Last chance for Bulls to show what they’re made of

Aylesford Bulls were beaten 26-14 by Crowborough last weekend and head into the final week of the Kent 1 campaign with plenty to prove. Fresh from promotion, Bulls would have hoped for more from their debut season in the new league.

But aside from an impressive victory over second-place Beccehamian and a few bonuspoint performances against other high-flying teams, Bulls travel to Cranbrook in search of only a second win.

The story at fellow basement boys Crowborough read like a summary of the season.

Bulls were under-pressure early on, conceding two converted tries despite some solid try-line defending.

They put together some good plays in the first period but once again were unable to ship it wide and headed into the break 19-0 down after a third try for the home team.

The first 20 minutes of the second period played out much the same, a well-drilled Crowborough soaking up any attacks and putting Bulls under pressure.

They’d eventually cross for a converted bonus-point score. Then, in the final minutes Bulls came alive, running the home side ragged but once again leaving it too late.

First, captain Dan Batstone scooted over unopposed from a tap penalty, with hooker Ben Pass adding the extras, then, almost immediately from the restart, the ball found its way to winger Christian Dolley who outpaced his opposite man and ran it in under the posts. Pass again converted.

When the whistle went Bulls were knocking on the door of a third score which would have earned an unlikely bonus point.

Injury-hit Cranbrook showed plenty of fight but a lack of accuracy and further injuries hampered their efforts in their 32-7 Kent 1 defeat at Charlton Park.

The game started poorly for the visitors when prop David Lock was carded for repeated scrum offences after only 10 minutes. Park then took control in this area and a rolling maul produced some good ball for the backs who scored in the left corner.

Cranbrook came back well, being dominant in the lineout, and they nearly scored as lock George Pay was held up. A penalty opportunity was missed and Cranbrook backs looked dangerous, particularly winger Beau Archer.

But another fine run by Archer was halted by a dangerous high tackle by the full-back who was carded. Archer had to be replaced.

This reduced the potency of the visitors and chances weren’t taken while, at the end of half, the Park winger escaped from the home try-line to run the length of the pitch to make it 12-0 at half-time.

Cranbrook replied early in the second period as captain Hamish Gillanders charged down a clearance and followed up to score, converted by Alex Cornwallis.

But Park tried to slow the game down - not always legally - and this disrupted Cranbrook’s attempts.

In contrast, Park made more of their chances and added three tries and a penalty to take the game away from Cranbrook.