Kentish Express Ashford & District
More to come despite big win
Ashford comfortably despatched Kent 1’s bottom club on Saturday but there was a feeling they still left a few tries on the pitch at Sittingbourne.
The victory stretched Ashford’s winning sequence in all competitions to nine games but team manager Lloyd Stokes felt they were not as sharp as they have been in some of their recent matches.
Sittingbourne were down to 14 as early as the sixth minute and Stokes said: “The scoreline was good but the performance lacked in places.
“There was a lack of killer instinct and composure in the pack who couldn’t really enforce their clear dominance and the backline lacked crispness in their handling and robustness in the tackle.
“Certainly the boys will have to up their game considerably over the coming weeks as they have important league games ahead, the Kent Vase and, of course, this S’BOURNE ASHFORD Saturday the quarter-finals of the National Junior Vase at home to Royston.”
Ashford handed a debut to youngster Will Blyth, who started on the wing and there was also a place on the bench for Sujit Gurung. Both players gave a good account of themselves when given the chance.
The visitors started well and excellent hands from Lewis Remington and Nathan Wood released the ever dangerous Chris Baker who accelerated away from halfway to score a try which was converted by Tanner.
A moment of madness then followed when Bourne flanker Steve Geoffrey was shown a red card following a melee.
Ashford turned the screw and built the scoreboard as Tanner converted two penalties followed by a well-worked backs move which resulted in a try for man-of-the-match Nathan Wood, Tanner again converted so after 23 minutes Ashford led 20-0.
Complacency and errors crept in during the second quarter and a defensive fumbled allowed Sittingbourne centre Jamie Stevens to score a try and at this point the home side were playing some nice rugby.
Ashford regained some composure be fore half-time when captain Rhys Fussell dummied and then sneaked round the breakdown to score with the conversion making the score 27-5. The home side came out the blocks fast in the second half and were pretty much camped on the Ashford line for the first 15 minutes. The Ashford defence was certainly creaking but with Callum Stuckey again leading the way with some huge hits, they stood firm and slowly started to get their hold back. In the space of the next nine minutes Ashford put the game beyond doubt with three good tries, two from substitute Shane Redman, who made a big impact off the bench, and another for Baker. Tanner converted two at which stage coach Chris Dengate rang the changes taking the chance to see players in different positions. Beccehamn... 14.13. 0. 1. 434.136.63 G’ham.Anch... 14.10. 0. 4. 425.256.49 Vigo............... 14.10. 0. 4. 409.254.48 Ashford.......... 14.10. 0. 4. 344.251.47 Cranbrook...... 14. 9. 0. 5. 365.233.47 Kings.Hosp.... 14. 9. 0. 5. 404.311.46 Old.G’send..... 14. 5. 0. 9. 319.328.28 HSBC............. 14. 4. 0.10. 223.397.21 RBS............... 14. 5. 0. 9. 265.415.20 New.Ash.Grn.. 14. 3. 1.10. 198.383.19 Southwark.L.. 14. 3. 0.11. 223.398.19 Sittingbrne..... 14. 2. 1.11. 224.471.16 Beccehamian.20.HSBC. Cranbrook.39.R.Bank. 5,. of.Scotland.30,. New.Ash.Green.5.O. Gravesendians.40,. Sittingbourne.5.Ashford. Lancers.20.Gillingham. 46,.Southwark. Vigo.28.King’s.College. Anchorians.25,. Hospital.12. Ashford.v.Royston.