Bromley RFC VS Aylesford Bulls

A WIN IS A WIN FOR BROMLEY

Bromley entertained Aylesford Bulls on Saturday. The Bulls have had a difficult season and Bromley have done well so if you were a betting person a home win looked a banker. That is what happened but the away side played with great spirit and Bromley found it difficult to break them down or impose themselves, particularly in the second half. The first fifteen minutes or so were mainly dominated by the home side and they created several point scoring opportunities but could not quite deliver. Something had to give and after seventeen minutes they were awarded a scrum after holding up the opposition ball in a maul. This was won and after strong running by Rice and Powell George Scott ran in the try close to the posts and with the conversion by A Griffiths the score was 7-0 to Bromley.

However, within the space of ten minutes, the game was turned on its head. On twenty two minutes. Bulls turned over the ball in midfield and placed a clever kick into the Bromley twenty two which they struggled to deal with and a lot of their players were attracted to the breakdown to secure the ball which they did. However, the clearing kick did not find touch and Aylesford immediately ran it back to the right of Bromley’s defence which was thin and exposed leading to a relatively easy run in for the try which was complimented by an excellent conversion. Five minutes later Bromley were penalised for handling in a ruck resulting in a pretty straightforward kick for three points and the Bulls were 10-7 ahead much to the delight of their loud and encouraging travelling support.

Bromley now woke up and played their best rugby of the game. On thirty minutes they won a scrum and the ball was spun out with centre J Griffiths making an explosive burst through the middle which created space for Hawkins to display his skills and cross for a lovely converted try. Two minutes from half time after excellent all round team play the other centre Powell was released in space and he screamed over in the left hand corner for an unconverted try. Shortly afterwards the whistle went for the break which was unfortunate for Bromley as they were now in full flow but 19-10 to the good was a fair representation of the game at that stage.                       

Six minutes into the second half and the home side extended their lead. They were awarded a penalty which was kicked into the corner. The ball was secured at the lineout and a massive drive to the line was unstoppable with number eight Smith doing the honours and A Griffiths converting. Aylesford heads could have gone down at this stage but they kept battling away and aided and abetted by Bromley’s errors and concession of penalties the Bulls found themselves encamped on the Bromley line on the fifty minute mark. However, they were foiled by a quite brilliant defiant Bromley defence and the danger was cleared. The next fifteen minutes or so seemed to be played in midfield with a lot of huff and puff by both sides but no discernible pattern emerging. Then at sixty six minutes, centre Griffiths knocked an intelligent kick into the Bull’s twenty two which rolled towards the try line making it difficult to deal with. And so it proved with the ball being fumbled forward by the defender leading to a five metre scrum to Bromley

Bromley had a distinct edge in the scrum but had found it difficult to make it count but this time there was no stopping them with a powerful surge motoring them over the line with Smith dotting down and with the conversion they were up 33-10 up. The crowd relaxed expecting Bromley to cut loose but unfortunately so did the players and with the concession of a number of penalties the Bulls were invited back into the game and with their key player’s numbers eight, nine and ten pulling the strings and their number four knocking their penalties miles up the field the home side were on the back foot and four minutes from time Aylesford deservedly scored a try which was again very well converted leaving the final score at Bromley 33 Aylesford Bulls 17.

Of the two sides, Aylesford will probably be happier because if they play with this passion and no little skill then a few wins are not too far away. For Bromley, a bonus point victory is not to be sniffed at but the players and coaches will know they will have to be less frantic and more clinical than they were today and as ever the penalty count against them needs addressing. Having said that they are a joy to watch playing an exciting brand of fifteen man rugby. Over on pitch three, the thirds were absolutely delighted to entertain a Shootershillians fifteen, after last Saturday’s really disappointing cancellation of their fixture against Charlton Park with both sides ready to play.  What ensued was an entertaining try fest with the home side emerging winners by 55 points to 22. Extremely frustrating for the second team who could not find anyone to play against as their original opponents cried off

Next week there are no confirmed opponents for the firsts and seconds and the thirds are supposed to be playing away at St Leonard’s. What actually transpires will be posted later in the week.