Bromley RFC VS Ashford RFC

BROMLEY OVERCOME STUBBORN ASHFORD

Bromley welcomed Ashford to Barnet Wood Road on Saturday for a highly important game in the home side’s desire to achieve promotion to Regional Two South East. Only a win would absolutely guarantee the second place they needed, as Sevenoaks were chasing them hard. There were a few changes from their last match two weeks ago, with Laws and Friday forming a new centre partnership and Carroll and Alex Griffiths on the bench. The sun was out, the pitch looked a picture, the barbecue was on, commentators in place, music drifting across the pitch, and a big, excitable crowd on the sidelines. Game on.

The first few minutes were evenly contested, but it was not long before Bromley started pushing for the scores they desperately needed. On seven minutes, they were awarded a penalty for offside, which was duly knocked over by Johnny Griffiths. They kept coming and a sweeping move ended up with a long pass to the onrushing Joey Richards to convert in the left hand corner. Angst, the pass was forward, disallowed. Ashford were conceding a lot of penalties due to the pressure, warning issued, but they infringed again and the ten minute penalty was applied. As the card was wafted Coldplay’s tune Yellow struck up from the music centre. Not by chance, or was it?, methinks. 

Bromley kept coming, and on fifteen minutes they applied heavy pressure at scrum time close to their opponents’ try line. After a couple of darts, skipper George Scott, leading by example, sniped over and with the excellent conversion in a tricky wind, they had eased out to a 10-0 lead. The game then entered a crucial stage with Bromley striving to get another try to ease the nerves and Ashford showing a stubborn resistance in an attempt to deny them. Credit to Ashford as they threw bodies on the line showing great defensive discipline, holding up the home side over the try line on at least two if not three occasions and surviving another potential try scored by Milne from a lineout. Disallowed, but not sure why.

Ashford then began to work themselves into the game orchestrated by their excellent half backs and some punishing drives from their big forwards. Now Bromley’s turn to cough up penalties which pushed them towards their twenty two. A mighty catch and drive pushed them further back and although they survived several surges towards their line there was an air of inevitability about the subsequent try scored wide left which was superbly converted leaving the half time score at 10-7. Midway during the half Tommy Scott had to come off after a shuddering collision to be replaced by Godden and Carroll and Griffiths came off the bench for the second half. As has happened a few times this season, Bromley had established a lead only to be pegged back, so it was all or nothing in the final forty minutes.

Omens did not look good in the first fifteen minutes or so as Ashford redoubled their efforts and pushed hard for a try to get them in the lead. Again, Bromley gave away a couple of penalties, which enabled the away side to establish field position close to the Bromley try line. It was now Bromley’s turn to showcase their defensive drills, and on several occasions, they repelled powerful surges close to their line, which eventually led them to get out and away from the danger zone. At this stage, there was a fair bit of anxiety on the sidelines as this game was far too close for comfort, but Bromley stepped up the pace, and there were some impressive, powerful carries down the field by the likes of Haisell, Godden, Milne and Miles, which took the team deep into Ashford’s half. They undid some of this good work by throwing wild passes when going to ground when recycling was probably the order of the day. The occasional dropped pass did not help either. No matter they had a head of steam up for the first time in the half. With the heat now on, Ashford started to cough up penalties in their desperate attempts to stem the tide. Bromley took full advantage, driving ever closer to the try line, and the dam burst as Godden stormed over as he had done at Sevenoaks last time out. With the conversion by Griffiths, the home side edged further ahead 17-7.

Bromley kept up the intensity, and about ten minutes later, they were awarded a penalty, which Griffiths planted around the twenty-two. The lineout was won, and Carroll and Devane rumbled forward, creating an opening for George Scott to nip in for his second score of the day. No conversion this time. With about twelve minutes to play a full on rugby match broke out with Ashford chasing the game and Bromley going for the bonus point. Ashford suddenly started chucking the ball about, and Bromley had to be alert, which in the main they were, apart from once when the opposition right winger got into space and eluded a couple of defenders and then encountered George Hawkins, and that was the end of that. Bromley, for their part, had a couple of near misses but failed to add to their tally. There was little injury time for a change, and with the final whistle, there was relief and elation for a very fine Bromley first team who rightly got rewarded with promotion (subject to ratification – don’t get me started on this) after a brilliant season where they have given their all in every game. 17 wins, 3 losses by the narrowest of margins and 1 draw. Credit also to Ashford, who made Bromley work exceptionally hard for their win, and the game was in the balance for a long period. The referee also added to the occasion, making it very clear to the players and spectators what decisions were given for, and he was at all times fair and balanced. Player of the Match went to Michael Haisell, who was immense at number eight.

On the adjacent pitch the thirds were involved in a very important rearranged Merit Table game against Old Alleynians which turned out to be very entertaining and high scoring with the threes prevailing 40-27 with tries by Callum Houghtonx2, Bruce Rice, Chris Denby, Dylan Tabi and Harry Stevens with five conversions by Aron Abbey. The win was significant as it means that the thirds, as I understand it, will be promoted into Kent Five, subject to ratification. One of these years, we will understand promotion and relegation before the season ends, I wish. Anyway, that is a tribute to the hard work that has gone into making this team more competitive, and their recent results have been excellent.

The twos who have been in rare form recently had to make the long ticket to Rye in Kent Four. They travelled in style on a luxury coach. Unfortunately, things did not go their way, and although they fought hard, they went down 44-28. Tries from Tom Rowex2, George Harding and Jake Morris plus four conversions from the prolific Dan O’Rourke. The seconds have had an excellent season, finding their feet in a highly competitive league, and they will look to push on next season.

And so the league season is over and it has been tremendously successful for all three senior sides and the rapidly improving Academy team. All credit to Joe Simpson and his assistants who have done an excellent job with all three senior teams playing an exciting brand of rugby, but when needed, they can also dog it out as well. Of course, success is also down to the players buying into what is on offer and committing to training and being respectful of selection, which is not always easy. It is not all about playing; it is also about having fun, and Saturday evening was certainly raucous from what I hear, and why not?

Season not quite over as the firsts have a regional National Cup game this Saturday at home to Old Rutlishians with a 3.00 kick off I think. The seconds also have a cup game away to Ashford but not sure when that is due to be played.