Sunday 12th March 2006 Kent Rugby Festival Preliminary Round at Medway U13s Kent Festival Squad Forwards Backs Max Bentley Joseph Bees David Blackman George Bream Ben Coles Alex Brooks Ben Henning Harry Isaac Jamie Hughes Josh Keates Fred Laws Tim McKavanagh Ellis Morris Callum Murray Chris O’Malley Billy Ryan Matt Phillips Jack Sawyer Connor Shine - Josh Kaufman - Coach Coach John Hughes Tom Isaac Introduction A cold crisp morning on an exposed hillside above the Medway River saw 32 teams from all over Kent turn out to play in the Under 13 Junior Kent Preliminaries. For the teams, the day would consist of 2 pool matches, with the group winners going through to contest the Cup, the runners up the Plate and the third placed the Bowl. Once through the group stage there would be a quarter final then a semi and, for the successful teams, a place in the final in 2 weeks time. The matches consisted of two halves, 10 minutes each way. The 20 boys from the Beccs were captained by Ben Coles with Alex Brooks Vice-captain and leader of the backs. Group Stage Pool Match 1. - Beccs vs. Westcombe Park Despite being the seeded team in the group the first fixture was a tricky affair against close rivals Westcombe Park. During the years of mini rugby the Beccs had enjoyed supremacy over Westcombe but in a match at the beginning of this season Combe had run out deserved winners and had clearly found the transition to the 15-man game much easier. Yet despite the proximity of the two clubs they had yet to hold the return match, thus the stage was now set… Westcombe dropped-out but a sliced kick meant that the ball didn’t make the necessary 10m and with no advantage coming, the referee called play to a halt, wisely Beccs elected for the scrum on halfway. An excellent drive from the pack allowed Ben Coles, at no. 8, to set himself, collect the ball from the base of the scrum and make the break on a wide blindside. This manoeuvre caught the Combe backs knapping and with little opposition he ran over into the corner for the opening score. Despite a missed conversion this was just the start the Beccs wanted. The Combe restart also failed to make the distance and once more Beccs elected for the scrum. This time however the defence was better prepared, held the drive and were finally rewarded with a penalty when a Beccs forward encroached offside. The next 5 minutes were played out in the opposition half but when Beccs lost their own line-out, Combe threatened a quick counterattack, only for it to be called back when the final pass was adjudged forward. Nevertheless Combe’s blood was up and an excellent scrum against the head secured possession - momentarily the Beccs were on the back foot. It was then that Ben Henning came up with the ball from a maul just inside the Combe’s half and with typical elusiveness broke three tackles to surge to within 5m of the try line only to be finally hauled down, but not before he popped the ball out to Chris O’Malley who in excellent support gave the shout. It was a simple matter for Chris to slide over for try number two and snuff out any hopes of a Westcombe revival. Callum Murray converted and the Beccs went in at half-time 12 – 0 up. Callum restarted deep and in a lightning follow-up raid tackled the receiver who, having let the ball bounce, found himself desperately out of time. The pack then poured forward and in a driving maul trundled towards the try line, until when close enough, Ben Henning peeled off with the ball and scored at the base of the post. Callum again converted. Combe to their credit never gave up and for the next few passages enjoyed the majority of the possession, forcing the Beccs onto the defensive. Only excellent work from Harry Isaac in covering a probing kick from the opposition scrum-half and then moments later putting in an excellent tackle prevented the score. But with time running out the result was, by now, beyond doubt and when the Beccs worked their way back into the Westcombe 22, Ben Coles in a repeat of his opening gambit, collected from the base of a scrum and went over for try number four, victory was sealed. Full time 24 – 0. Match 2. - Whitstable vs. Beccs Tom ensured that with the second match that all members of the squad got significant playing time and this enabled Max Bentley, David Blackman, Freddie Laws, Joseph Bees, Josh Kaufmann and Jack Sawyer to show their skills. Whitstable kicked-off the second pool game. Harry received and after covering the ground to halfway laid-off to George Breen on the left wing, who in turn progressed up to the 22. First into the maul was Ellis Morris and it was his good work that secured the possession for Jamie Hughes. Jamie set-off across the field and finding himself unopposed straightened up and slipped his marker to score just to the right of the posts. Sadly the conversion attempt hit the post. If the previous match had been a display of forward power this was all about the backs. Firstly a probe from Tim McKavanagh at centre made the ground and with full back providing the overlap Josh Keates ran in for a simple score in the corner, worryingly however Josh twisted his ankle in the process and Head Coach, Tom Isaac, was forced into some hurried re-organisation. Next it was Alex Brooks’ turn to impress, when the ball emerged from a ruck and swung out quickly to the fly-half, he obliged with a dazzling display of three consecutive dummies before running over to score under the posts for try number three. Alex also rounded off this brilliant individual moment with the conversion. The price however, had been paid in the earlier ruck, when captain Ben Coles and lock Matt Phillips had clashed heads; Ben now had to be substituted and forwards Coach John Hughes was forced into bringing on Ben Henning who himself had been recovering from a muscle strain picked up in the first match. What should have been a comfortable game was beginning to take an ominous turn; would Beccs rue their misfortune? From the Whitstable re-start Tim collected and sent Alex once again on his way dancing around the opposition before being forced into touch 5m out. Although Whitstable won their line-out a loose tap back left the ball bobbling about and quick reactions from Chris secured his second try for the day. The conversion was missed but the Beccs went in comfortably 24 – 0 to the good. In second half the backs continued to perform well. A Beccs scrum secured possession and this time Billy Ryan found the space to made good yardage before laying-off to Tim to carry the play on; when Tim was tackled in the corner it was left to George Breen in a wonderful supporting position to slide over in what seemed like an impossibly tight space for the try. From the touch line the distance proved too much for Callum but by now conversions were a mere formality. From the drop-out Billy received the ball and immediately made another surging run deep into Whitstable territory, not to be totally outdone the forwards set up a rolling maul which was finessed when Ben Henning again peeled-off from the base and then popped the ball to Matt who stretched over for a well deserved try. Callum converted. The final passage of play saw scrumhalf Callum again in action when he collected the ball from his pack and make the break from halfway to score in the corner. Although the conversion was missed the final score saw Beccs emphatic winners at 0 – 39. The Quarter Final With the weather becoming even more bitingly cold, despite the milky sunshine; the long wait between the last pool match and the quarter-final was an anxious time; to add to their other injury worries and the potential loss of their talismanic captain Ben Coles (still clearly not fit), the Beccs now had to face tournament favourites and number one seeds, Ashford. With 5 minutes to go before kick-off players and spectators alike were treated to a scene reminiscent of Henry V before the ramparts at Halfleur when John Hughes gave an inspirational speech calling for one more brave sally into the breach for Ben Coles and Beccs! Ashford vs. Beccs Ashford won the toss and elected to kick, gifting possession to the Beccs (was this a good omen?) and from start Beccs took it to them! Ashford were favourites for good reason and try as the Beccs could the Ashford defence withstood all that was thrown at it. With two such large and able packs the game was doggedly slogged out, like two old lumbering boxers, in the narrow area between the Ashford 22 and halfway. When play did eventually move into the Beccs half the Ashford scrumhalf kicked up and over in an opportunistic attempt to break the deadlock, but the position was comfortably covered and touched down for a 22 drop-out. From this point the game once more moved into the opposition half only punctuated by counters from the big Ashford outside centre and wing. Both of these sallies were dramatically snuffed out by superb tackles from the heroic George on the wing on two both occasions. At halftime the score remained resolutely 0 – 0, and although the second half would be slightly up hill for Beccs the omens were improving they had held the balance of play against the number 1 seeds and Ben Coles, now recovering, was itching to come on. The second half was almost an exact mirror of the first. Ashford had regrouped and came out ready for the contest. Play now remained permanently in the Beccs half. Moreover a sudden Ashford break on the left wing looked a certain score until Ben Henning launched a last ditched try saving tackle sweeping the ball and carrier into touch. Moments later another Ashford attack was incredibly held on the line and to their relief Beccs were awarded the penalty. It was now time to bring Ben Coles on for the last 5 minutes to stiffen the tiring defence. Both sides were by now clearly physically and mentally exhausted by the stalemate. Beccs gave away two penalties on their 22 in quick succession but in response Ashford conspired on knock-on from the second yielding the clear advantage. The final passage of play concluded when Ben Coles tried valiantly to break the impasse with an individual charge, but to their credit Ashford were too good to be intimated and successfully held the surge. The final whistle came to provide a temporary respite to tortured spectators from both sides as the match finished scoreless. Any relief, however, proved very temporary indeed as what followed proved even more nail biting for those participating and watching alike. In previous years draws like this were decided on the toss of a coin, and cruelly Beccs had been both the beneficiaries and victims of this arbitrary process. This year, in an attempt to introduce some control over their own fate the match would be decided on the best of five drop goals from the 22. Ashford would go first. The first kick went over and Beccs in response missed. Ashford then missed and Ben Coles (who else?) kicked over to even the scores. Ashford then scored and Beccs missed as indeed did the next pairing. With one kick to go Ashford held their own destiny in their hands – a successful kick and they were through a miss and Beccs would still need to score just to draw level. Incredibly the Ashford ball hit the post! Step up Callum; with one kick to save the game there is no one better to entrust with the responsibility and coolly he levelled the score at 2 – 2. Play now entered a second phase, sudden death! Of the remaining 10 players on the field when the final whistle blew each would take a kick until one side or the other missed. Ashford again went first but both sides missed their initial kicks. Ashford then successfully kicked their second, step up tightside lock forward, Ben Henning, and like a seasoned professional he dropped over to once more to level the scores. Both sides then missed kicks eight and nine. Ashford’s tenth kick also missed, step up looseside lock forward Matt Phillips, who with consummate skill dropped over! Heroes of the hour were both second rowers, Matt and Ben who had no right to be kicking as they had done! Our commiserations must go to Ashford. In a finely balanced, totally absorbing game both teams showed outstanding resolve and displayed some of the best rugby played at the tournament, in the end they had only lost by an agonising drop goal, we wish them well. The Semi Final So to the semi-final and a game against close neighbours Bromley. In previous years these games had always been evenly matched. Indeed Bromley had been the semi-final victims of a flick of a coin against Beccs two years previous. Moreover this year they had already beaten Beccs at home but at this stage of the competition there are no easy games. Beccs vs. Bromley Bromley kicked-off, Connor caught and immediately took it back. Play ebbed and flowed but when Beccs were awarded a penalty Callum kicked for field position and play resumed on the Bromley 22. From this point Bromley slowly pushed their way back up field and there they stayed for several minutes, battering the Beccs defence until an untimely knock-on yielded possession. With secure ball Callum again kicked for position into an empty space on the Bromley left which when this was knocked-on gave Beccs a good platform inside their opponents half. Now was not the time to lose against the head but this the Beccs did, though they were let off when Bromley failed to capitalise and knocked-on themselves. The half eventually drew to a close all even, 0 – 0. On balance it had been Bromley’s half but if the pattern was maintained Beccs would have the advantage of the slope in the second half. Callum dropped-out for the final period of the day, the next 10 minutes would determine which of the two sides would be going through to the final. It was Bromley who were first out of the traps and from the initial drive a period of sustained pressure ensued which kept the Beccs hemmed into their 22. Despite this pressure, the Beccs defence was resolute with outstanding rucking and mauling from both props, Connor and Ellis, and Bromley never seemed to break the game until with 5 minutes left a final surge forced the Beccs to concede a scrum 5m out from their line. The turning point when it did come, came from an unlikely source as Beccs (through their excellent hooking of Freddie Laws) won the scrum when it really mattered, against the head! This in turn allowed Ben Coles once more to set himself, collect and make a characteristic break down the blindside. The Bromley winger missed his man and Ben charged on with only the fullback to beat. The fullback made the tackle but Ben kept on his feet and despite a combined effort from the scrumhalf he broke free and ran the whole length of the field to score under the posts. Callum collected the extras with a simple conversion. For the next 3 minutes Bromley once more mounted repeated attacks, but they never really came close and the defence held firm. Time eventually ran out for them; seeing Beccs the 7 – 0 winners of another thrilling match. Beccs had won through to the final, the first ever Beccehamian side to represent the club in a Junior Cup Final! This display was an outstanding combination of individual brilliance and, more to the point, the team’s collective determination. This unfancied side with thin resources had once again punched above their weight to earn themselves a ticket to the Kent Cup Final where they will meet old respected opponents, Blackheath. The achievement today was a testament to the months of preparation, the Coaches, Tom and John but above all else the strength of character and team spirit of the boys themselves. The next two weeks will be a very long wait indeed.