All four Senior Squads are in action this weekend here are the starting line ups……

Match Reporter: Fran Colangelo

With the pitches at St Marks unplayable Saturdays game against Sudbury was switched to the 4G at Boys Grammar and a good crowd turned up to watch Wells first home game of 2023.
The opening exchanges saw Wells show early promise with ball in hand and a penalty to the corner after 4 minutes put Wells in prime position for an early score. Sadly the ball was overthrown and Sudbury attacked from deep showing they threat the possessed.
With the rain having stopped this was going to be a quick game on the artificial surface and it was a good bounce off a line out that saw the Sudbury 8 go clean through unopposed to score under the posts – with the 10 converting for a 0 – 7 lead. Wells came straight back with Nick Doherty charging upfield. Sudbury were penalised and Monty took the 3 to reduce the gap after 15 minutes.
The next 15 minutes was all about defence, with Wells defending their line as the visitors looked to add to their lead. Jason Lord was at the heart of the defensive effort putting in some huge hits. An injury to skipper Mike Doherty saw a break in play of 5 minutes and time to catch their breath. This seemed to energise the home side and the next 10 were all Wells. Attack after attack hit a wall of Sudbury defence but they started to infringe and it wasn’t long before a yellow was issued. Wells opted for the scrum but it didn’t go to plan and Sudbury cleared. Wells came back, picking and driving closer to the line and with it more penalties against Sudbury. It was the last play of the game when Wells finally got reward for their efforts and a quick tap penalty was sent out wide to Max Hobbs who got over in the corner. Monty slotted a great conversion and Wells went in 10-7 at half time.

With Sudbury still down to 14 men Wells attacked from the off as the second half started, 5 minutes of possession as Wells used the pick and drive again eventually scrum half Finn White saw a gap and sped over the line – Monty converted and Wells extended their lead to 17-7. It was all Wells at this stage and Wells came so close to another score as Monty found some space but the last pass went to ground and Sudbury cleared. Then against the run of play Sudbury found some space and their hard running 8 and 12 created space for a fine try converted to reduce the Wells lead to 17-14. Sudbury were now in the ascendency and everything was going their way with their 8 at the centre of everything. It wasn’t long before they took the lead with another try as Wells ran out of defenders. The conversion went over and Sudbury had the lead 17-21. They looked a different side to what we had seen for most of the game and nothing was going right for Wells. Great defence held up what looked a certain try for Sudbury and Wells cleared. Sadly Wells line out was not functioning as it should and some key positions were lost.

With 10 to go both sides attacked at every opportunity but Wells could not find that magic touch to grab a victory at the death. Sudbury held on and were good for their victory. Wells will feel this was one that slipped away with the chances they had. They rebuild for the Kent Derby match against Medway away on 21st Jan – 2pm KO. MOM for Sudbury was 8 H Cowling with their 12 J Summer a close second. For Wells Finn White took the mom award.

Match Reporter: Tim McCabe

A small post-Christmas crowd gathered at Sidcup for a match that was on the surface, always going to be a grubby and greasy affair.

Wells, with the wind in their faces and javelin rain darting down by the bucket load, started the half with their backs to the opposition club house. Sidcup were up for revenge from their earlier season thumping.

With very difficult conditions, the teams were evenly matched and both needed a solid set of kicking skills and ball handling.

The first try was handed to Sidcup. A retiring Harrison Chapman, the totem Wells no5, caught the ball in an offside position, so was carded in the Wells 22. Sidcup then pressured. And then playing with a penalty advantage, crashed over for the first try. The conversion was missed, which was no surprise given the wind. Score 5-0.

Wells retaliated and followed with some hard yards, then started to make some headway up the field.

Sadly, with 10 minutes left of the half, the Wells 6, Jono Hilton, went off as a precaution, having hit the deck hard. Replaced by Charley Smith. The last action from came from the Sidcup boot, with 3 points kicked. The half ended 8-0. 

At this point the general mood and prediction (within the Wells stalwart supporters) was that they had done enough facing the storm. And with the new change of direction and elements they knew they would turn the tide. 

As with such wishful foresight, the second half started, and the wind and rain had subsided, along with the Wells’s potential added advantage. 

Five minuets in, the Golden booted boy, George Montgomery, kicks a penalty for 3 points. Score now 8-3.

Then with 13 minutes played, after much pressure, The ‘Cup’ come off their feet. It’s the home sides time to see yellow and the offender seeks cover allowing them to dry off in the bin!

The penalty is once again straight through the sticks, by Montgomery. 

Score now 8-6

The next 20 minutes brings heavy pressure from Sidcup on the Tunbridge Wells line. 

Eventually Sidcup get over for the five points on the left hand side of the pitch.

With their try converted, the score is now 15-6.
With the clock ticking down, there is time for an attempted drop goal from Montgomery, but the kick goes agonisingly close. 

Wells then kick three (now 15-9) but this is then cancelled out with a penalty for Sidcup. They get their 3 and with minutes left, both sides settle for an 18-9 ending. 

Next week, Wells play home to Sudbury (at their St Marks ground), who shouldn’t be underestimated. 

Once again the elements look to play a key role in the shape and style of output. Predictions of an ‘up the jumper’ as opposed to the ‘fast and wide’ approach. May not suit them, but as we know, not every prediction goes to plan! 

Match Reporter: Stuart Montgomery

It was a damp, relatively cold Saturday afternoon with a mild wind coming from the east and across the pitch. The first 10-15 minutes was an untidy and scrappy start with the referee trying to decide the reasons for awarding and resetting scrums. Losing patience he penalised the TW front row for the first kicking opportunity of the half. 35 metres out on the right hand side was found to be too difficult and the kick was pulled into the wind and comfortably missed the right post.
The remainder of the first half was predominantly played in the Hertford half with TW applying pressure with some accurate kicking by George Montgomery who 3 times hit touch 5 metres from the Hertford line. Twice the line out was won taken forward to with inches of the Hertford line but adjudged to be lost in contact or held up and Hertford scrums on their own 5 metres were awarded penalties for various different reasons – Ben Mutch, the hooker and captain on the day, worked hard with the referee to understand the breaches.
On 2 occasions TW had excellent chances to score, firstly after a clean take from Harrison Chapman, moved to the centre and creation of second and 3rd phases and then quick hands to the left wing, Max Hobbs, to go over only for the last pass to be given as forward. The second chance was after huge pressure to the Hertford line with Charley Smith hitting a fantastic line and brushing the first tackle aside and straight over a defender before the the last man standing in the way played the ball on the floor for a TW penalty just 5 metre out. George Montgomery tapped and was immediately tackled from feet away and the play was deemed to have been held up over the Hertford line. The Hertford centre was shown a Yellow card but the penalty try did not seem to be considered. John Petty came off with injured (ribs) and Jake Thompson came off the bench allowing Charley Smith to move to prop. After 2 further TW penalties and scrummages within 5 metres of the line TW were penalised at the set piece and the half was ended 0-0.
The second half saw the same number of penalties awarded and both sides were becoming very frustrated. Hertford were frequently kicking straight into touch from hand by not factoring the wind but hitting touch from the penalty kicks to pressure the TW 22. After 10 minutes within the TW 22 the first points went to Hertford,0-3, after an offside right in front of the posts 10 metres out. As part of that play Max Douch was yellow carded for a high tackle out wide on the left hand side.
TW brought on the rest of the bench with FIn White replacing Sam Seymour and Luke Hawkins replacing Ben Mutch. In the TW 22 a Hertford player had deemed to have committed an offence worthy of a YC and pressure was relieved. 3 consecutive penalties saw a line out 10 metres from Hertford line, good line out and move to the halves channels drew another penalty to TW. George Montgomery saw the opportunity, tapped and went over at mid point between posts and touchline – extra point duly taken 07-03 TW.
With both sides favouring the kicking game this played into TW’s hands as they won many yards with a better kick/chase game and also threatened the Hertford line before being called back for an offside.
With 10 minutes remaining TW found themselves pressing for some comfort and another score. From good second phase ball George Montgomery chipped over the rushing defence, regathered and scored the try to the right 20 metres from the touch line – another conversion and the score moved to 14-03.
The last 7 minutes saw Hertford attacking to try and get something, even a losing bonus point, from this game. Charley Smith was given a yellow card for an over aggressive tackle and the Hertford winger also saw yellow after some misdemeanours on the floor in the fading light.
It wasn’t a flowing game at all and with continual stoppages it was a tense and frustrating game. The result was the right one on the day as the TW defence was immense and their kicking game was superior. TW remain in 4th place and look forward to CS Stags away next week with the league leaders Westcombe Park at home on the 17th.

Match Reporter: Stuart Montgomery

This fixture completed the first half of the season whereby Bedford had only lost 1 previous home game and Tunbridge Wells could claim to having only conceded 79 points away from home all season – this was going to be a close game. Playing on an artificial grass pitch under lights is a great home advantage and leads to a game played at pace and we weren’t disappointed.

Tunbridge Wells started very well and took the game to Bedford in the opening exchanges and a loose clearance kick from Bedford found Mike Doherty on half way who scythed through the first line of defence and angled back towards the touchline to outpace the remaining defence. George Montgomery converting to make it 0-7.

Bedford were playing an open game and much of the first half saw multiple phases before Tunbridge Wells forced handling errors by patient but aggressive defence, especially in the 10-12-13 channels. It was from a TW scrum on the 40 metre line that was won but was deemed to have been collapsed to give Beford their first points of the game from a goal penalty. TW bounced back and after 3 or 4 good phases out to the right, recycled and taken wide with the extra hands of Brockman putting Mylo Vanner-Mackew in at the left corner – conversion narrowly missed but extended the lead to 3-12 which was taken to half time. Josh Brockman had to retire with an ankle injury and was replaced by Tom Waghorne. Matt Spicer was yellow carded for a side entry at a maul.

The second half saw TW again start well but a little inaccuracy saw mistakes at line out and breakdown and there were no further rewards. Bedford launched a sustained period of attack and TW defence was tested for c15 minutes and just holding out by a couple of strong ‘last ditch’ tackles by the back row and centres. It didn’t seem long with Matt back from the yellow card before Jono Hinton was carded for a high tackle. TW had some injuries and the team shuffled around (Ben Day and Stu Nicholls coming off the bench) but managed to keep their shape to create 2 half chances which were ended by crossing and a knock on wide out on the right wing following a kick into space. Bedford finally managed to cross the line on c70 minutes after multiple phases, this was duly converted to make the score 10-12. The last 10 minutes was a tight affair and neither side took a backward step and the home crowd were expecting the victory. Into the last minute of the game saw a TW knock on 40 metres from the line and the scrummage was to be the last play. A fantastic scrum from the tight 5 saw the Bedford front row stand up and the penalty, along with game, went to TW.

Both sides wanted to play rugby and on a different day the score could have been many more points across the board. It is most certainly a different game on an AGP and this should be good preparation for the second half of the season where we travel to the other opponents with a similar set up. 

At the halfway point we remain in 4th place and with a closely fought league no game can be taken for granted.                                

Match Reporter: Tim McCabe

The players lined up to pause and reflect for two-minutes. The observed silence, is then awoken by the proficient Conor Boyle’s shrill blast on the whistle. The game gets underway, Wells kick off facing the clubhouse with a steady breeze behind their backs.

It’s a very close game, with much to and fro. After 13 minutes in, Harpenden are awarded a penalty for Wells not releasing. This results in five minutes of persistent pressure, but Wells defence is resolute. Eventually Wells then clear their lines, and the tables are turned, with a quarter of the match now played.

Thirty-one minutes in, a massive kick from Ed Shepherdson, showing versatility on the wing, lands 5 meters out. The line out is caught by Wells, mauled and expertly driven over the line and touchdown by the Wells blind side, Jono Hinton.  

The kick is not converted. Wells lead 5-0.

The next 9 minutes sees Harpenden banging at Tunbridge Wells’ door, but it’s bolted shut and their defence is solid. Eventually, after several Harpenden penalties, Wells managed to get one of their own, and boot the ball out for a well-earned half time rest. Score still 5-0.

Second half starts with colossal pressure from Harpenden, eventually their 11 goes over and dots down in the left-hand corner. Score 5-5 after conversion goes wide.

Wells start, with great pressure from the off and quick tap penalty from George Montgomery, followed by a line out. The ball is caught, driven and again Wells go over for the five points, with the totemic Toby Talbot getting a well-deserved team try.

Monty kicks the two, score is now 12-5

The game restarts and pretty soon Wells are back on the front foot. They enter the opposition 22, with a nice switch play from left to right and a try lands curtesy of Tom Waghorne. George Montgomery again converts the two, it’s now 19-5

Wells now on the march receive a penalty as Harpenden’s 11 is penalised for ‘coming off his feet’. They opt for a kick to the line, and with a clean catch, get a rolling maul over the whitewash. Jono Hinton dots down for his brace and Wells pull ahead, 24-5, with the conversion missed.

With 15 minutes left of the match, Harpenden provide some never say die attitude and their beefy 6 finally crosses the line. With the conversion kick sailing over, the score is sealed at 24-12

Harpenden now feel they are in the game, and turn up the heat, but again strong tackling from the whole team keeps them at bay. Nick Doherty, deservedly picking up the Man of the Match award from Chapel Down Group, for his efforts. Always leading from the front.

With the light now fading Harpenden still on the attack, but it’s proving increasingly unlikely that they will close the 12-point gap.

The last play of the game, sees Wells kick the ball out from their scrum. Another great day at the office and Wells move up to 4th position in the Regional 1 South East division.