UNDER-20S INTO LAST EIGHT

Kent are through to the quarter-finals of the National Under-20 Championship after a 17-17 draw with Hertfordshire at Bishop’s Stortford on Sunday. The home side were leading 17-10 with just a minute to play when Kent caught and drove to send captain Josh Hawkins (Blackheath) over for a try. Frankie Reynolds (Tunbridge Wells) nailed the conversion to secure the draw and a home quarter-final against Gloucestershire at Cranbrook on Sunday, April 2. Kent, who had earlier beaten Essex (78-10) and Surrey (39-15), trailed 7-3 before Reynolds kicked a penalty. An unconverted try moved Herts 12-3 in front at half-time but on 50 minutes, Reynolds put a perfectly-weighted chip through for Bradley Bateup (Westcombe Park) to score a try which Reynolds converted. Herts looked to have snatched victory when a second unconverted try pushed them 17-10 ahead but Kent’s character shone through and they were rewarded in the dying seconds when Hawkins pounced.