Castaways rally after tough start

FAVERSHAM TUN WELLS 3RDS

FAVERSHAM survived a difficult period playing with 12 men before running out 22-3 winners against Tunbridge Wells 3rds in Shepherd Neame Late Red Division 4 on Saturday. The visitors dominated the opening stages and Faversham conceded a string of penalties. They twice allowed Wells within inches of the tryline, only to stand firm at the final moment, limiting their opponents to a 3-0 lead from a penalty. The Castaways rallied from the restart with several powerful runs including a superb break from No.8 Luke Garnham while it was Tunbridge who produced solid defence on the line, with Tim Woolf stopped short as he looked destined to score. However, the ball eventually reached Eddie Stott who powered over for the opening score, with Simon Warren slotting the extras. Before the break, Faversham conceded a string of penalties and saw Ross Chipperton and Warren sin-binned. After the turnaround, they went down to 12 men when Simon Saunders was yellow-carded, leaving the scrums uncontested. The visitors pushed forward but determined defence from Dan Hodges and Sam Oatley kept them out and after a knock-on, Faversham broke up the right and Garnham went over to extend the lead to 12-3. Ten minutes later and back at full strength, Stacey Woolf broke through a tired defence after a fine break by Grant Potts to make it 17-3. Forwards and backs combined to attack across the pitch in the closing stages and Hodges ended a powerful drive on the right to seal the win. Faversham host leaders Dover on Saturday. Faversham: Chipperton, Gilbert, Hector, Stott, S Woolf, Oatley, Meadows, Garnham, Tabor, Hall, T Woolf, D Hodges, Warren, Wells, Sanders- Champney. Replacements: G Potts, Saunders, Moon.