After an absolutely brutal late November/early December in which chronic availability issues saw the Oaks academy exit the National Cup and lose their first two Kent League fixtures, there was a feeling of new beginnings as the academy 18s and 17s combined to play a pre-season style friendly away at Rochford. The format agreed pre-game was 4x20 minutes and as many players playing as possible.
Within minutes it was very clear how each side was going to play. Rochford looked to play through the middle with their powerful ball carriers and use a tight offloading game to get in behind the Oaks defence. Oaks on the other hand were looking to move the ball coast to coast in an attempt to avoid some of the more ferocious defensive shots coming in from the home side.
Whilst Rochford had the better of the early exchanges and scored an impressive try, it was Sevenoaks who gradually gained the ascendency of the first two quarters. New boy Joe Strebel scored two tries in an impressive debut on the left wing, showing real pace and finishing ability for one in particular. His brace was followed by a Zac Loder try just before the 'half' as a sweeping Oaks counterattack from inside their own 22 stung the home side just as they were starting to build momentum.
Rochford's carrying game started to take over as Oaks made changes in the 3rd quarter, but centre George Rehbein, scored against the run of play to take Oaks into a 5-24 lead with one quarter still to play.
Rochford dominated the final quarter and scored three tries in quick succession to make the ending a lot more exciting than one might have predicted with 20 minutes to play. Fortunately for Oaks, only one of Rochford's four tries was converted, leaving the final score at 22-24.
This was a good hit out for Oaks ahead of their return to league action with a double header at home to Tunbridge Wells this Sunday (26th Jan).
Squad list : Jack Pearson, Yiannis Papadopoulos, Colby Bedford-Eatwell, Gurvan Ollivier, Callum Le Roux, Toby Lenaghan, Tom Kerton, Tait Anderson, George Booth (C), Hermann Waschefort, Zac Loder, Will Blackmore, Toby Shrimpton, Will Brook, George Rehbein, Charlie Vowls, Gerran Prescott, Joe Strebel, Jayden Jackson, Tom Hyde, James Banks, Priam Van Asche, Preston Williams