Ashford RFC U13s Match Report 29th January 06

Ashford U13s 49 – Sittingbourne U13s 0

Sittingbourne arrived with an under strength squad. Anticipating a less than fully competitive fixture, Ashford selected an experimental line up and kept some of their more experienced players on the replacements bench.

The scoring was opened after 5 minutes when No.8 George Morgan barged over for the first try. This was followed by first half tries from right winger Luke Chinnery, centre Gareth Jenner, scrum half Rory Beech and left winger Adam Batt. At half time the score was 29-0 in Ashford’s favour.

For the second half Ashford reverted to a more traditional line-up and introduced their more experienced players. The half was only 2 minutes old when Ashford won a lineout and the ball was passed wide to Harry Atkins who dotted down in the corner. Five minutes later the Sittingbourne defences began to crumble when first Batt, then Chinnery and finally prop Tom Collins scored tries within a 4 minute spell. 10 minutes into the half, with Sittingbourne unable to prevent further tries, the match was concluded with the score 49-0 in Ashford’s favour.

Luke Chinnery scored 2 conversions. Player of the week was Lukas Warrilow.

In their 4 matches during January, the team have outscored their opponents by 220 points to 5.

This weekend – 5^th February – Ashford travel away to Essex side South Woodham Ferrers.

Ashford RFC U13s Match Report 22nd January 06

Ashford U13s 65 – Thanet U13s 0

Thanet came into this match on a run of form which had seen them win five matches in succession. A large and robust Thanet pack strongly contested the opening exchanges but eventually Ashford prevailed by 11 tries to nil.

Ashford took some time to assert themselves up front but eventually forced their way into Thanet’s defensive 22 metre area. On 5 minutes prop Tom Collins burst through the defence to touch down near the posts and open the scores.

From the restart Ashford re-applied territorial pressure and on 8 minutes winger Gareth Jenner powered down the left wing and scored in the corner. This try signalled the opening of the floodgates as a further six first half tries were scored in the next 15 minutes.

From the restart Thanet kicked long and the ball was caught by winger Harry Atkins. The pacey Atkins sped 80 metres down the pitch, evaded several tackles and dived over in the corner.

Following this score the match developed a repetitive rhythm as Ashford would score, Thanet would restart and Ashford would break through the defence to score again. There was one more try apiece for Collins and Atkins, plus tries for George Morgan, Adam Batt and Grant Noremac. The half time score concluded at 46-0 in Ashford’s favour.

In the second half Ashford introduced a number of their less experienced players, including debut appearances for prop Jamie Lukehurst and winger Patrick Khedher. Despite the relative inexperience of the side, the Ashford boys immediately applied pressure on the Thanet line. Ashford disrupted a Thanet defensive scrum and lock George Woodrow barged his way over to touch down under the posts. Five minutes later Ashford knocked on as the drove over the Thanet line. From the resulting scrum wing forward Rory Beech tackled the Thanet fly half on the try line. The spilled ball was pounced on by No.8 Christopher Albrow to claim Ashford’s tenth try.

Debut winger Patrick Khedher completed Ashford’s scoring on 42 minutes when, following a ruck on the Thanet 5 metre line, he picked up the loose ball and dived over. The final score was 65-0 in Ashford’s favour.

Daniel Head scored 2 conversions and Louis Burdon 3. Christopher Albrow was awarded the player of the week trophy.

This weekend – 29^th January – Ashford are scheduled to entertain Sittingbourne.

Ashford RFC U13s Match Report 15th January 2006

Ashford U13s 41 – Cranbrook U13s 5
Back in October, Kent joint champions Cranbrook gave the Ashford boys a stern test when Ashford prevailed 19-10 in a closely fought away match. Despite home advantage, Ashford were expecting a tough rematch.

Receiving the kick-off, Ashford attempted to maul the ball forward only to be held up. When Cranbrook won the ball at the resulting scrum, Ashford’s first up defence turned over possession and counter attacked. The ball was moved wide and right winger Harry Atkins arced around the covering defence to touch down under the posts after just two minutes.

Cranbrook have a robust and mobile forward pack and contested strongly in the loose. But on 7 minutes, Atkins again showed his speed to touch down in the corner. On 19 minutes, No.8 Chris Albrow collected a lineout throw and broke through a disorganised Cranbrook defence to add a third Ashford try.

Ashford maintained the territorial pressure and eventually Cranbrook were penalised for being offside at a maul. From a tap penalty, prop Billy Stevens barged over to touch down under the posts and making the half time score 24-0 in Ashford’s favour.

Ashford kicked off for the second half and aggressive forward play forced Cranbrook to spill possession. Ashford’s backs broke into space and winger Luke Chinnery sprinted over to open the second half try scoring within 30 seconds of the restart.

Ashford maintained a territorial stranglehold for the next 10 minutes, only to be denied by last ditch tackling. On 38 minutes a series of penalty awards saw Cranbrook break out from their defensive 22 metre area. When a high kick was misjudged by the Ashford defence, Cranbrook regathered the loose ball and scored a consolation try.

Stung by conceding the score, Ashford reintroduced some of their more experienced forwards. Eventually, on 45 minutes, the pressure told when, from a tapped free kick, Albrow dived over for his second try.

As the clock wound down, Ashford maintained the pressure on the Cranbrook try line. With two minutes to go, Cranbrook failed to clear from a defensive lineout. The ever alert Albrow dived onto a loose ball to conclude his try hatrick and make the score 41-5.

Daniel Head scored 2 conversions and Harry Atkins 1. Rory Beech was awarded the player of the week trophy.

Next week, 22nd January, Ashford Under 13s entertain Thanet.

Ashford RFC U13s Match Report 8th January 2006

Ashford U13s 65 – Medway U13s 0
With a large population catchment, the Medway club are one of Kent’s stronger youth sections. However, in the Under 13 age group they have gone through a rough patch, losing several players to Blackheath. As a result, a weakened Medway were comprehensively outplayed by Ashford in an 11 tries to nil win.

This was the Ashford Under 13s first match since 11th December. Any doubts regarding match sharpness were dispelled when tighthead prop Billy Stevens opened the try scoring within a minute of the kick off. Two minutes later, scrum half Luke Ransley squeezed around the blind side of a scrum and touched down in the corner. From the restart Stevens was back in action when he charged 40 metres upfield and passed to support runner, No.8 Christopher Albrow, who scored under the posts. After just 5 minutes of play the score was 19 points to nil in Ashford’s favour. Ashford’s forwards, with wing forward Rory Beech and lock George Woodrow to the fore, took control of the breakdown zone. Outside, the first up tackling by centres Adam Batt and Grant Noremac ensured that any Medway attacking movement was snuffed out beyond the gain line.

Further tries from wing forward Glenn Caton, another from Ransley and winger Gareth Jenner saw the half time score reach 36-0.

Ashford opened the second half try scoring on 29 minutes, when Albrow took a clean catch in the lineout and sprinted over from 22 metres. Four minutes later, quick passing saw Noremac outflank the opposition defence and dot down in the corner. On 42 minutes, prop Stevens was back on the score sheet when he crashed over from a tapped free kick. From the restart, fly half Louis Burdon split the defence. He passed to winger Luke Chinnery, who coming in on an angled run, touched down unopposed for try number 10.

The final try came on 47 minutes, when Albrow gathered a loose ball on the Medway 22 metre line. Despite being held up, Albrow stayed on his feet and was driven over the try line by the Ashford pack.

Daniel Head and Louis Burdon scored 5 conversions between them. Luke Ransley was awarded the player of the week trophy.

The match was more competitive than the score suggests and Medway showed good spirit in competing throughout.