Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Blues back on the victory trail
WHITSTABLE 27 NEW ASH GRN 15
Whitstable returned to winning ways at the weekend after producing a solid performance against one of the sides they aim to finish above in Kent 1.
The Blues ran in five tries to secure their third victory of the season and move alongside New Ash Green on 17 points.
Player-coach Mal Graves was satisfied with the display, but felt his team were probably worth a bigger victory margin than they achieved.
He explained: “New Ash Green were up for it, they were physical and they probably earmarked this as a match they could win, but we were the better team, we were fitter and we had a better game plan.
“We played well and had the referee not been so lenient I think we would have won by a bigger margin.,
“He gave 12 penalties against us – which was too high for my liking – and 18 against them but they only had one player sinbinned.
“To their credit they came back at us late on and with seven minutes to go we were only seven in front, but Ben Cliff went over for a try and that was them done.
“I was pleased with that because the boys stuck to the task. We’ve been better in the last three games playing rugby in the right positions.
“We’ve been sticking to our patterns and it’s nice to see them getting some reward.”
Luke Pepper went over for the game’s opening try inside five minutes, and the Blues led 12-5 at half-time after a second try, by Luke Bowers, had been converted by Andy Huey.
Graves added the third try, four minutes into the second period, with James Garland crossing the line for try number four just after the hour.
New Ash Green cut the deficit to 22- 15 deep into the final quarter before skipper Cliff found a nice line to go over after a catch-and-drive.
Veteran Steve Mullins dictated play well from fly-half in the absence of Marck Olive while Jay Ellis, stepping in for Jake Povall at tighthead prop, also enjoyed an excellent game helping the pack provide a good platform for the three-quarters.
Ahead of the match Graves challenged his players to win five of their last 10 fixtures and he believes that will be enough to ensure they comfortably finish outside the bottom two. The table is likely to be amended, following the withdrawal of RBS.
Whitstable are away to fourthplaced Southwark Lancers on Saturday.