Bulls’ efforts rewarded with first win
AYLESFORD PARK HOUSE
It’s taken 640 minutes of league action but Aylesford Bulls finally got their London 3 South East campaign off the ground with a hard-fought win over Park House. The home side dominated the early exchanges on Saturday, with debutant scrum-half Mike Lawton controlling the game. After 15 minutes Dion Comerford took matters into his own hands, jinking through several challenges to score an individual try, followed by the conversion. Park came back strongly and led 12-7 but Bulls remained upbeat and after yet more pressure from a revitalised pack, the backs came out to play. Comerford fed full-back Lee Gilchrist, who burst through a gaping hole before popping the ball back to Comerford. It then reached flanker Sam Proctor, who pulled off a Fijianstyle offload to centre Jake Lott who touched down under the posts. Comerford converted again to make it 14-12. Half-time loomed but Park weren’t done yet and scored their third try to lead 19-14 at the break. Full-back Lee Gilchrist eventually broke the second-half stalemate with a penalty. Lott was then ruled to have been held up short of the line after Ed McConnell summoned all the speed he could muster to meet Ben Pass’ kick but Lawton went over from the scrum for 22-19. Bulls captain Darren Jalink said: “The initial results did not highlight the effort the players had been putting in at training. “The lads have worked hard, putting in a huge, largely unseen effort to change our fortunes and this has culminated in a hard-won victory against a strong, well-organised outfit. “I could not be prouder of the lads. We have a saying at Aylesford – ‘Bulls family’ – meaning we aren’t just a rugby team and this isn’t just any rugby club. “We are a family of players all proud to wear the jersey from our 1st XV down to our minis section. I encourage everyone to become a part of this family.” Tomorrow (Saturday), Bulls travel to East Sussex to take on old foes Lewes. Aylesford: Gilchrist, Goodrich, Mackenzie, Lott, Mackenzie, Comerford, Lawton, McConnell, Pass, Jalink (c), Lewis, Murdoch, Gray, Proctor, Tenters. Replacements: Hollister, Savignon, Carmillet. Pulborough ..... 9 8 0 1 279 154 39 Thanet Wdrs ... 9 7 0 2 291 144 36 Lewes............. 9 6 0 3 243 212 30 Haywards Hth . 9 7 0 2 216 94 29 Folkestone ...... 9 5 0 4 279 212 27 Eastbourne ..... 9 4 0 5 184 201 21 Sheppey ......... 9 3 1 5 220 269 20 Gill Anchs ....... 9 4 0 5 225 236 17 Park House ..... 9 2 0 7 164 246 13 Old Dunstons .. 9 4 1 4 230 289 9 Aylesford ........ 9 1 0 8 133 296 6 Ashford ........... 9 2 0 7 150 261 3 Results: Aylesford Bulls 22 Park House 19, Eastbourne 17 Ashford 10, Gillingham Anchorians 36 Folkestone 22, Haywards Heath 7 Lewes 10, Pulborough 13 Thanet Wanderers 19, Sheppey 22 Old Dunstonians 22. Fixtures: Ashford v Old Dunstonians, Folkestone v Pulborough, Haywards Heath v Sheppey, Lewes v Aylesford Bulls, Park House v Gillingham Anchorians, Thanet Wanderers v Eastbourne. Hastings ......... 9 9 0 0 283 58 43 Old Williams.... 9 7 0 2 244 133 34 Cranbrook ....... 9 6 1 2 280 163 34 HSBC .............. 9 5 1 3 211 224 28 Beccehamian .. 9 5 0 4 163 176 23 Southwark ...... 9 4 0 5 168 263 19 Vigo ................ 9 3 0 6 175 205 19 K Coll Hosp ..... 9 3 0 6 141 165 17 Sittingbourne .. 9 3 0 6 156 214 17 New Ash Grn... 9 3 0 6 167 198 15 Brockleians ..... 9 3 0 6 110 225 14 Snowdown...... 9 2 0 7 128 202 6 Results: Beccehamian 26 Vigo 15, Cranbrook 53 Snowdown CW 5, Hastings & Bexhill 24 New Ash Green 10, HSBC 21 Brockleians 20, Old Williamsonians 12 Kings College Hospital 10, Southwark Lancers 30 Sittingbourne 24. Fixtures: Brockleians v Beccehamian, Kings College Hospital v HSBC, Old Williamsonians v Hastings & Bexhill, Sittingbourne v New Ash Green, Snowdown CW v Southwark Lancers, Vigo v Cranbrook.