Hat-trick hero Tom inspires fightback

A SUPERB second-half performance, led by skipper and hat-trick hero Tom Stradwick, saw Kent overturn a 17-point halftime deficit and consign Devon to the bottom of Division One.

With slick handling and greater creativity out wide, Devon struck twice before the break to build a substantial lead.

George Wilson crossed on nine minutes as Devon opened up the right flank, and as Kent looked to string a move together on the half-hour, loose ball on halfway was chipped forward for Ben Watts to collect for a second.

Good cover from Reion Raybe denied the hosts a third, but Mitch Pinkus added a penalty to his two conversions for 17-0.

However, Kent at last brought their forward power to bear as they bashed around the fringes for Stradwick to claim his first score on 49 minutes, and a second followed on the hour as the the back-row collected clean line-out ball.

Devon earned breathing space with a second Pinkus penalty, but Kent stepped up the tempo and fine recycling work took them to the try-line for Aaron Cooper to burrow across, Frank Reynolds’ third conversion inching them ahead.

And in the dying moments, line-out ball saw Stradwick over once more to give Kent maximum reward.