Thanet Wanderers RFC VS Bromley RFC

WIN, WIN, WIN FOR BROMLEY

Bromley fielded three sides on Saturday even though there are still significant injuries within the club. Knitting and meshing three front rows with replacements was a headache on its own. At present Smith, Carroll, Holland, Milne and Chance, who have all played at prop/hooker for the first team this season, are not available and most of those have not featured for many weeks. On the bright side Banfield returned at hooker for the first team and Lee at prop for the seconds both injured against Canterbury amongst others.

The ones travelled to Broadstairs to play Thanet Wanderers who are, much like Bromley, a well established community club and this fixture had all the makings of a banana skin. James Powell had his first start on the wing for many weeks and captain George Scott appeared on the bench after struggling with a leg injury. The back line was much the same as last week and Edmunds got a deserved start in the forwards as did Rippendale. A good number of supporters made the trip with some enjoying the delights of The Magnet in the town centre and topped up with a couple of beers and local fish and chips made their way to the match.

The first few minutes saw both sides testing each other out and Bromley trying to sort out their lineout which initially was misfiring. On ten minutes the away side were awarded a scum about thirty metres out. This was won and spread wide with Hawkins entering the line at speed, drawing the cover and releasing Griffiths A to score out wide for a nicely constructed try. Conversion missed. For the next fifteen minutes or so it was nip and tuck until a poor defensive kick from Thanet was fielded by Hawkins who created the space for Laws to run in another well crafted try. This was converted by Griffiths J to make the half time score 12-0 to Bromley. It had been a reasonable half for Bromley but Wanderers had proved obdurate and resilient.

At half time George Scott came on for Tom Powell who has played very well at scrum half over the last few weeks. The second half started with Bromley on the front foot and they were soon awarded a kickable penalty but they elected for a scrum which was won and Scott scampered off which set up the exquisite Harrison Pullen to crash over and with the conversion it was 19-0. Bromley had established a comfortable lead and could now play a little bit more expansively. Well, that would be the theory but not the practice. Wanderers came back strongly and tested Bromley’s defence which responded fiercely. Perhaps too fiercely as Rippendale was yellow carded and from the resultant penalty the Thanet pack rumbled forward and after a number of charges and rumbles Whitehead scored and with the conversion by Panteli they were suddenly back in the game.

The next score would be critical and the Wanderers’ tails were up and they were really testing Bromley but they were more than up to the challenge perhaps too much so as Ansell was then yellow carded and the away team were down to thirteen men. Thanet saw their chance and started to use their backs hoping to create space for overlapping runners. They appeared to have to have done so and alarm bells were ringing until Powell stepped off his wing and emphatically put an end to that move. Shortly afterwards another yellow card was produced and a disconsolate Thanet player trudged off. For Bromley Griffiths S replaced Rippendale and Tommy, all action, Scott came on. Bromley now took the game by the scruff of the neck and motored home to victory.

Around sixty minutes they applied consistent heavy pressure leading to a penalty and a scrum cleanly won. They surged forward from the base and after a few charges Banfield got his hands on the ball a few metres out and he was not going to be stopped wide left—superb conversion by Griffiths. For a few minutes, Thanet threw everything at Bromley but got absolutely no change out of them and were driven back down the park. On sixty seven minutes TW were awarded a scrum twenty five metres out from their line which they won cleanly but several Bromley players swarmed all over them and the ball became loose. The hard working Haisell displayed impressive footballing skills to kick the ball forward, chase it down and score wide right leading to another impressive conversion by Griffiths. Final score 07-33 to Bromley.

Bromley could be well pleased with their afternoon’s work as any away win in this league is always hard earned and to take all five points was a bonus. Thanet Wanderers gave it everything all afternoon and never made anything easy for the away side. The Bromley team showed real grit and skill throughout the eighty minutes. A settled back line is emerging and slowly but surely the forward pack is getting back to strength giving the coaches a wider choice of players to consider but a number of players have stepped up to put themselves in the frame which is great. On the other side of the coin they again gave away far too many penalties and on a couple of occasions, in promising positions, they coughed up the ball trying to force the pass that was not there. 

Back at Barnet Wood Road, the seconds were at home to Askeans. A predominantly young side played very well and in a high scoring match emerged as clear victors 49-21. They play in Counties 5 Kent and with leaders Colfeians Seconds perhaps surprisingly losing at home to Ashford Seconds they are only six points behind with all to pay for. The third team made the short trip to beautiful Bexley with a core of experienced players forming the basis of the side and they had too much in the tank for the opposition and came away with a 54-0 win. So three wins out of three and a grand day out all round.

Next week the firsts are at home to Charlton Park and this is always a tough physical challenge. It will be preceded by a Vice Presidents Lunch. The threes are also at home with a very difficult game against Alleynians. There may be another fixture organised but no news on that yet.