Bulls’ double blow
PETERSFIELD AYLESFORD
Petersfield 8 Aylesford 50.
PW D L F A Ps Taunton T ....... 7 7 0 0 324 112 34 Chinnor ........... 7 6 1 0 242 136 32 Cinderford....... 7 6 0 1 301 154 30 Canterbury ...... 7 6 0 1 209 148 28 Redingensian .. 7 4 0 3 252 190 23 Redruth .......... 7 4 0 3 171 134 20 Bury St Ed....... 7 4 0 3 181 171 20 Barnstaple ...... 7 3 0 4 179 222 17 Clifton ............. 7 3 1 3 172 215 17 Henley ............ 7 3 1 3 174 237 17 Tonbridge ....... 7 3 0 4 188 189 16 London IWG .... 7 2 0 5 213 244 13 Worthing ......... 7 2 0 5 162 252 13 Broadstreet ..... 7 1 0 6 165 265 8 O Redcliffians . 7 0 1 6 132 291 3 Wimbledon ..... 7 0 0 7 120 225 2 Results: Bury St Edmunds 20 Taunton Titans 26, Canterbury 18 Redruth 16, Chinnor 24 Tonbridge Juddian 20, Henley 29 Barnstaple 22, London Irish Wild Geese 53 Old Redcliffians 22, Worthing 27 Cinderford 29, Clifton 25 Wimbledon 20, Redingensians 47 Broadstreet 19. Fixtures: Barnstaple v London Irish Wild Geese, Broadstreet v Chinnor, Redingensians v Old Redcliffians, Bury St Edmunds v Worthing, Redruth v Clifton, Taunton Titans v Canterbury, Tonbridge Juddian v Cinderford, Wimbledon v Henley. Fixtures: Brighton v Chobham, Chichester v Thurrock, London Cornish v Medway, Maidstone v Gravesend, Old Colfeians v Cobham, Sevenoaks v CS Rugby, Tottonians v Havant.
London 3 South East Fixtures: Aylesford Bulls v Hastings & Bexhill, Crawley v Old Dunstonians, Crowborough v Bromley, Folkestone v Lewes, Old Williamsonians v Thanet Wanderers, Sheppey v Park House.
Shepherd Neame Kent 1 Fixtures: Ashford v Southwark Lancers, Cranbrook v Beccehamian, HSBC v New Ash Green, King’s College Hospital v Gillingham Anchorians, Old Gravesendians v Vigo, Royal Bank of Scotland v Sittingbourne. Aylesford’s Senior Vase progress came at a price as they suffered two more injuries to key players.
Ben Ridout damaged his knee scoring his second try at Petersfield on Saturday and is facing six to eight weeks out.
Dion Comerford, meanwhile, has suspected ankle ligament damage after landing awkwardly.
The latest injuries come a week after Dave Tenters broke his arm in the win over Sheppey.
Injuries marred what was a good first-round win for the Bulls.
Coach Jay Jenkins said: “That’s three of our starting unit sitting on the sidelines now.
“Ben had scored a cracking solo try from his own half and the second was similar but as he went over in the corner, the tackler landed on his knee, so he’s in a leg brace now.
“They’re saying six to eight weeks out. You never know with these things but I don’t think we’ll see him again before Christmas.
“Dion’s injury was nasty. It sounded awful – even their players were concerned. He was making a break, was tackled into touch and fell awkwardly.
“Unfortunately, injuries are par for the course in rugby. In 25 years of coaching, I’ve never had a season without injuries.
“It’s got worse over the last five or six years where the game has changed with the physicality element and the pace and power going up.
“It’s about trying to develop your wider squad to cope and we are fortunate this year to have a larger squad with more depth.”
Comerford crossed the line for the opening score and went on to convert tries from Ridout (2), Michael Jackson and James Batstone as Bulls led 33-3 at half-time.
Further tries by Sam Proctor, Jacques Jordan and John Rumsey moved Bulls clear after the break.
Comerford converted Rumsey’s score to bring up Bulls’ half-century but his afternoon was soon over.
Jenkins said: “We were stepping into the unknown with the opposition, so it was about focusing on our game rather than theirs.
“It was a fairly positive performance – we played some good stuff at times.”
It’s third v fourth in London 3 South East on Saturday when unbeaten Aylesford entertain Hastings & Bexhill.
Tonbridge played well in a 24-20 defeat at second-placed Chinnor.
They scored four tries to the hosts’ three but missed eight points from the tee in Saturday’s National 2 South game.
Judds made an encouraging start and while they trailed 7- 0, prop Mike O’Sullivan put points on the board with a try.
The visitors went 10-7 up after the break, Luke Bellinger breaking from a maul and finding Richie Bent in space.
Chinnor regained the lead with a second converted try but back came Judds with Murray Galbraith-Lowe scoring their third try.
The hosts opened up a 24-15 lead before Hugo Watson caught Liam Prescott’s crossfield kick and scored in the corner.
Tonbridge host Cinderford on Saturday.
Maidstone are back in action after a weekend off with a home game against Gravesend on Saturday (3pm).
Mike Hebden’s side haven’t won since the opening day of the London 1 South season but were encouraged by their performance at Cobham a fortnight ago.