Ashford RFC U13s Match Report 11th December 05

Ashford U13s 41 – Aylesford U13s 5

Earlier in the season Ashford put more than 50 points on an inexperienced Aylesford side. For the return visit to Kinney’s Field, a larger and much improved Aylesford team arrived with several wins under their belt and a degree of new found belief.

The early exchanges were tense and Ashford took some time to impose themselves on the match. After 5 minutes, pressure from the Ashford back row forced the Aylesford backline to knock-on. Playing advantage, Ashford’s midfield gathered the loose ball and outside centre Grant Noremac broke through the defence to touch down in the corner. Two minutes later Ashford resumed the attack and this time winger Gareth Jenner brushed aside his opposite number and dotted down under the posts.

The score gave Ashford the confidence to take the game to Aylesford. Ashford threw long at a lineout, wing forward Rory Beech gathered the ball and offloaded to prop Billy Stevens, who crashed over near the posts. With 19 points on the board in just 12 minutes, Ashford rang the changes in team selection. With the introduction of some less experienced players, the Ashford’s momentum was halted and the match became more competitive. Just before half-time, hooker George Morgan barged his way over in the corner to make the score 24-0 in Ashford’s favour.

Normal service resumed 4 minutes into the second half, when winger Jenner sprinted outside the defensive cover and scored under the posts. This was followed 5 minutes later by a try from inside centre Adam Batt who sprinted in from half way. At this point Ashford’s momentum faltered. The Aylesford restart kick only went 8 metres but it was knocked on by the Ashford defence. An Aylesford lock, playing advantage, gathered the loose ball and charged through some weak tackling to score a consolation try.

Ashford then reintroduced some of their more experienced players. This was sufficient to regain the upper hand. The final score of the match came when prop Billy Stevens charged over from a tap penalty. Final score 41-5. Fly half Louis Burdon scored 3 conversions. Winger Gareth Jenner was player of the week.

The match was more competitive than the score suggests. And Aylesford should take comfort from their improvement.

The Ashford Under 13s have reached the halfway stage of the season in satisfactory shape. 14 straight wins from 14 outings and an aggregate scoring record of 549 points for and 64 against. Their next match is at home against Medway on 8^th January.

Ashford RFC U13s Match Report 4th December 05

Ashford hit 14 tries in their 13^th win of the season

Sittingbourne Under 13s 0 – Ashford Under 13s 88

Ashford travelled to Sittingbourne with a squad of 24 players looking for their 13^th consecutive win of the season. Captain for the day, lock George Woodrow, led a highly experimental starting line up. He was joined by several boys relatively new to the game of rugby.

Despite their inexperience, the Ashford team got off to a flying start when prop Billy Stevens barged his way through the middle to touch down under the posts after just three minutes. Two minutes later No.8 Chris Albrow charged over to open up a 12 nil lead after just five minutes of play. Within a further five minutes Ashford scored their third try of the day when Ashford created an overlap and winger Gareth Jenner dived over in the corner.

This score was followed by further first half tries from wing forward Glenn Caton, centre Grant Noremac, winger Harry Atkins and a second try for Albrow. With three conversions by full back Daniel Head and one from Louis Burdon, the half time score was 43-0 in Ashford’s favour.

In the second half, Ashford carried on where they left off in the first half. After just two minutes winger Luke Chinnery touched down to open the second half try scoring. This score was soon followed by tries from scrum half Luke Ransley, another from Grant Noremac, a hatrick try for Chris Albrow, a second try for Chinnery and two further hatrick making tries for Jenner. Head scored five second half conversions, making the final score 88-0 in Ashford’s favour. A total of fourteen tries without reply.

As an overall assessment, this was one of Ashford’s most disciplined performances of the season. Despite the growing score, the team maintained their focus on good teamwork and support play. Several new combinations were tried out in both the scrum and in the backs. Regardless of the combination on the pitch, Ashford dominated possession and used it to good effect. Only once did the Sittingbourne side penetrate Ashford’s defensive 22 metre area. And that attack was quickly snuffed out.

Winger Gareth Jenner was player of the week.

Next Sunday – 11^th December – Ashford Under 13s entertain Aylesford.