Leaders widen the gap

visitors’ half. Instead, the ball was spilled and conceded to Anchorians, leading to a 10-minute period in which they dominated proceedings, retaining possession and testing the Ashford defence.

On the hour, Anchorians sought to move play away from their 22, but the clearing kick went straight to Roy Beech whose response was to put in an exquisite chip to the corner, leaving the visitors needing to defend the put-in only yards from their line.

Ashford maximised the pressure on the defence, forced an error and Logan Chandler secured possession to go over from close range for the bonus point fourth try and a 24-5 lead.

Any thoughts that the game was now over were quickly dismissed, however, as Ashford contrived to hand an advantage to their opponents, with two players being awarded yellow cards in a fiveminute period.

With a two- man advantage, Anchorians worked their way into the Ashford 22, and following a series of drives, secured a second try in the 68th minute when their replacement centre Adam Davison broke through tackles and scored near the post. The conversion was a formality and the gap between the teams narrowed to 12 points.

As Ashford’s suspended players returned to action, the home side sought to secure and retain possession, taking play into the Anchs half and challenging them to break out.

This led in the 73rd minute to a loose kick upfield that was collected by replacement full- back Will Blyth. His long crossfield pass to Farai Myezwa came close to being intercepted, but the winger secured possession, evaded the nearest defender and then outstripped the visitors’ defence to score in the corner, establishing a more comfortable 29-12 advantage. Three minutes later this was enhanced by a Gray penalty, rounding off the final score at 32-12.

Ashford: Colman; Myezwa, Beech, Bushell, Ticehurst; Cooper, Gray; Chandler, B Knight, A Knight, Welsh, Redman, Norman, Sherrin, Huxted. Replacements: Lockerby, Farris, Blyth.

Results: Ashford 32 Anchorians 12, Bromley 14 Folkestone 17, Old Dunstonians 28 Heathfield 13; Park House 39

Old Williamsonians 17, Uckfield 13 Aylesford 7, Vigo 3 Pulborough 15.

Ben Gray directs an Ashford attack against Anchorians. Below, Adam Knight and Will Welsh smother an Anchs attack