This was the first home game of the season for Askeans and followed convincing wins from the two previous weeks, away to Westcombe Park and Beckenham.
The game kicked off in bright sunshine on a perfect pitch for running rugby, despite the recent heavy rainfalls.
It would be a cliché and inaccurate to say it was a game of two halves, it was more like 3 chunks of 30 minutes. I’m not making that up, the ref obviously had a dodgy ticker (timepiece, not a vital organ) and the electronic scoreboard was showing 51 minutes for the second half when the final whistle was blown.
Askeans were very good in the first and third bit, but took their foot off the gas in the middle.
The team started like the proverbial Bat out of Hell and the bonus point was secured long before halftime. Alex Miller kicked a penalty from almost halfway to put us on the scoreboard and this was closely followed by an impressive run by Keegan Dickey, with Lewis Bainbridge in support, ending with Alfie Lisle crashing over. Alex Miller converted to make it 10-0.
While Beccehamians were still wondering what was happening, Dave O’Connor leapt to take a lineout ball and made his way to the line and scored! Again, Alex Miller beat the shot clock to make it 17-0.
Whilst us old blokes on the touchline were talking animatedly about how impressive this was, we almost missed Charlie King picking up from an attacking scrum and zig zagging his way to the line. 24-0 (obviously Alex Miller again adding the extras.)
Not to be outdone by Dave O’Connor, Caleb Duffin then stole one of their lineout balls and smashed his way through a crowded defence to score under the posts…so 31-0!
At this point Glenn Filer, was having trouble keeping up with updating the electronic scoreboard.
But then things slowed down a tad – Alfie Lisle went off injured and a dropped ball in our 22 allowed them to score to add to the solitary penalty they had kicked a few minutes earlier.
Disrupted by a combination of successive injuries and some over ambitious offloads , ‘Becs gradually chipped away at the deficit with several penalties and a couple of tries.
So ended the second third.
Thankfully the team regained their momentum in the last period and two tries from Charlie King and Caleb Duffin made the game safe.
Final score 43-35
.......Although it looks closer than it was in reality.
The team showed remarkable fortitude to handle the numerous injuries, HIAs and out of position replacements and this was in no small part to the direction that has been given by the new coaching team, Lee Smith and Alex Miller who were both playing.
Caleb Duffin was awarded ‘Man of the Match’, not least for his aggressive running, including his first half try when he crossed the line like a rampaging bull with two chunky defenders desperately trying to hold onto him.
It is testament to how far the team have progressed that on the touchline we were, rather unfairly, critical of a couple of errors, whereas it wasn’t that long ago we were just happy to be able to fulfil our fixtures.
As Vince Lombardi (Green Bay Packers) said –
“Winning isn’t everything. It’s the only thing”
Askeans have now won three on the bounce! - Whisper it quietly…Askeans are back!
Scribed by Dave Shute aka 'Shutey'
Next match: Saturday 12th October vs Lordswood – Away – 3.00 pm K.O.
Next home match: Saturday 9th November vs Sevenoaks III – 2.30 pm K.O.
And a Special Thanks to our Matchday Sponsor, Glenn Filer!
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