By Colin Whiteley
Thanet Wanderers RUFC 21 – 8 Sidcup RFC
Ben Cannon and Sam Taylor were back in Thanet’s pack but Andy Letts was playing in Kent’s “Wooden Spoon” team and hooker Finn White was on duty. Captain, Warren Riddell-Bloomfield moved from the back row to replace him and Lenny Brown was restored to the second row.
Callum Doody was injured, and his brother, Leon proved to be a very able deputy at scrum half. Adam Harrison returned at Ten and there was a debut for Charlie Stainton on the left wing.
Wanderers kicked off on a lovely afternoon for rugby and a nervous response to their first attack led to a penalty that Lewis Downer safely despatched to give Wanderers an early lead, 3-0. This was short-lived as Sidcup attacked from the restart and a penalty set them close to the Thanet line. Good defence kept the line intact initially but a well-judged cross-kick produced a fine opening score for Sidcup that could not be converted but gave them the lead, 5-3.
A Wanderers’ penalty did not reach touch and Sidcup returned to the attack. After fifteen minutes, Downer, playing at inside centre, made a scything break to set a good field position and a stretched defence was guilty of not releasing. Downer confidently slotted his second penalty to put Wanderers ahead 6-5. Thanet continued to attack and another penalty opportunity, four minutes later, a little further out saw Downer convert and Thanet led, 9-5.
James Crompton playing at blindside, broke clear but was dragged down. Play swung from one half to the other and both defences stood strong. There was danger for the visitors every time Henry Mirams and Adam Harrison counter-attacked and it was a good game to watch. Wanderers were penalised for a high tackle and Sidcup narrowed Thanet’s lead to a point from 30 metres out.
There was a determination about Wanderers and they continued to press for the line. Forward after forward aimed for the line and the finish finally came from Ben Cannon who claimed a well-deserved first try for the first XV. There was no conversion but Wanderers led 14-8, which was the half-time score a few minutes later.
Wanderers had played well in a very satisfactory first half and coaches will have asked for more of the same for the second half. Mike Whitehead took a break and Luke Browning was back in the front row for the second period. Harrison Quittenden replaced Stainton after his satisfactory debut A knock-on from the restart gave Sidcup good field position but Wanderers withstood the resulting attack and a brilliant breakout from Harrison switched play from near the Wanderers’ line to close at the other end.
The hosts’ intensity appeared to have dipped early in the second half and they lost a good opportunity when they were deemed to have offended after a minor altercation on the visitors’ line. A pair of penalties took Sidcup close to Wanderers’ line whose defence was sound. Louis Marshall was on his way to the opposition line but was recalled for an offside. Probing attacks from both sides were met with resolute defence and there was no change to the score after an hour’s play. Taylor took a break after another valuable contribution and Finley Hickmott replaced him from the bench.
Wanderers’ defence was hitting hard and low enough for any purist but when a Wanderer disputed a decision of the excellent referee, Alan Whittingham, they found themselves marched back ten metres. A crucial steal from Brown put the Wanderers back on the front foot and the initiative was with the Wanderers after many good metres from Quittenden down the left wing. A concerted attack took them close before Hickmott broke well and handed on to Harrison to touch down. Downer’s conversion was good for a 21-8 lead. Sidcup contested hard in the closing minutes looking for a losing bonus point but there was no further score and the well deserved victory was with the Wanderers.
Wanderers Head Coach, Elliott Blackmore was delighted with his team’s progress. He and Fellow Coaches, Kieran Hopper and Alex Saddington will be delighted with the steel that is present in the squad. It was a day for confident defenders and all Wanderers would be included in that number today. Brett Scott at Eight and Dennis Davies in the second row were excellent as was the centre pairing of Cam Beck and Lewis Downer. Downer has battled through many setbacks and his fine all-round performance today earned him the coaches’ man of the match award.
There is no game for the Wanderers next Saturday. They return to action on the 12th October at 3PM with an away fixture against Dartford Valley RFC who are currently in 10th place, a position they filled at the end of last season in this league.
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