Kentish Express Ashford & District
Three-try Tanner leads the response
ASHFORD SITTINGBOURNE Ashford provided an excellent response to last week’s heavy defeat by easing to a comfortable Shepherd Neame Kent 1 derby win on the day they hosted a vice-presidents’ lunch.
Well beaten by leaders Old Beccehamians last weekend after a performance team manager Lloyd Stokes described as embarrassing, Chris Dengate’s side sunk Bourne with a display which showed glimpses of real promise.
Steve Tanner led the way with a personal haul of 23 points, which included three tries but manager Stokes said the whole team played much better.
He added: “This was a solid step in the right direction and with 11 players currently injured or absent, it showed the strength in depth at the club right now.
“There will be tougher challenges ahead but for now this was a promising team performance where every player gave a positive account of themselves, which was pleasing to see.”
The home side handed 1st XV debuts to Scott Booth and Tom Stokes and both players gave positive accounts of themselves, doing their jobs which was the reminder from captain Peter Walsh before the game.
Ashford started well with Danny Leech winning a penalty in the opening exchanges with some excellent breakdown work. Leech went on to lead the pack well, enjoying his best game of the season so far.
Ashford worked hard to get into the away side’s 22 but a nervy lineout and poor set-piece execution meant Sittingbourne were let off the hook more than once in the first 15 minutes.
Approaching a quarter of the way in, Jack Weaver collected a poor clearance, saw the space and opposition forwards in front of him and scythed through to score a great individual try.
More pressure followed and Charlie Colman, who put in a performance full of invention and composure, saw the
PW D L F A Ps Beccehamian .. 4 4 0 0 173 39 20 Kings Hosp ..... 4 3 0 1 103 77 16 G’ham Anch .... 4 3 0 1 195 60 15 Vigo ................ 4 3 0 1 109 110 14 Cranbrook....... 4 2 0 2 74 72 11 Ashford ........... 4 2 0 2 110 81 10 Old G’send ...... 4 2 0 2 85 82 10 RBS ................ 4 2 0 2 70 112 9 Sittingbourne .. 4 1 0 3 65 131 6 New Ash Grn... 4 1 0 3 72 156 6 Southwark L ... 4 1 0 3 56 128 5 HSBC .............. 4 0 0 4 65 129 1
Ashford 38 Sittingbourne 3, Gillingham Anchs 57 Southwark Lancers 5, HSBC 11 Beccehamian 49, King’s College Hospital 17 Vigo 23, O Gravesendians 43 New Ash Green 0, R Bank of Scotland 25 Cranbrook 4.
Beccehamian v R Bank of Scotland, Cranbrook v King’s College H, New Ash Green v Ashford, Sittingbourne v HSBC, Southwark Lancers v O Gravesendians, Vigo v Gillingham Anchorians space out wide and floated a long pass over two defenders to Steve Tanner who made it 10-0.
Sittingbourne fought back with a penalty before Weaver again got space and drew the last man before slotting through a kick for Tanner to race through and touch down, Tanner also converted to give his side a 17-3 half-time lead.
Head coach Dengate highlighted a few small areas of focus at half-time but it took 25 minutes of the second half before Ashford scored again.
Some strong carries from Walsh and Jake Fletcher were opening up holes in the Sittingbourne defence but on more than one occasion the final pass went awry.
Dan Brown, Tom Kane and Aaron Bishop all came off the bench and seemed to add another level of energy to the home side.
Colman eventually took matters into his own hands and rather than pass, picked a smart line to crash through to score which Tanner again converted.
Ben Gray was repaid for his endeavour and commitment with a well-earned try, which was again converted before Tanner volleyed the ball on the halfway line and showed excellent pace to race away, control the ball and go over for his third try which he also converted.
Ashford are away to New Ash Green on Saturday with kick off at 3pm.