Thanet Wanderers RFC VS Bromley RFC

Thanet Wanderers RFC VS Bromley RFC

vs

Results

ClubPointsOutcome
Thanet Wanderers RFC10Loss
Bromley RFC34Win
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Thanet Wanderers RFC VS Bromley RFC

BROMLEY STEP IT UP AT BROADSTAIRS

Bromley have done a fair bit of travelling in the first few weeks of the season mainly to the seaside and having had success at Folkestone and Deal and were looking to complete the hat trick at Thanet Wanderers on Saturday. The away side’s injury woes have been well documented and although still missing three or four from the squad they turned up in Broadstairs with a strong-looking side showing remarkably few changes from the previous week which was welcome.

The home side tested Bromley’s defences in the opening exchanges but got little change from that and then had to do a bit of defending themselves. At the ten-minute mark full back Hawkins delivered a mighty kick which turned into a fifty-twenty-two to give Bromley territory and the lineout. The set-up was good and a couple of powerful drives were finished off by Banfield who crashed over to the right of the posts with Alex Griffiths converting. Bromley was off and running 7-0. They carried on pressurising Wanderers and after several thrusts at the line, Thanet transgressed and was penalised. Bromley took the sensible option and bagged the three points. 10-0 up. The home side upped their game and responded by kicking a penalty of their own to reduce the deficit.

Bromley then got into their stride and was not slow in replying. After several phases of play and some probing experienced centre, Powell made an excellent break but was hauled down short of the line but the away side was not to be denied and after recycling the ball several times Powell deservedly finished off the move and with Griffiths conversion it was 17-3. With halftime approaching Bromley was not done yet as they won a lineout in the middle of the pitch leading to the backs going through their paces with Hawkins setting up G Scott who delicately chipped over the top for A Griffiths to run onto and score. 22-3 at the break.

In the second half, Bromley continued to be the dominant side scoring two more tries and probably leaving a couple more begging. Banners lived up to his title and was banned for ten minutes for forgetting what his arms are for. This time it was not a case of mistaken identity. The first of the tries came five minutes in when Bromley was awarded a penalty around halfway. The ever-alert George Scott took a quick one and made about twenty metres before he was caught. Several phases of play followed leading to Hawkins getting his hands on the ball. He scanned what was ahead and delivered a lovely pass to Alex Griffiths who jinked and jived before passing to fly half Rice who powered his way through the remaining tacklers to score and the bonus point was secured.

Fifteen minutes later Bromley had Thanet Wanderers trapped in their twenty-two and the excellent George Scott gave a deft offload for Rice to navigate his over. To their credit, Thanet roused themselves and scored a consolation try with centre Walton cruising through and Thompson converting. Bromley wins 34-3. Six weeks into the season and it has been a mixed bag for Bromley with some really good periods of play offset by a couple of second halves which they would want to confine to the dustbin of history. They are sitting in the table just behind the leaders but things will become clearer in the next few weeks as to who the title contenders will be. Hopefully, the whole squad will be available for selection shortly and with quite a few younger players putting their hands up this could give the coaches Simpson and Humphries a few nice headaches.

The second team game against Warlingham did not go ahead which was very disappointing but the third team went to Charlton Park where they encountered a strong team and although battling hard they went down 32-19. Next week the firsts are at home to Crowborough, the seconds are supposedly playing Dunstonians and the thirds are also at home to Dartfordians.