Match Report: Bentwood 17 – 38 TWRFC

BRENTWOOD 17 – 38 TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Wells travelled across to Brentwood this week following the loss to Guildford the week before knowing that they had to win this game to avoid the relegation zone. Brentwood on the other hand were extremely confident quoting that this match would be an easy win for them. They were in for quite a shock as the Wells were fired up for this match and were not going down without a fight.

Wells started the game against the wind and up the slope and soon found themselves under a lot of pressure from Brentwood who used their big forwards to punch holes in the Wells defence. Wells were camped on their line for several periods of time but managing to keep them out with solid defence from Hathaway, Doherty and Isbell. After 13 minutes however Wells found themselves offside at the ruck and were penalised with Brentwood converting to make the score 3-0. Straight from the kick off Brentwood piled on more pressure pinning Wells back down in the corner and it was on 32 minutes when their bulky centre punched through a gap and scored between the posts which was converted making the score 10-0. Wells then started their comeback with a great break from Doherty at the base of the scrum, feeding Caddy who skipped through a couple of tackles only for the last pass to go to ground. Just before half time Wells pressured Brentwood again and after several phases lively scrum half Storkey danced his way over the try line, between the posts for Reynolds to convert taking the half time score to 10-7.

The second half started the same as the first with Brentwood taking the game to Wells and scoring first with a try which was also converted, making the score 17-7. This woke Wells up and they soon started playing more territory and using the wind. Some strong running from the front row of Straeche, Nicholls and Crosilla tested the Brentwood defence and this eventually paid off with Man of the match Crosilla crossing the line between the posts, again for Reynolds to score. Brentwood never got out of their half again with Wells now firing on all cylinders. Excellent lineout work from Earle and Hawkins secured solid ball and another strong driving phase saw Earle power his way over between the posts for Reynolds to covert. 17-24. After another strong lineout, a catch and drive saw the returning Pankhurst finish off a rolling maul for Reynolds to covert again. With only a few minutes remaining Talbot replaced Isbell and Clough replaced Storkey. Wells however were not finished and some excellent handing and interplay involving the lively Montgomery, Reynolds, Hathaway, N Doherty feeding his brother Mike Doherty to finish off with an excellent try between the post converted by Reynolds making the final score 17-38.

Wells will take a lot of positives from this game particularly their dogged defence and take it on to their next game in two weeks against the league leaders Sutton & Epsom at home at St Marks. KO 2-30pm.

John Crees
Tunbridge Wells RFC Chairman

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