For Wells to remain in contention to remain in RFU League London 1 South next season they had to win this game on Saturday and their closest rivals Old Elthamians had to lose. These results if achieved would leave all to play for this Saturday 3rd April with the winner retaining London 1 status next season.
Wells came out of the changing rooms as if they had just been stung by hornets and set an electric pace for the first 23 minutes of this game which was played in dry conditions to start and increasingly heavy showers to finish.
Luke Giles kicked Wells into a three point lead after 2 minutes with his first penalty, and with 95% of the ball to start Wells soon picked up the pace as second row Chris Veall was set free down the right wing and outpaced everyone to score under the posts with Giles converting after 7 minutes 0-10.
Wells then attempted the direct route by trying to batter their way over the line, this slowed the rate of scoring until scrum half David Coombes found his way over on 14 minutes with Giles again converting 0-17. There was no slacking of the pace as next Wells moved the ball to the left where James Warren worked another overlap and the try on 16 minutes 0-22, and Giles rounded off the first quarters scoring on 23 minutes with another penalty to put Wells in the lead 0-25.
Thereafter, and not surprisingly, the pace slackened to some degree and to their credit Aylesford started to win ball in the loose and keep it. This meant Wells could not add to their first half total but Aylesford could not find the pace or decisiveness that Wells has found in the initial stages leaving the halftime score unchanged at 0-25 to the visitors.
As the second half started Wells continued to find that Aylesford had a reasonable supply of ball as a bloodied hooker Mark Higgins found transitory difficulty in hitting his jumpers at the line out and the Wells back row failed to pick up loose ball in the tackle. However, patience was the name of the game and Wells were able to unleash their dangerous backs again as the final quarter commenced as a great break from Giles continued by Warren saw the winger release his old playing friend Mark Higgins to crash over close to the posts with Giles again converting 0-32.
With the rain starting to effect the conditions and with Wells starting to miss one or two of their tackles it was just reward for total spirit when Aylesford picked and drove over the line halfway out and secured the conversion on 65 minutes 7-32.
At this juncture Richard Sparks replaced Micky Sedgwick who again brought stability to the Scrummage, Nick Doherty came on for Tom Hathaway who had made several telling breaks in the first half before being removed to protect a back tweak and Stuart Morten replaced Ollie Rogers who had produced a steady and mature game on the right wing without a lot of ball.
By this time the Aylesford fly half was bringing Toby May into the game as he kicked ball downfield. May brought pace and vision to the counter attack as he ran ball back in the making several telling breaks before he produced a move that swept some 60 metres with a catch, a run, a chip ahead the gathering of the ball and the dive over the line wide out, (a move amongst others that earnt him the Aylesford Man of The Match nomination) on the right touchline from where Luke Giles again converted 7-39 on 71 minutes.
There was just time for Aylesford to work their way downfield and take advantage of short defensive numbers on the right for the wing to get the touch down in the corner 12-39 on 75 minutes.
The final whistle came with Wells recording the biggest defeat Aylesford have conceded at home this season and they will have to produce an even more incisive game next Saturday at Elthamians who lost to Gravesend on the same day, at the Chislehurst ground to salvage the season tomorrow Easter Saturday. If they can maintain this form and train well this week they will have every chance and there will be a big crowd from Wells there to support as the game kicks off at 3 00pm.
Skipper James Gwinnett who jumped consistently well throughout and Coach Paul Hathaway now have the job of getting an exciting and rejuvenated squad to S London in peak physical and mental condition.
For more pictures of this and other games visit Bruce Elliott's site HERE
SQUAD: Lewis Russell, Mark Higgins, Mick Sedgwick, James Gwinnett capt, Chris Veall, Steve Daly, Dane Hurley, Tom Hathaway, Nick Doherty, David Coombes, Ollie Rogers, Sitiveni Turagaiviu, Jon MacMahon, James Warren, Stuart Morten.
TRY: Chris Veall, David Coombes, James Warren, Mark Higgins, Toby May
CON: Luke Giles x4
PEN: Luke Giles x2
Folkestone 2XV 7 v 26 Tunbridge Wells 2XV
After a series of five defeats, albeit narrow ones to big mauling sides, Wells 2’s were keen to get back to winning ways and lift themselves up the table to a position that better reflects their achievements this year. Folkestone 2’s have earned themselves a good reputation this season, and Wells were looking forward to finally meeting a side that were not maul-oriented.
Having already played 88 different players this season, personnel changes were inevitable. Critically this week we were able to beef up the front five with the return of Nigel Follows to the front row alongside skipper Miles, with Christian Von Bredow starting at loosehead. Behind them Tom Pithouse returned after a successful run in the 1st XV, with fast improving Joe Nicol beside him in the second row. Will Dedman returned from injury to the openside flank, with Billy Harvey slotting in at 6 and Stuart Coe remaining at 8. With this pack we knew we had a strong base and would be competitive.
In the backs Mark Wilson returned from injury to start at 9 with Henry Brown making his debut at 10. In the centres Rob Greig started inside centre, again after a strong run in the 1st XV, with the impressive Galbraith-Lowe outside him. The versatile Will Vernon took one wing, with Tristram Reames on the other and Iwan Shotton at 15 completing a very young, fast and potentially dangerous backline.
Unfortunately the game had barely begun when the Folkestone tighthead was seriously injured as the first scrum collapsed. He was eventually carried from the pitch and the game restarted with Wells immediately dominant in the scrums and comfortable in the lineouts. The first half was one-way traffic as Wells generated plenty of quality ball that the backs used productively. Murray Galbraith-Lowe was first on the scoresheet with a trademark line break from half way that left defenders strewn in his wake. He followed up ten minutes later with his second try as Wells threatened to run up a cricket score. Our third try of the half came from the impressive Stuart Coe with a pick up from 8 and some fancy footwork to bamboozle the Folkestone defences. Brown slotted 2 conversions to give the visitors a very comfortable 19-0 lead.
Then it rained and inevitably mistakes crept into our game and prevented us from extending our lead. After the break Folkestone seemed to find some structure and strength. Having lost 4 or 5 scrums against the head before half time, they somehow settled the pack and began to win some decent possession. With good ball we quickly realised that they were a decent side, with some strong backs and a canny fly half, and some abrasive loose forwards. Within fifteen minutes of the restart their classy centre broke through the Wells defences to score and suddenly we bagan to rue the missed opportunities from the first half. But despite the try Wells were always solid in defence and we continued to take good lineout ball, with both Nicol and Coe displaying excelent control despite the wet conditions. Eventually Wells scored again after some excellent close work by the forwards resulted in Wilson crashing over to score. Brown slotted the extras to give us a comfortable lead and the game played out to a fairly tame ending, Wells finishing 7-26 winners.
The game was a bit disjointed, with the ref seemingly oblivious to any Folkestone infraction, and often harsh on Wells in the loose. To be fair Folkestone won the loose contest in the second half, spoiling the quality of our possession such that we were unable to use the pace and strength of our backs as we had done in the first half. Most of our better rugby over the last few weeks has come first half, so we need to work hard to remain tough and competitive in the latter stages of the games. However when you consider that this is a true development side, with 8 players under 20 years old, it is understandable that we are struggling at times with the physicality of the oppositions at this level, and it is credit to the lads that we are generally holding our own.
The balance of this side was good, something we have struggled to achieve over the last few months, so it is critical that we hold it together over the last 3 games of the campaign and maintain that blend of youth and experience. Next weekend sees Folkestone come to St Mark’s for the rematch, so confidence should be high after this impressive victory.
TRY: Murray Galbraith-Lowe x2, Stuart Coe, Mark Wilson
CON: Henry Brown x3
PEN: N/A
Tunbridge Wells 3XV 20 v 0 Gravesend 4XV
Report To Follow
TRY: TBA
CON: TBA
PEN: TBA
Crowborough 2XV 28 v 5 Tunbridge Wells 4XV
Wells 4s travelled to Crowborough for a friendly on the exchange knowing it was going to be a tough ask against a side top of their league and a win away from promotion to Sussex 1. It was an emotional day as Father and Son John and Ollie Crees joined forces for the first time but Crowborough bore no emotion as they rattled in the tries during 30 minutes of fine attacking rugby. Some friendly
Wells ageing vets were caught asleep and as they regrouped after the 4th try something triggered a reaction - a "come on boys we are better than this" from Phil Nelson, wise words of "small gains at a time" from Ade Rigby, "lets just start tackling and knocking them down" from skipper Colangelo...well it worked - Wells tackled ran with ball in hand, scrummaged and came close to scoring at the end of the first half.
Wells turned around 28-0 down and Crowborough were crowing despite not scoring for 10 minutes. They were in for a second half shock as Wells tackles got harder, Rigby, Nelson, Maynard, Ward, Irwin all punching above their weight.
The second half sub Spiney Norman nearing his 70th birthday played like a 65 year old as he trundled in the mud spoiling the oppo ball. Matt Rattcliffe ran hard along side Simon Parsons, ever reliable in all areas. The forward's reward came after 15 minutes. Crowborough could not sustain any attack and a driving maul from 20 meters out saw Rigby claim the "forwards try" as he came up last from the pile.
Wells attacked harder, scrummaged their oppo off the ball, tackles in the backs from Creesy and Colangelo stopped the hosts momentum as their young legs were tested.
The back 3 of Ollie Crees, Miller and Mallion ran chased and tackled until we were all ready to drop.
No more points a second half won - moral victory? Maybe - but in Colangelos last game as 4s skipper he could not have asked for any more. Thank you.
TRY: Ade Rigby (with 7 forwards on top of him)
CON: N/A
PEN: N/A
