Castaways up and running

Faversham secured their first win of the year in Shepherd Neame Kent 2 on Saturday with a battling performance against Askeans.

Awarded walkovers in their previous two home matches, the Castaways had lost the away fixture with Askeans, so were looking to gain some revenge and reignite their league campaign.

They started well but found their opponents in equally determined mood.

Strong runs from Nick Kingdon, Billy Egleton and Jack Cheeseman-brazier all nearly lead to tries only for the visiting defence to scramble to recover or an incorrect decision seeing the chance go begging.

In fact, it was Askeans who were first on the score board with the fly half kicking a penalty with around 20 minutes played.

Faversham continued to attack hard but again they were denied with some vital turnovers for Askeans forwards, assisted by the powerful clearing kicking from the visiting fly- half repeatedly pushing the home team back towards halfway.

Wayward throwing in the line out didn’t help matters as safe ball was difficult to come by, although Faversham’s extra weight and power in the scrum balanced this and did provide some ball against the head on the opposition put in.

As the half came to a close, Faversham finally managed to cross the try line but the referee was unable to see a clear grounding so deemed the ball held up.

Playing up the hill in the second half, Faversham began with renewed vigour.

Replacement Jack Meadows brought more accuracy to the lineout as well as providing mobility about the pitch.

The Askeans No.10 continued to turn Faversham with his long kicking but with their line- out now functioning, the home team were able to repeatedly push back up field.

One driving maul saw Faversham drive the opposition pack a good 40 metres back before the ball was finally recycled to the backs well inside the Askeans half.

It was the effectiveness of the maul that finally paid off for Faversham as a secure take in the lineout was set up and driven over the line for Eddie Stott to ground the ball with Billy Egletons slotting the conversion to put Faversham into a 7-3 lead.

The introduction of Dan Hodges added renewed fire to the home side’s rucking and Askeans conceded a penalty which Jonny Hodges kicked to touch right in the corner.

Safe lineout ball was again secured by Kingdon and the pack drove over the line with such ferocity that it took a second or two for the referee to realise Stacey Woolf had detached from the main maul to ground the ball for Faversham’s second try.

Egleton again slotted the kick which proved to be the final score as the home side’s defence closed the game out.

Coach Ben Tewkesbury was pleased with the side’s performance, particularly the mauling and rucking which has been a key focus of training sessions.

He was also pleased with the determination shown to keep pushing for the win without panicking as the clock ticked by. Kingdon wa s name d man-of -the-match. Faversham travel to Bexley on Saturday. Faversham: S Woolf, R Chipperton, E Stott, D Flynn, M Suter, S Oatley, N Kingdon, L Garnham, D Tabor, B Egleton, J Cheeseman-brazier, J Hodges, B Sanders-champney, P Cooper, T Woolf; Reps: J Meadows, D Hodges