Kentish Express Ashford & District
Rare win provides timely boost
Rugby
More of the same will be skipper Rhys Fussell’s message to his Ashford squad after they ended their long wait for a win with a 27-15 friendly victory over Blackheath 3rds on Saturday.
Ashford failed to record a win on their way to relegation last season and Fussell says beating Blackheath’s development squad provided a timely boost ahead of Saturday’s opening London 3SE game away to Thanet Wanderers.
Fussell, who scored two of his side’s five tries, said: “It was like a weight was lifted on Saturday after going so long without a win and the boys fully deserved it
“Last season was a difficult one but the boys stuck at it and their attitude has been brilliant. They’ve all worked hard and Saturday’s win was a reward for their character and resilience.”
Ashford’s other tries came from Jake Fletcher, Tom Hinckes and Dan Brown, with Fussell kicking a conversion.
Wanderers were relegated from London 2SE with Ashford last season and Fussell says he thinks it will help his side launching their campaign against familiar opposition.
He added: “We’ve been with them for the past three years so we know each other’s game well. Thanet’s always a tough place to go so it will be a good test for us.
“If we can go there and get a result it will give us a lot of confidence ahead of our next match, which is another derby, against Folkestone.”
Ashford 2s also travel to Thanet on Saturday for a friendly. On Sunday, there will be a large numbers at Kinneys Field as minis and juniors come together to train and register for the coming season.
The first full weekend of action at Ashford RFC coincided with the club’s annual beer festival.
An early evening game saw Ashford’s Prodigals face local rivals Ashford Barbarians in a game which was played in memory of club stalwarts Simon Cromwell, Jonathan Hamilton and Michelle Horne, all of whom passed away in the close season. Each had a son playing in the fixture.
The Prodigals are essentially an invitation side consisting of players aged 17 to 23 and a combination of their youth and of not training together told against an older and more structured Barbarians side who ran out winners by 26-12.
Jordan Macey, a promising 17-year-old, scored two tries, with Ollie Gray adding a conversion. The team will get together next over the Christmas holiday period.
Prop Ben Gauntlett set up the opening try for the Barbarians after seizing the ball at the breakdown and setting loose 18-year-old scrum-half Sam Dale whose quick feet took him past three defenders.
Dale claimed a second try after displaying more electric pace against his former club and it was from his clever box kick, that No. 8 Logan Chandler went over.
Former Ashford centre Danny Bushell put the game out of sight after puncturing the Prodigals defence to secure the win – despite the Baabars being reduced to 13 men.
The evening ended with the Simon Cromwell Memorial Plate being presented to Barbarians’ captain Jason . Potter.
Saturday saw Ashford Ladies secure an exciting win over Maidstone in their first preseason game. The ladies have a fairly new squad, strengthened by the return of some senior players such as Liz Ashby and Vicky Norman.
The game helped to raise money and awareness of the ladies game ahead of the team’s opening league fixture next week against Medway.
New captain Katie Allen is keen to encourage new recruits and anyone interested in taking part is encouraged to joining the team’s training sessions on Thursdays 7-9pm.
Saturday also saw the beer festival’s Veterans’ competition in full swing, culminating in a final between Tunbridge Wells and the South Coast Jurassics, a composite team featuring players from Ashford Barbarians, Dover Sharks and Folkestone.
The Jurassics won all their qualifying matches before losing 14-12 in the final to Wells who took home the silverware donated by National Engravers.
The plate competition final involved Lordswood and Ashford, with the visitors running out winners. A sum of £800 was raised for charity, and donated to the RFU injured Players Foundation.