The first away match of the season.

The forecast is for a cold snap, with the first cold day of the year. The squad travels down the M2 to our first trip of the season. Arriving at Sittingbourne to see 4 of our side already there waiting, great work and a sure sign that the squad is enjoying the game this season. All well supported by the parents.
Half term is here and players have headed for the beach taking the coaches with them. Leaving just 16 players available for selection with yours truly having to be more hands on. than usual for a change. The opposition greet us well and we hurry to change ready for the game. After a little walk we find the pitch in great condition and the weather is dry so a good game should be forthcoming.
Sidcup and Sittingbourne warm up with trepidation and I look at our squad trying to find a edge to their game as usual half asleep and dropping balls like they have never seen a rugby ball before. After some choice words the boys get their playing heads on. The under 16 game is cancelled and we have their referee who has a quick word. “WE WILL PLAY ROLLING SUBS, THAT OK WITH COACH” oh how I wish it so with a scrum half as a solitary sub I would have little choice. My team talk resembled something from the Alamo, if anyone gets injured tuff.! We have no one to replace you with so look after yourselves and each other.
The Bourne pack look a handful , in training they look a reasonable side, the referee explains the Bourne coach would like 25min each way so who I am to disagree , Mr Sullivan take the reigns again this week and the pack is lead by Pencil and away we go.
With a pack of good strength with a couple playing out of position we start a little sluggishly but then find our feet the Bourne pack are good runners with plenty of strength but are a little niave at the breakdown the nouse and grit starts to flow and Sidcup back row nicks a ball in contact, Brandon spins a pass out to Adam, Dan breaks the line and puts josh away, tackle him or pay the price! Bourne found out the hard way.
Open play again and the sidcup pack start top dominate as they step up the pace , winning a penalty just inside our half Dan kicks for touch , line out and a well worked move sees Sol breaking the line and from the breakdown the ball goes wide to find Josh again in more space than normal and he starts to have a field day , 2 tries and both for Mr Fenn , the smile is bigger than ever on his face.
With a few more runs and things are going well for sidcup side covering well in defence as well as attack basically the difference between the teams was the space Bourne gave to sidcups back division and the ferocity in which sidcups tackles came in with Dan in particular drive impressively.
Sam Connelly, Christian fitch, like Sheridan (back for the first time in 3 weeks) all linked well to run some great lines to gain yet more ground Brandon give Ethan a run out at scrum half the ball being spun out but dropping the ball and silly mistakes stop sidcup in the midfield ,Dan and Josh cut through again and then run out of support but up pops the open side and runs over with his first try for Sidcup , I will say the first of many for the strong Sol Usher. The pack now working well with Fraser ,Will,Jack and Matt working well in the tight with the extra space and as things start to open up H ,Sol ,Oein and Alfie start to open their legs to explore the defence , with Alfie for some strange reason thinking he is playing sevens ! Only to the dismay of his fellow front row and the rest of the pack.
Half time whistle goes and Sidcup are 24-0 up, not sure how as the Bourne players look dangerous every time they have the ball. Bourne restart and Sidcup now run the back straight back with the confidence up but loose hands in the midfield see too many dropped balls from easy chances. A reshuffle in the back division sees only Christian playing in his favoured position. Sidcups forwards now working well against a heavier pack in the scrums with their lineout dominating helped by the wise head of the pack leader, Sidcup start to run some penalty moves and work hard to run the Bourne pack around. Will Beck with his confidence flowing starts to take the ball on and makes some good ground, however mid way through the half and Bourne find their feet. A promising move makes some ground, tackle, tackle, tackle Sidcup hold firm and a slip out of hand as Sidcup pick the loose ball and through the hands finds Luke at outside centre to run the length of the pitch to score a demoralising try. Sam now at fly half seams to have more time than most but that’s normalfor him. He puts Luke away to find Josh and Dan now on the wings are causing havoc for the Bourne side out wide. In the end a good team performance for our tight knit squad. Well done all involved.
An ill timed tackle by Mr Fenn was the only time the referee had to talk to the Sidcup XV in a very well disciplined performance by a Sidcup side with 11 absentees. I have only good things to say about the opposition who fought through to the end and were unlucky not to score. Keep up the good work Sittingbourne, I can see a good side developing from their squad in the coming months.
On to the next

Porky.