Cranbrook II 0 vs TWRUFC 1st XV 48

13th Sep 2025, KO 15:00

Cranbrook II - Away

Live Text, Match Report & Information

Match Report

Match Report: Cranbrook 2nd XV vs Ash 1st XV

Kent Rural A League – Saturday 13th September 2025, Cranbrook RFC

Ash 1st XV opened their 2025/26 league campaign in style with a commanding 48–0 victory away to Cranbrook 2nd XV. The afternoon delivered all four seasons — rain and wind in the warm-up, then bright sunshine on a slick pitch that made for fast, open rugby. Ash combined set-piece power, attacking flair and defensive grit to secure seven tries and a clean sheet.

First Half

Ash wasted no time asserting themselves. Within five minutes, centre George Kelsey sliced through from a set move to score the opener, converted by fly-half Ben Gunter. Soon after, captain Matt Radbourne muscled over the line with trademark determination, though Gunter’s kick drifted wide.

Ash maintained pressure, and when Cranbrook conceded a penalty on their 10-metre line, Gunter stepped up to add three more points. As half-time approached, Ash’s pack dominated a Cranbrook scrum, sending the ball through the hands to Kelsey. From inside his own half, he weaved past defenders to finish a brilliant solo try. Gunter converted, giving Ash full control.

Half-time: Cranbrook 0 – 22 Ash

Second Half

Cranbrook fought hard after the restart, but Ash broke through again when Gunter chipped in behind the defence. The ball ricocheted off a Cranbrook player and fell kindly for centre Phil Hopkins, who pounced to score. Gunter added the extras: 29–0.

The game briefly paused for some comic drama when hooker Sam Gunter left the pitch with a head wound after a Cranbrook boot caught him. Blood poured like Niagara Falls, and while Simon Race the paramedic got to work patching him up, head coach Joe Freeman and teammates gave Sam plenty of supportive abuse, joking that no plaster was big enough for his “massive head.” Sam naturally tried to play on, but even he had to admit defeat in the face of medical glue.

Ash’s backs then created space for winger Brad Nash, who sprinted into the corner for Ash’s fifth try. The conversion was missed, but Ash’s dominance continued. Not long after, full-back Guy Williamson sparked a counter-attack, releasing Hopkins, who was stopped just short. Number eight Fin Parfitt arrived in support and, to the amusement of teammates, simply fell over the try line to claim the score. Gunter converted: 41–0.

The final word went to scrum-half Simon Race, who hit a hard support line to dive over for the seventh try. Gunter’s conversion was successful, sealing the emphatic win at 48–0.

Standouts & Spirit

Flanker Dec Quincey made his Ash debut and was outstanding — crunching tackles, hard running lines, and tireless unseen work. He rightly took the Barn Owls Cattery Man of the Match award.

Meanwhile, the tongue-in-cheek “Richard of the Day” went to prop Ben Brabham, who put in a strong shift at scrum time but drew fines from teammates for failing to celebrate his birthday properly the night before.

Final Score: Cranbrook 2nd XV 0 – 48 Ash 1st XV

Try Scorers: Kelsey (2), Radbourne (1), Hopkins (1), Nash (1), Parfitt (1), Race (1).

Conversions: B. Gunter (5).

Penalty: B. Gunter (1).