Match Reporter: Mike Rigby

On a bright sunny autumnal day we welcomed Canterbury 3’s and referee Michael Weller to St Marks.

Captain Ben Kennard losing the toss meant Canterbury kicked off on the 2nd XV pitch playing towards the Frant Road end.

We were to have a fast and furious start as within 5 minutes we had already seen three penalties for TWRFC and a beautifully worked try. The Wells were using their strong ball carriers Brockman, Webb and Daniels to punch through the Canterbury defence.The try came from one such run as Brockman broke through the defensive line to release the sparky Inees Woodhouse to run home the first try in front of the posts. The Wells 10, George Spice, was in a hurry so drop kicked the conversion. 7-0 to the home side.

But, if the Wells thought this was going to be an easy afternoon they were sorely mistaken. Within 3 minutes the impressive Ben Waite went over for Canterbury. Freddie Chapman slotting from the 15m line to take the score to 7 all (after only 8 minutes).

Wells continued with the strong carries and even the strong George Spice breaking the line and heading towards the try line. No one was quite sure whether the try was scored except Mr Weller who called held up. But Wells were again looking dominant in the scrum, in the line out and in open play. This meant the penalty count was rising for Canterbury. At one such penalty Brockman went quick and scored in the corner. The conversion looked very challenging, so much so that Spice called for the kicking tee. Well worth the wait as he slotted very impressively. 14-7 to Wells and only 14 minutes gone.

Unfortunately this was again to spark a resurgence from Canterbury as they came back hard to the home side, It required some significant defence and the Wells pack held firm. A particular highlight for the crowd was a huge Webb tackle on the opposition 9 who wore it well. Having been pinned back in their own half for 10 minutes Wells went to the Boot to evacuate. And what a boot it was! Jack Smith took the ball in hand and kicked high and long. He chased his own kick and after the away sides 15 fumbled Smith took him to ground, sprung up and secured possession. The lively Collangelo was on hand to pick up the ball and cover the 3 yards to the try line and score a beautiful try. After two very impressive conversions Spice was in no mans land of the 15m line, he was unsuccessful. 19-7 and still 10 minutes of the first half to play,

Wells came back strong and Hawkins took his impressive defence shift into his attacking game. He ran hard to the line with defenders scattering in all directions. It looked a certain try but the mighty Canterbury 9 managed to hold the huge front row player up. Another goal line drop out which saw Canterbury make good distance. A couple of missed tackles in midfield saw the omnipresent Ben Waite go over again for Canterbury. Chapman missed and we went in at half time at 19-12 to the home side.

Coach Jarrod gathered his men together and imparted some words of wisdom. Jarrod was joined in the coaching by Charlie Rigby and Stu Nichols. It was also great to see other team mates Tom Pithouse, Chris Brown and Avatar on the touchline supporting the boys. The squad look and feel very tight at the moment.

Anyway as the Wells kicked off what we really needed to know was what did the Canterbury coach say at half time. Because they came out a different team. Their scrum became dominant from nowhere and TWRFC were giving away penalty after penalty, many of which were in the red zone. We were lucky to have a referee in Weller who let the came flow as we could easily have been penalised. Wells were defending hard and were under immense pressure. In the end Wells suffered a double whammy when the very impressive Webb went off with a head cut and Brockman saw yellow for a high tackle. This inevitably led to another Canterbury try which was converted to take the scores level at 19-19.

Fortunately the home side found a never say die attitude and went back to their strong ball carriers to punch through the defence. One such move saw Spice make a clean line break where he immediately realised he did not have the legs to make the line, he looked left and same Smith with gas to spare. He was straight over the line, under the posts for Scully to convert. 26-19. When another Penalty came the Wells way they showed good game management bu shooting to go for posts. Unfortunately Scully went wide but his did put pressure on the away side as they failed to clear their line. As Canterbury tried to run out they man into the man mountain Ollie Daniels who put another big tackle in which saw another Wells turnover. Daniels went quick and was over in the corner. A challenging conversion was missed and the score hit 31-19.

That was how the game finished where we saw a second win for the TWRFC 2’s vs a strong Canterbury side and officiated by impressive Michael Weller. A good game with lots of good rugby on show

Match Report: Jim Hendley

With overcast conditions and a freshening breeze Wells took to the field looking for a response after the previous weeks result. Westcombe Park were at full strength and in confident mood after their unbeaten start to the season.

Combe kicked off with the conditions against them, so Wells needed to make a fast start and get points on the board which they duly did. Straight from the kick receive the forwards burst through the Combe defence but a loose pass ended the move in front of the posts. Wells exerted pressure at the scrum and were awarded a penalty which Montgomery duly converted, 0-3. Combe came back hard at Wells and after a series of forward drives and a quick tap from a penalty their forwards forced over for a try well converted from out wide by Buckley, 7-3.

The game then settled into a rhythm with the Wells back line looking dangerous in open play and the scrum yet Combe dominant in the line out. Wells created several great attacking opportunities due to the fine field kicking of Montgomery and utilising the conditions well but then losing key lineouts in the opponents 22. Wells were however finally rewarded by another Montgomery penalty goal on 26 minutes after WP were penalised for offside, 7-6. Almost straight from the restart another Montgomery kick led to a 50-22 to Wells but the ensuing lineout was again stolen by Combe who managed to clear their lines once more.

Wells continued to pressure the Combe defence but handling errors and turnovers by both sides meant neither side were particularly dominant although Wells continued to have the better attacking positions. The final score of the half was another Montgomery penalty goal which gave Wells a slender 7-9 lead at the break. A great flowing move by the backs was brought to an abrupt halt by deliberate interference from Combe in front of the posts with only the penalty awarded.

The feeling was that if Combe could utilise the conditions as well as Wells had then it could be their opportunity to extend their unbeaten run.

Wells however had different ideas and started the second half as they did apply pressure on the Combe defence. Both sides were trying to play some open rugby but all too often it was punctuated by a poor pass or a knock on. Harrison eventually made a couple of great kicks into the Wells corner and their superior lineout provided the platform for the first score of the second half after 50 minutes when a very fortunate ricochet allowed Orelaja to touch down for an unconverted try, 12-9. Wells were soon back on terms after an eager Combe defence were caught offside, 12-12. However, straight from the kick off Wells were penalised due to blocking off and Combe were clinical with the ensuing penalty. A kick into the 22, lineout secure and drive over the line for an unconverted try 17-12 after 55 minutes.

At this point Combe looked in the ascendency but to their credit Wells came back at Combe and were awarded yet another penalty in front of the posts to enable Montgomery to make it 17-15 on 60 minutes and the referee still showing no signs of any further sanctions due to these continuous infringements.

Wells then came under some sustained pressure in front of their posts and managed to turnover the ball and with quick hands they moved the ball swiftly wide to Hobbs, on the left, who burst past his Radcliff and seemed clear only for an outstretched Combe defenders’ arm to ankle tap him and stop a certain score.

The game was in the balance until the last 5 minutes when Combe scored twice with a push over try and then another lineout drive both converted by Buckley to give a final score line of 31-15 which didn’t reflect the overall nature of the match. Wells will reflect on not being able to convert territory into points but there are plenty of positives to work on during the week to ensure they’ll be well prepared to host Sidcup next weekend.

For those of you that have not already heard, the club is deeply saddened to have to announce that Geoff Casely passed away peacefully in his sleep last week. Club member and close friend Mav Anderson has kindly written a tribute from him and on behalf of everyone at TWRFC…..

“Geoff was a long-standing member of the club and many of you would have played alongside him in the minis, juniors, senior sides (1-6) and also the Vets. On the pitch I will remember him as a formidable second row/back row player who loved to make big hits at Rucks and in Tackles and I have many fond memories of playing alongside him in my late teens and early twenties, notably in an unbeaten season for the 2nd team in the mid 90s and also for the first team in the early 2000s. I have always lovingly known and referred to Geoff simply as Unit.

Some of you may not be aware but throughout his teenage years and twenties Geoff was also a very successful swimmer and water polo player representing Tunbridge Wells Monson club, winning many Medals at National and European level. He was also a very successful martial artist being a black belt in several forms and again won medals at International, European and world level.

Geoff was a legendary TWRFC Tourist who would always be one of the first to get his place reserved as soon as a tour was announced. He was never afraid to take his fines and would always fully engage in all tour antics. Once he had retired from playing Geoff was a loyal supporter of the club who would regularly be found on the touchline, at the pre match lunches or just in the bar with his friends enjoying being part of the club. I was reminded of a story today that summed up how much TWRFC meant to Geoff. On his wedding day to his first wife, Geoff got married at lunch time and then went to the club and played rugby in the afternoon. I am not sure even the most loyal of us would dare have tried that on our wedding day.

In life Geoff was a gentle giant, he was kind and had the most wonderful warm and welcoming personality, he would do anything to help anyone. He was a wonderful story teller with an extraordinary ability to recount tales of games we had played together or drunken nights we had been on many, many years ago.

Geoff had been through some tough times over the past few years but I am so proud of how he managed to pull himself back to a good place. He had recently completed a mental health first aider course to assist with his life coaching business which he set up as he was passionate about helping others, who were going through difficult times.

In a recent message he sent to me, it simply said “The Unit is Back” after knowing all he had been through, I will take great heart in knowing that in the end he died peacefully in his sleep at peace with himself, he won and he never gave up.

On behalf of all of TWRFC I would like to send our deepest condolences to Geoff`s sister, Venetia and his children: Imogen, Sebastian, Matilda and Tabatha, may they find comfort in knowing how much their brother/dad meant to us at the club and that there will always be a warm and welcoming place up at St Marks for them to come up to, to share some lovely stories of their brother and dad.

Rest in Peace my friend”

Maverick Anderson 14th July 2022