After 10 minutes of play Ashford were losing 10-0. Cranbrook dominated the early exchanges as their more mobile forwards outmanoeuvred Ashford’s uncharacteristically lethargic pack. 3 scrums were lost against the head and the Ashford forwards were repeatedly driven back in the rucks and mauls. Only last ditch tackling by Ashford’s back division kept the score to a manageable deficit. It was if the Ashford players had left their concentration elsewhere.

Just before half time Ashford’s game finally acquired some urgency. Ashford made a rare foray into the Cranbrook “22” and No. 8 Christopher Albrow broke from a scrum to score under the posts. The try was converted by winger Harry Atkins and Ashford turned round just 10-7 behind.

The converted try had raised the spirits of the Ashford boys and the forwards entered the second half in a vastly more determined mood. From the restart, Ashford gained possession and a well-worked passing movement saw winger Cameron Veitch make a break before being hauled down 10 metres short of the try line. Ashford were rewarded with a scrum and following a series of rucks, lock George Morgan crashed over the try line to put Ashford into the lead. Converted by Atkins, the score created a 4 point cushion.

Cranbrook, struggling to cope with the Ashford revival, spent most of the second half on the defensive. Frustrated by lack of progress, Cranbrook conceded a series of crucial penalties. Kicking intelligently, Ashford used these as an opportunity to pen Cranbrook into the corner of their defensive “22”. Eventually the Ashford pressure told when lock Lukas Warrilow stole an opposition lineout throw. Warrilow fed prop Billy Stevens who drove to within 5 metres of the Cranbrook line. Held-up, Stevens offloaded to the supporting Albrow who dived over to open up a 19-10 lead.

Ashford gathered the restart, drove upfield and gained another penalty. With time expired, Ashford kicked the ball into touch to end the match. Ashford’s sixth consecutive victory of the season had been achieved, a significant win over the reigning Kent champions.

Ashford’s Player of the Week was Vice Captain Christopher Albrow.

Next Sunday – 23rd October – Ashford Under 13s play Dover at home.

Ashford RFC U13 Match Report 9th October 2005

Aylesford 7 – Ashford 51
Ashford’s Under 13s made the short trip up the M20 and found they were facing a surprisingly mature looking opposition. By some distance, Aylesford appeared to have the biggest pack the Ashford boys had encountered so far this season.

The size of the opposition forwards implied a tough struggle for possession. However, whatever advantage Ashford conceded in size they made up for in speed, aggression and technique. After just 2 minutes, Ashford’s backline rush defence forced an Aylesford knock-on. Playing advantage, Ashford snapped up the loose ball. A quick passing movement then saw right winger Harry Atkins outflank his opposite number to score the opening try of the match. Aylesford made a mess of their resulting restart and this time left winger Luke Chinnery burst through to touchdown. Within minutes of the second restart Ashford inside centre Adam Batt dashed through a midfield defensive hole and dotted down under the posts. Wingers Atkins and Chinnery soon followed up with a further try apiece. As half time approached outside centre Grant Noremac exploited a stretched defensive line to burst through and score Ashford’s seventh try and close the first half 36-0 in the lead.

During the half-time break the referee advised Ashford that the match would stop when they reached 50 points. As a result, a reshuffled side, with a number of players in experimental positions, was sent out for the second half. Despite the half-time reshuffle, Ashford started brightly when No. 8 Christopher Albrow drove over from the back of a maul to score a close range try. Minutes later Albrow picked up from a scrum and scored his second try of the match. Leading 46-0, Ashford monetarily lost concentration at a line-out and allowed Aylesford a consolation try. The score shook Ashford back into action and normal service was resumed when a drive by the Ashford forwards was held up close to the try line and centre Batt exploited an undefended blindside to touch down in the corner. With three conversions by fly half Louis Burdon the score had reached 51-7 and the match was duly concluded.

Ashford’s Player of the Week for the second week running was George Woodrow.

Next Sunday – 16th October – Ashford Under 13s travel away to Cranbrook.

Away win at Westcombe Park 2nd October 2005

Westcombe Park 10 - Ashford 32
Both sides went into this fixture defending a three match unbeaten run. The Westcombe Park men’s team play in national division 3 and their youth section is allied to Harlequins. The Ashford boys therefore travelled up the M20 expecting a tough match.

Right from the whistle the Ashford boys looked sharper in the initial exchanges and quickly drove into ‘Combe territory. Ashford’s rush defence then forced the ‘Combe side to spill the ball under their goal posts. As Ashford gathered the ball and drove towards the try line, ‘Combe defenders were penalised for entering the ruck from offside positions. Ashford took the option of a tap penalty and No. 8 Christopher Albrow crashed over for the opening try. Shell-shocked ‘Combe compounded their problems when the restart failed to go 10 metres and Ashford played advantage. The desperate ‘Combe defence could only scramble the ball into touch. From the resulting lineout the loose ball was gathered by lock Lukas Warrilow who sprinted through a gap in the ‘Combe defence to ground the ball under the posts. The try was converted and gave Ashford a 10-0 lead after just 5 minutes of play.

The combined pressure of a mobile pack and an aggressive back line led to a try from tighthead prop Billy Stevens and a second try for Albrow. Having raced into a 22-0 lead Ashford then lost concentration. A poor defensive lineout saw the ball tapped back over the Ashford line, allowing the ‘Combe hooker to dive onto the loose ball and open the home side’s try account. The defensive error stung Ashford into action and a sweeping backs movement saw centre Grant Noremac burst through and score from 30 metres out.

At half time, with the score at 27-5 in Ashford’s favour, a series of substitutions were made. New boys Aaron Achong and Adam Kydd went out for the second half. As key players were rested the ‘Combe forwards were given more room. Eventually, a hesitant Ashford defence allowed ‘Combe to score a try from a short range scrum. As the clock wound down, normal service was resumed when a rapid passing movement involving forwards and backs saw No. 8 Albrow touch down to secure his hatrick of tries.

Ashford’s player of the week was George Woodrow.
Next Sunday – 9th October – Ashford Under 13s travel away to Aylesford.