Aylesford Bulls 29 vs TWRUFC 1st XV 27

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Match Report

Thanet will consider this a bad loss despite gaining two bonus points to remain third in the league table. Neither side started well swapping a number of penalties early on, but unable to create any positive field positions. The home side were reduced to fourteen men after 18 minutes when their prop was shown a yellow card for a number of high tackle offences.

Bulls defended well keeping Thanet playing in the midfield and an interception on halfway saw the home side score the opening try under the posts, with the conversion taking them to a 7-0 lead. Spurred on, Aylesford were soon on the attack again and scored their second converted try three minutes later, on the half hour to take the score to 14-0. From the kick off Thanet created space to move the ball up the field.

Wanderers were rewarded with a penalty and a lineout five metres from the opposition line. Again the Bulls were able to disrupt the play to regain the ball and return up the field over the halfway line. A number of unforced errors had Thanet on the back foot and as the half came to a close a third converted try saw the teams turn around with Thanet trailing 21-0.

Within a minute of the start of the second half Tom Walton slotted a penalty for Thanet’s first score of the game. Ten minutes into the half Aylesford scored their fourth try leaving Thanet trailing 26-3 and not looking as if there would be a response to cut the deficit. This proved to be false as a passage of play and good support work by the pack enabled Gil Smith to ground the ball, Thanet now trailed by 26-8. The hosts were again a man down after a number of penalties awarded against them led to a second yellow card, but did not concede points during this period of play.

Bulls responded with a penalty to go out to a 29-8 lead. Thanet now started to put together good attacking passages of play and Giotto- McCourt-Welsh scored the team’s second try. Walton’s conversion left the score standing at 29-15 with less than 15 minute to play.

Again the play was mainly in the midfield with both teams gaining territory, but unable to set up any scoring opportunities. Aylesford received their third yellow card of the game with only four minutes of the match remaining. This time Wanderers took advantage of the field position with Callun Doody scoring to take Thanet to 29-20. Aylesford would have like to put the game to bed after the kick off, but Thanet had a different idea.

As the hosts were unable to stop a number of breaks from the backline Thanet were metres short and after recycling the ball Louis Marshall scored their fourth and important bonus point try. Another conversion by Walton meant the final score was 29-27.

Thanet upped their game in the last fifteen minutes of this match, but should have used their numerical advantage better.

Tries:

Conversions:

Penalties: None

Drop Goals: None