Kentish Express Ashford & District
Leaders back in groove
ASHFORD 33 O DUNSTONIANS 7
Ashford put their London 3 South East title hopes back on track with a five-try home win against mid-table Old Dunstonians on Saturday.
With Folkestone managing just a narrow win, Ashford – with a game in hand – increased their lead over the secondplaced side to three points.
Ten minutes into the game a drive by Jamie Farris prised open the visitors’ defence. His initial thrust was continued by Dan Sherrin who drew defenders before scissoring with Andy Ticehurst, who opened the scoring, with Ben Gray adding the first of his four conversions.
A second try followed five minutes later when good handling by the backs created space for Ticehurst to exploit.
Having committed the defender, a pass infield to Rory Beech maintained momentum, with Ben Cooper on hand to accept a scoring pass. With a successful conversion, Ashford led 14-0.
The home team looked in control in both scrum and lineout play, and extended this to open play, with a forward drive in the 25th minute taking play close to the visitors’ 22.
Drives by Farris and Owen Piper created the platform for quick ball that the backs moved to the right, allowing Ticehurst to outflank the defence for an unconverted try in the corner for a 19-0 half-time lead.
Seeking to secure the bonus point early in the second half, Ashford dominated the opening exchanges, scoring a fourth try in the 46th minute.
Gray fed Cooper whose pass went straight to Charlie Colman, who committed the defence before giving a switch pass to Ticehurst whose angle beat the initial defensive line and drew the full-back before feeding Cooper for his second try. The conversion made it 26-0.
Ashford started to give away penalties and gave an additional advantage to their opponents when a player was yellow carded.
On the hour mark Dunstonians hacked the ball upfield and in the ensuing kick and chase an Ashford defender illegally impeded a Dunstonians player in the home team’s 22.
A penalty try and a yellow card was awarded.Ashford then had to see out a period with only 13 players on the field.
By the 70th minute, and back to a full complement, Ashford were again in the ascendancy. Pressure led to the Old Dunstonians backs spilling possession in their own half, the ball falling to Ticehurst, who ran in for his third try.
Gray aded theconversion. Ashford: Blyth, Colman, Beech, Bushell, Ticehurst, Cooper, Gray, Stuckey, Farris, Knight , Knight A, Piper, Norman, Sherrin, Huxted, Bench: Vidler, Redman, Waldman.
■ On Saturday there is no 1st XV game, so attention focuses on Ashford 2nds who play Aylesford in the Kent Cup. By way of preparation, the 2nds beat Deal & Betteshanger 2nds 31-0 on Saturday.
■ On Sunday, Ashford girls under-13s took part in a Kent Final competition. In their first game they secured a win against Old Colfeians, scoring 11 tries. In the final, they paid the price for having a smaller squad, losing out 6-2.