Kentish Express Ashford & District
Leaders push on at the top
PARK HOUSE 12 ASHFORD 29
Ashford moved six points clear at the top of London 3 South East following Saturday’s victory in Bromley.
With Park House already having inflicted a defeat on table-topping rivals Folkestone, there was no complacency in the visitors’ camp.
Ashford showed no signs of rustiness and they quickly opened up a 19-0 lead, courtesy of three tries in the opening 10 minutes.
They took immediate advantage of the slope and drove play into the hosts’ 22.
In the third minute, centre Rory Beech prised open the defence before feeding Adam Knight whose drive took play to within yards of the try line. He offloaded to brother Ben to complete the formality of securing the first score of the game. Ben Gray’s conversion extended the lead to 7-0.
Two minutes later, Ashford attacked from their own half, with a break from full-back Rhys Fussell that again took play into the Park House 22. From the breakdown, Ashford moved the ball from right to left and created a yard of space that winger Andy Ticehurst exploited to break the defensive line before offloading the scoring pass to Beech, and creating a 12-0 advantage.
The third try followed four minutes later and again involved Ticehurst whose strength and speed allowed him to accelerate past the despairing Park House defence. Gray’s conversion extended the lead to 19-0.
Having dominated early on, Ashford then rested on their laurels, providing Park House the opportunity to get into the game. Their cause was assisted by an Ashford player being yellow carded in the 28th minute, but despite all this possession, the hosts’ only tangible reward was a single try midway through the half. The conversion reduced the leeway to 19-7.
As half-time approached, a drive downfield by Ashford was rounded off by a try from captain Adam Knight, giving the visitors a 24-7 lead.
The first half hour of the second half proved to be disappointing and disjointed.
It was a stalemate, with Park House dominating possession, but again to little effect, while Ashford seemed content to rely on their defence.
What excitement there was came in the closing 10 minutes with two tries, one for each side. In the 70th minute, Ashford moved the ball into the opposition half, and smart work from Adam Knight at the lineout released substitute hooker Jack Lockerby who drove to the corner and registered his team’s fifth try.
Park House scored a consolation try in the 78th minute.
Ashford: Fussell, Myezwa, Colman, Beech, Ticehurst, Cooper, Gray; Stuckey, Vidler, B Knight, Perkins, Knight, Norman, Sherrin, Huxted. Replacements: Lockerby, Waldman
Results: Bromley 59 Old Williamsonians 0, Folkestone 20 Aylesford 15, Heathfield 21 Gillingham Anchorians 3, Park House 12 Ashford 29, Pulborough 34 Uckfield 0, Vigo 21 Old Dunstonians 25.
Saturday’s London 3 South East fixtures:
Ashford v Vigo, Aylesford v Pulborough, Gillingham Anchorians v Folkestone, Old Dunstonians v Bromley, Old Williamsonians v Heathfield, Uckfield v Park House.
■ Ashford 2nds lost 32-5 to Medway 3rds in Kent 3 Rural.