Kentish Express Ashford & District
Victory by narrowest of margins
Rugby
Ashford began life in London 3 South East with a thrilling 29-28 victory away to Pulborough on Saturday.
Both teams scored four tries in an entertaining game and in what was essentially an excellent team performance by Ashford, two individuals stood out.
Andy Ticehurst’s pace and strength created numerous problems for the home defence, while Ben Knight’s defensive work was of the highest calibre.
Director of rugby Chris Dengate said: “Our opponents provided a tough initial test. They finished in the top four of this division last season and they have a very skilled backline that creates opportunities.
“This has given us a good indication of our capabilities as well as areas where we need to improve.”
The game saw the return of Ben Cooper and Shaun Woolford to Ashford colours, as well as a 1st XV start for Harrison Kemp.
Conditions were perfect for running rugby and the game started at a cracking pace, with Pulborough going ahead when their winger broke the Ashford defensive line with a deft cutback and scored near the posts.
The conversion established an early 7-0 lead.
Ashford’s response was immediate. Pulborough spilled the kick-off and from the scrum Ashford displayed the potency of their backline, moving the ball quickly with a series of long passes that created enough space for Ticehurst to outpace the home defence.
The game t hen settled into a rhythm of attack and counterattack by both sides.
D e f e n c e s w e r e mo s t l y dominant, although Ashford conceded a series of penalties, one of which was kicked from 40 metres out to extend the Pulborough lead to 10-5.
Again, the Ashford response was not long in coming as creative interplay involving Ben Cooper and Ticehurst was rounded off by the latter.
The conversion by Ben Gray established a two point 12-10 lead for the visitors.
Pulborough were visibly stung and responded with a period of pressure but Ashford resisted and on the half hour Callum Stuckey drove off the back of a scrum and at full stretch touched down near the posts for a try Gray converted to establish a 19-10 lead.
A high tackle by Rory Beech led to him being yellow carded and as Pulborough looked to capitalise a penalty, just on half time, gave them the opportunity to reduce the deficit to 19-13.
Any thoughts Ashford might be in control of proceedings were quickly removed when, in the first minute of the second half, a loose kick upfield was returned with vengeance by the Pulborough full-back, running through some dubious defensive tackling before offloading to his winger who scored out wide.
From having a nine- point cushion three minutes earlier, Ashford now led by a single point 19-18 with Pulborough having practically a full half to exploit the advantages of the slope.
The return of Beech saw Ashford more in the ascendancy.
They secured two further scores before the hour mark, a Gray penalty followed by a penalty try, stemming from some clever lineout work by Adam Knight and Dan Sherrin that would have resulted in a score save for some illegal efforts by the Pulborough defence.
As the game reached its final quarter, the introduction of subs Ryan Hammond and John Norman allowed the visitors to maintain their momentum.
At 29-18, the game seemed well within their grasp, but the drama was far from over.
Going into the final 10 minutes, Ashford were awarded a penalty 35 metres out, which if converted would have established a 14-point lead.
However Gray missed narrowly, and Pulborough moved t he ball quickly downfield, and from broken play breached the Ashford defence to score an unconverted try.
The home side now attacked with renewed vigour, and when thwarted by a solid defensive line in midfield, their stand off put an astute kick into the corner that was not cleared properly, allowing the home team’s winger to capitalise with a try.
The conversion was however missed, leaving Ashford leading by the slenderest of margins going into the last couple of minutes.
From the kickoff, Ashford took the game deep into the Pulborough half, and in the final moments were camped in the home 22, needing only to secure their own lineout and clear the ball into touch to win.
Instead, they lost possession and then conceded two penalties which allowed Pulborough to move play downfield into the Ashford 22.
The home side made several attempts to break the Ashford defence, but the visitors were in no mood to capitulate, and a timely turnover by Lewis Remington secured possession and the ensuing kick to touch to end proceedings secured a hard fought win, and with four tries in the bag earning five points.
Ashford are in action at Kinneys Field on Saturday when they host Park House.
Ashford: Rhys Fussell, Harrison Kemp, Shaun Woolford, Rory Beech, Andy Ticehurst, Ben Cooper, Ben Gray,Callum Stuckey, Ben Knight, Lewis Remington, Adam Knight (capt), Jamie Farris, Charlie Norman, Dan Sherrin, Marc Huxted. Subs – Ryan Hammond, John Norman, Chris Dengate. ■Ashford 3rds, fielding a number of young players, began their league season with a 15-7 defeat against a more experienced Whitstable 2nd XV.
The home team’s consolation try came from Ayron Lakin, making a welcome return to the ranks.
Captain Connor Henderson will be looking to his side to step up in the coming weeks, especially because of greater challenges of playing in a higher division.
Sunday saw Ashford’s junior sides secured a double win over Folkestone at Kinneys Field.
The under-14s won 43-14 with newcomer Callum Howes producing another impressive performance.
The under-15s emerged 27-7 winners in a game where there were notable performances from man-of-the-match Tom Bilboe, Max McCormack, who scored two tries, and Cameron Donald who produced a customary strong performance.