Sunday 18th March 2007 Kent Rugby Festival Preliminary Round at Medway Having been losing finalists last year, we were told we would be second seeds this year which should have meant an easy pool and a stroll through to the semis! So who did we have in our pool? Canterbury, the 2005 winners and Cranbrook, the 2006 winners who narrowly beat us 1-0 in that final. Many coaches from other clubs sympathised with us being in the pool of death. Undeterred, the team set about their first game with Cranbrook and took an early lead through Jack Robertson. We held the lead right until the dying seconds when we allowed them to slip away from the line out to score under the posts, the conversion levelling the scores at 7-7. Cranbrook having already lost 10-7 to Canterbury meant we could finish 1st, 2nd or third depending on the result against Canterbury. We got off to a poor start letting in two soft tries but an interception by Jack brought us back to 10-7 which is how the game ended. As we finished the group with exactly the same results as Cranbrook we went into our first ever drop goal shoot out which, on such a windy day is not easy but succesful kicks from Paul and Jack saw us through to the plate and Cranbrook relegated to the bowl - However, due to some other clubs having dropped out, Cranbrook were reinstated. In the quarter finals we came up against Sevenoaks, one of only three teams to beat us this season and who are unbeaten in Sunday fixtures. The team really raised the tempo and had them defending their goal line for most of the game. We ran out winners 17-0 and who did we face in the semi final - Cranbrook again!! This time we played on a pitch with a howling wind blowing straight down. We gifted them a soft try in the first half to turn round 0-7 down. The boys did not let their heads drop but dominated the second half and with tries from Jack, Sam and Harry we ran out winners 19-7. It was a great effort from all the squad in a series of matches that was every bit as hard as the final itself which, by the way, will be contested between Canterbury and Dartfordians - the only other teams to beat us this year. I think this puts our season into perspective. We said at the start that we wanted to win 60% of our games and make it to the Kent finals day - both of which we have achieved. So now to the plate final. It will be at Aylesford on 1st April where we will play Old Alleynians. It should be a great day out but probably an early start again! Robbie