Sevenoaks U10s narrowly miss out at the Quins curtain raiser
May
Sevenoaks Under 10s Unbeaten but Just Squeezed Out of Final of the Etihad Airways Curtain Raiser at Harlequins: 4th May 2008.
Following sterling work during the earlier pool stages of this competition, Sevenoaks Under 10s were one of eight teams competing on finals day of this prestigious tournament. There were two pools of four, with New Milton (based close to Lymington in Hampshire), Rosslyn Park and Battersea Ironside (last year’s Under 9’s Champions) drawn with Sevenoaks.
Sevenoaks continued with the intensity, skill and commitment they had recently so successfully shown. All day, the forwards, comprising variously Jack & Louis Ingamells, Alfred Gard, Thomas Tilling and Max Skinner, were superb. They seemed to be everywhere, getting to the breakdowns first and securing/winning ball, holding their own at scrums and often pushing the opposition off their own ball resulting in turnovers, and tackling ferociously. Equally, the backs lacked nothing by way of commitment or determination, with Harry Knox, George Wheadon, Kieran Thomas and Marcus Lyne in-particular ensuring that when the opposition did try to run the ball, the tackles were made and progress was very hard to make.
With defences so well organised, opportunities for attacking play were restricted. But Sevenoaks were always dangerous with ball in hand. With the forwards working hard and winning so much ball, Sam Thompson able to quickly distribute it enabling strong, surging runs to be made by the likes of Tom Cantlay and Lawrence Thresher, Sevenoaks always looked likely to score.
The first match, against the unknown New Milton, was won 3-0. The powerful Ben Earl scored first, benefiting from some surging runs down the right wing with the ball effectively being kept alive. The second try was scored by the hard working Lawrence Thresher following a strong drive by the forwards, whilst Marcus Lyne got the third which resulted from some high pressure defence by Sevenoaks that had pushed New Milton almost to their own line.
The pool and, for many, competition favourites, Rosslyn Park, were the next opponents. Building on their previous performance, Sevenoaks put in what was perhaps one of their most impressive performances to date. Park played as expected, with pace, skill and strength. But Sevenoaks matched them, with the tackling immense, drive and determination at the rucks and scrums total, and attacking play always dangerous. That Sevenoaks took the lead following a quick break by Tom Cantlay that started with a penalty to Sevenoaks was of little surprise. Park equalised in the second half but were almost taken completely by surprise from the restart by a brilliant run by Harry Knox which was held up just short of the line. Park upped their game, and scored a second themselves to lead 1-2. Amazingly, though, Sevenoaks themselves responded magnificently and put Park under huge and sustained pressure. The commitment was total and it was just reward when Lawrence Thresher went over to level the scores at 2-2, which is how the match ended.
Sevenoaks played the final pool, match against Battersea Ironside. Sevenoaks needed to win and score four tries to reach the final ahead of Park. The performance and effort was again tremendous and although they won, they could only score twice, with Max Skinner and Ben Earl getting the tries. This wasn’t quite enough to progress, as Park had scored eight tries in total to Sevenoaks seven. But to have finished the tournament unbeaten, scoring seven tries and conceding only two, and being on level points with the pool winner was a tremendous achievement. It also demonstrated the extent by which this squad had developed their skills and capabilities, which bodes well for next season as Under 11s.
Squad
Tom Cantlay, Ben Earl, Alfred Gard, Jack Ingamells, Louis Ingamells, Josh Kidd, Harry Knox, Marcus Lyne, Max Skinner, Kieran Thomas, Sam Thompson, Thomas Tilling, Lawrence Thresher, George Wheadon.
