The Academy U16s travelled down the road for their 2nd Kent League fixture of the season on Remembrance Sunday.
After a humbling 58-0 defeat away at Old Colfes in their first outing, Oaks were keen to put on a better showing against their old friends at rivals at The Slade.
Oaks started physically, applying pressure right from the kickoff. TJs were forced into a handling error and Tiger Bussey, usually a back three player but starting at 7 after an impressive training week, kicked through to score. Fly half George Rehbein added the extras and Oaks took an early 0-7 lead.
TJs threw the kitchen sink at the visitors for the next 5 minutes. Solid defence and TJs handling errors kept them out before Oaks won multiple penalties in quick succession to work up the field. Oaks drove the lineout, before working infield and opening up a nice little shortside for the man of the moment, Bussey, to dive over on the right. The conversion attempt was from a horrible angle and so Oaks had to settle for being 0-12 up.
Unfortunately, Oaks then rather lost concentration as they gave away an easy 3 immediately from the ensuing kickoff. They then repeatedly struggled to exit their own 22 which led to TJs possession close to their line. The TJs pack put together an impressive lineout drive, before barrelling over from close range. Suddenly it was 8-12 and the home side were in the ascendency.
Oaks' failure to tidy up their backfield was exposed repeatedly by the home half backs at the back end of the half. Another penalty was conceded and TJs kicked the 3 to go in at half-time only 1 point down at 11-12.
A lengthy half-time followed as both sides did their team talks before standing shoulder to shoulder to honour the fallen.
TJs got back into gear much more quickly than Sevenoaks as they dominated territory and possession for the first 20 minutes of the 2nd half. During this time, the home side went over for two tries, but converted neither. Despite being 2nd best for 40 or so mins after their rapid start, Oaks were somehow only 9 points down with 15 minutes still to play.
To their credit, Oaks rolled up their sleeves and began to exit their own territory more effectively. This led to errors from TJs and the game was much more even for the next 10 minutes, before Oaks started to really gain the upper hand in the final 5.
Livewire winger Alex Hayward finally got the ball in some space, before beating 3 defenders to score and bring Oaks to within 4 points at 21-17. Unfortunately, Rehbein couldn't quite add the conversion, so Oaks needed another try to win the game.
Bussey, now playing at 15, made no fewer than 3 linebreaks on the counter attack to repeatedly get Oaks into a position to win the game. Sadly, it wasn't to be as Oaks seeked contact instead of getting the ball to the edges on all 3 occasions, leading to turnovers. TJs won a final penalty on the floor as Oaks pressed into their 22, and the game was over.
Whilst the result was tough to take, Oaks can be hugely proud of the fight they showed to make this game so tight at the finish. There were moments after TJs went 21-12 up where even the staunchest Oaks supporter would have felt like a drubbing might have been on the cards. On the flip side, Oaks will be disappointed that having started like a train, they allowed themselves to slowly ship points by going off-process and making poor individual errors in the middle portion of the match.
Next up in the league is Canterbury, at the Paddock in two weeks' time (Nov 26th). It forms a league triple header, with the 1s and 2s both playing Sidcup in their respective U18 leagues on the same day.
Squad list : Jack Pearson, Sam Pearl, Dexter Williams, Toby Kirkpatrick, Tom Kerton, Harry Perman, Tiger Bussey, Ed Karsak, Will Blackmore, George Rehbein, Alex Hayward, Arthur Luboinski, Callum Le Roux, Hugo Schwemm, Preston Williams
Subs : Ben Thomson, Tait Andersen, Barnaby Burns