Sittingbourne Youth Rugby

Sunday 29 January 2012
Sittingbourne 58 - Gravesend 0

Sittingbourne U’13s built upon their promising performance last week at Canterbury by beating Gravesend 58-0. Bourne started slowly and the cold conditions were not conducive to flowing rugby. Kindred scored a well worked try but Bourne found it difficult to break down a stubborn Gravesend defence. As the half continued, excellent forward play, direct running and superb support allowed Bourne to take a grip on the game. Persistent pressure in the rucks and mauls provided Bourne with good ball in Gravesend’s half. Good interplay between forwards and backs, strong running and individual determination resulted in tries from B Smith, Boyes and Kindred to give Bourne a 24-0 half time lead.

Bourne continued with their relentless pressure after the break, and forced Gravesend into numerous handling errors which resulted in tries for Jones and Kindred. The pack were dictating the play with Barker, Boyes, Kindred, Morris and B Smith making noteworthy breaks, and stifling Gravesend’s attacks by outstanding tackling and rucking. Bourne began to play with more freedom and took full advantage of Gravesend's poor tackling. Both wingers began to see more of the ball as the backs tried to stretch the defence. Good breaks by Harding and Pink allowed Jones and J Smith to score. It was testimony to Bourne’s dominance that all twenty-two players were able to play a significant role in the game, which indicates the strength in depth that is present within the squad. Flanker Kindred was a constant menace around the rucks and mauls, and capped a fine display by scoring three more individual tries. Tamlin and Powley kicked four conversions to seal an emphatic win for Bourne, and provide a solid platform for the rest of the season.

TEAM: Dighton Bessick Watson Langley Fassenfelt Barker Kindred Boyes Powley Smallbridge Pink Tamlin Jones Minshall J Smith Goodhew Broderick Brookes Hill Morris Harding B Smith.

Sunday 22 January 2012
Canterbury 30 - Sittingbourne 22

Things looked ominous for Sittingbourne at Canterbury when the home side took an early lead with a try on their first attack. However, this inspired Sittingbourne to raise their game and they took the game to the hosts. Excellent forward play from Boyes, Barker, Kindred and Morris set a platform for the backs to play a more expansive game, and superb handling from Powley, Smallbridge, Tamlin, Kindred and Jones created an overlap for Minshall to score in the corner and Tamlin added the additional points. Sittingbourne began to dominate the play and the forwards imposed themselves on the Canterbury pack. A series of powerful rolling mauls and strong rucks put the Canterbury defence under pressure, and Bourne were rewarded with a penalty ten metres from the line. Langley took the most direct route and powered over despite the attention of two defenders. Bourne were now playing their best game of the season. Good defensive tackles, which was epitomised by Pink, and strong counter rucking created further opportunities. Minshall scored his second try with a strong solo run, beating five defenders, and Kindred capped an impressive half by stealing a ball in a maul to dive over to give Bourne a 22 – 5 lead.

The second half was a different game and Canterbury made a number of significant substitutions to try to counter Bourne’s outstanding performance. As the game progressed Bourne found it more difficult to cope with the powerful running of a number of Canterbury players. The boys continued to commit themselves, but relentless pressure from Canterbury saw the home side score three unanswered tries. Bourne found it more difficult to muster decisive attacks, and as they tired the handling errors increased to provide Canterbury with the impetus. The final five minutes saw a number of dubious penalties awarded against Bourne. Bourne, despite giving 100% effort, could not hold out and Canterbury scored two more tries to win the game 30-22. All the players played exceptionally well and, although disappointed by the result, can take enormous pride from a spirited team performance.

Sunday 8 January 2012
Thanet 12 - Sittingbourne 12

Sittingbourne travelled to Thanet where the under 13's started strongly from the kick off. The first quarter saw Thanet defending well with Bourne mounting several attacks. The forwards set some clean ruckball for scrum half Powley to ship to the backs who were making excellent ground with strong running by Alex M and Jones. Quick recycled ball saw Bourne stopped short on several occasions.

In the 2nd quarter Thanet capitalized on Bourne's mistakes from the kick off. Bourne missed the ball, for Thanet to gain possession from a scrum where they attacked down the blindside ending up on Bourne's try line and a try was awarded despite there being some of Bourne players underneath the ball. From the restart Bourne players fumbled the ball letting Thanet players capitalize on this and score wide in the corner.

The 3rd quarter saw Bourne wake up again. Taking control of the ball they spun it out wide before being stopped just short of the line. The forwards took it on themselves with good picking and driving, and prop Rhys Morris showed good strength to bullock his way over the line. Tamlin followed up with a conversion.

From the restart Bourne gained possession, the back row of Barker, Kindred and Boyes played well turning over the ball. Bourne slowly began to march Thanet up the pitch, where quick ball and good hands saw centre Jones crash over the line in the corner.

The last quarter was mainly played in the middle of the pitch with neither side taking control. then Bourne upped their game throwing the ball from one side to the other, finding themselves back on Thanet's 5 metre line, where Thanet had a lineout for Boyes to win. Strong rucking by Bourne led to a penalty for Kindred to drive into the heart of the Thanet pack. Bourne's forwards drove Kindred over the line where he grounded the ball but the ref deemed it held up at the last play.

Squad: Watson, Morris, Langley, Fazzenfelt, Barker, Boyes, Kindred, Powley, Smallbridge, Tamlin, Jones, J Smith, Pink, Minshall, Harding, Brookes, Hill, Dighton, Broderick

Sunday 27 November 2011
Sheppey 24 - Sittingbourne 20

This derby match was played as four 15-minute quarters. Sittingbourne started the stronger, not giving Sheppey an inch. Despite an early missed penalty, they went in front after good hands by the backs saw full back J Smith score in the corner. Sheppey then picked up the pace and Ben Jamieson replied with a fantastic try right under the posts.

In the second quarter, Sittingbourne came back with a further two tries but no conversions. First up Kindred craches over the line after Tamlin was stopped just short. The second came from a five metre scrum with Boyes driving over the line.

The third quarter saw Kindred add another try for Sittingbourne. After some good phases of play, they won a penalty 10 metres out and a quick tap from Boyes found Kindred who jinxed his way through to score.

Jamieson once again scored for Sheppey as they started their fight back. This was followed by two more tries from Zane Lee and another from Jamieson, both converted by Kai Hulus to see Sheppey come from behind and win.

Sunday 20 November 2011
Deal & Betteshanger 15 Sittingbourne 10

Bourne pressured Deal's defence early on, but it stood strong. The home side kicked and cleared their half and, with a series of penalties and mistakes by Bourne, they were able to scor in the corner. Bourne hit back, setting a maul before a strong drive through the middle of the pitch left the blind side exposed for hooker Sam Kindred to break from the maul, break two tackles and score. Deal replied with good hands from their winger to score in the corner.

After the break, Bourne showed their domance in the set piece by taking several balls against the head with good phases of play. Good counter-rucking saw Kindred run 50 metres to level the score at 10-10. Bourne were then reduced to 14 men but continued to show character and commitment and never gave up. Deal pinned them on their five-metre line and when Bourne turned over the ball they unfortunately knocked it on. With only seven forwards on the pitch, Bourne still managed to pressure Deal's scrum, but the home side managed to break through and score with only a couple of minutes left to win 15-10.

Man of the Match was Sam Kindred and Forwrd of the Match was Oliver Langley.

Sunday 9 October 2011 - East Kent Cup
Sittingbourne 19 - Ashford 14

Sittingbourne Under 13's hosted Ashford for their first ever cup game. From the start Bourne put the pressure on. From kick off there was strong running and good rucking by Bournes forwards and five phases later saw them on Ashfords 5m line. After a quick ruck hooker Kindred crashed over to open the scoring with Boyes adding the conversion. Ashford replied with a try after some weak tackling by Bourne. In Ashford's 22 Bourne's forwards and scrum half pressured Ashford's forwards at a ruck resulting in panic passing allowing No 8 Boyes to intercept and run under the post to score and kick the conversion. Ashford's bigger pack did not give their backs clean ball, but were lucky to level the score with another try. With 15 minutes to go Bourne had most of the passion. Quick ruck ball saw the hooker make a break down the blind side getting stopped 5 metres out. Boyes picked up and drove for the line getting stopped short with C Roberts Marley crashing over to score and win the game 19-14.

Squad: Morris, Kindred, C Roberts Marley, Fassenfelt, Brookes, Boyes, Barker, Goodhew, Tamlin, Smallbridge, Jones, J Roberts Marley, Harding, Smith, Watson, Bessick, Dighton

Sunday 2 October 2011
Old Williamsonians 14 - Sittingbourne 39

Bourne started the strongest imposing their game from the start. Strong running in the backs resulted in a 5 metre ruck for S. Kindred to open the scoring. Once again Bourne put on the pressure and Kindred once again found himself over the try line. Bourne's forwards gave No 8 Boyes a solid platform to pick up from the scrum and put a third try on the score board. Good play between the backs and forwards saw Kindred score 2 more tries. S Harding was next to crash over the line from a lineout followed by Goodhew scoring in the corner. In the heat Bourne felt tired and Old Wills got 2 tries on the score board to give a final score 39-14 to Sittingbourne.

Squad: Morris, Kindred, Broderick, Fassenfelt, Brookes, C Roberts Marley, Barker, Boyes, Goodhew, Tamlin, Smallbridge, Jones, J Smith, Harding, J Roberts Marley, Bessick, Hill