Phil does trick again
Phil Wilkins scored his second hat-trick of the year on his fiftieth outing for Aylesford Bulls as they ran in 10 tries for a 60-7 London 3 South East win against Old Dunstonians.
Bulls, fresh from a week off and still riding high on an impressive victory over league rivals Cranbrook, are on track to get promoted at Maidstone this week.
But a bonus-point win was needed to keep the pressure up at the top of London 3.
Bulls exploded out of the blocks with an early try from young winger George Forster in just his second game for the club.
Flanker Wilkins soon crossed for his first of the day but Dunstonians pulled one back when their powerful number eight shunted over.
But within minutes he saw red for abusing the referee and Dunstonians were left to play with 14 men for the final 60 minutes.
Wilkins immediately took advantage and added a second before winger Matt Duffy pounced on a loose pass and ran in under the posts from halfway, bringing the score at the break to 26-7.
It was one-way traffic in the second half, prop Ed McConnell getting on the end of a Callum
Bailey offload to cross in the corner.
The player-of-the-match Ben Turner, who put in a characteristically bruising defensive performance, then added five thanks to another Bailey offload.
Josh Mayhew, also on his 50th outing, was unlucky not to score after working hard to support captain Dan Batstone who had intercepted on the halfway line. Duffy added a second before prop Darren Jalink opened his account, getting on the end of some sublime play to cross in the corner.
He made it a brace after picking a lovely inside line off scrum half Ben Ridout, before Wikins closed his account for the day.
Bulls head to local rivals Maidstone - who lost 53-7 to Bromley - on Saturday for their final game of the season.
Rosie Galligan started for England’s Women as they began their Six Nations campaign with a nine-try 57-5 demolition of Scotland on Saturday
Marlie Packer (3), Poppy Cleall, Heather Cowell, Abby Dow, Leanne Infante, Holly Aitchison and Connie Powell scored the tries in Edinburgh for the Red Roses.
West Malling’s Galligan, claiming her second England cap more than three years after her first, punched through a gap at the breakdown and fed Cleall for her try.