TWRUFC 1st XV 31 vs Aylesford Bulls II 5

18th Oct 2025, KO 15:00

Aylesford Bulls II - Home

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Match Report

Another week and another win for Ash’s mighty 1st XV. The reign at the top of the league continues.

This weeks home fixture against Aylesford Bulls 2nd XV was a particularly special day for Ash Rugby Club. A VP’s dinner was hosted at the club prior to kick off a chance to give back to many of our sponsors who help so generously to help keep the club up and running. An amazing dinner put on by the lovely Mike & Abi Smalls, and John & Carol Evans. On top of this it marked the launch of our brand new kit from VX3 providing both a home and away strip. So it’s safe to say that there was a lot of excitement ahead of kick off and surrounding the day as a whole.

However, there was a feisty game in hand still and with so many supporters on looking from the side the boys knew they just had to get the job done at all costs. Right from the outset the physical battle began. Aylesford pressed hard in the opening moments of the game coming close to the Ash line and showing they were really here to ruin the party. However, the strength of the Ash defence stood strong as an ox, keeping the score at 0-0, serving as a reminder to the players that they had to wake up and get their head in the game. Play carried on and the Ash boys rallied with the support of the sides getting opportunities in the opposition half thanks to the sweet boot of Brad Blaxland nudging shots into the corners all day. After a driving maul off a lineout and a couple of phases Matt Radbourne ended up scoring the opener with Blaxland converting to take us to 7-0.

Play carried along as the game started to turn sour, there were flares of emotion all across the pitch with both sides trying to gain the mental advantage and conflicts off the ball sparked. But Ash didn’t let these mind games play on them, with turnovers and big hits being put in all across the field from the likes of Sam Gunter, Matt Radbourne and Dec Quincey to name a few, this laid the foundation for Ash to run a couple more tries in before the half time switch over. With a lovely cross field kick putting Brad Nash in for a score in the corner, and some smooth hands allowing Simon Race to dot down in the other. Brad Blaxland converted 1 of the 2 to close the half at 19-0.

The halftime team talk was filled with switches after losing the likes of Radbourne and Blaxland. The likes of Dylan Richards took a place in the front row with Joey Hales Joining the Flank, Dec moved from 7 to centres and Skipper Kieran Munn-Holland momentarily to 10 before being swiftly subbed for Brad as he returned for a further 10 minutes. Drex made his debut in at 13 while Guy Williamson assumed the full-back spot and young Lewis Hopkins jumped to wing so that Simon Race could reclaim the 9 shirt.

The half started with some more solid play. The game felt unbalanced with so many players out of position but as everybody fell into their responsibilities, the rugby started slowly flowing again. Brad Blaxland made his second and final exit from the field leaving Skipper Kieran Munn-Hollands to fill the boots at 10. Fin Parfitt also moved into the centres during this putting Dec back in with the pack. These changes created a different style of Rugby which created huge gaps around the outsides where another try was run in by Sam Gunter and converted by Daniel Norman, however I’m not sure anyone remembers it over the mess Guy Williamson found himself in or the comments his father made from the sides.

With the return of Lewis Hopkins to 9 and Guy to 13 it formed a truly forward orientated backline of 3 flankers filling the 10, 12 and 13 jerseys, however the ball still managed to find its way wide for more run in opportunities quickly shut down by the match official for some dodgy passes. (I guess the only negative of having forwards in the back line !).

But there was still scoring time left when a ball got flung wide by Kieran to the safe hands of our debutant Drex who crashed over the line for the dream first performance. As the 80 minute whistle blew the scoreboard read 31-5. Another successful day at the office for the boys.

Onto the next fixture at home to Ashford RFC, Saturday 8th November.

MOTM: Dec Qunicey – Solid performance all round

DOTD: Joey Hales – Whatever the hell that kick was (didn’t need to write about it, the pictures speak a thousand words)

Try Scorers: Matthew Radbourne, Brad Nash, Simon Race, Sam Gunter, Drex

Conversions: Brad Blaxland (2), Dan Norman

An overall successful and historic day for the club with another stellar performance.

Onwards and upwards … the Green Machine keeps rolling !!!