Sittingbourne I/II 38 vs TWRUFC 1st XV 12

12th Sep 2026, KO 15:00

Sittingbourne I/II - Away

Live Text, Match Report & Information

Match Report

Wow, what a way to kick off the 2026-27 season. We travelled away to Sittingbourne to get our playing season underway where we were faced by a Mixed 1s/2s/Colts side of 26 total players, quite a task to overcome mentally for our 17 boys, but we were up for the challenge!!!!

After the scenic 20-minute commute from the changing rooms to the pitch, our players were getting in the zone. It was a pleasure to take to the pitch after such a long time away from playing, if you can even call it a pitch rather than a basketball court anywhere in the country at the moment, but after a swift warmup and practice run through we were shirts on and ready for battle.

The line-up as normal for Ash was a little bit unconventional, with a lot of players out of position. Dylan, Swifty and Birthday Boy Brabs filled out the front row well, supported by a Second row of Riley and Jimmy O for once not actually carrying a major injury. A back row of the former Joey Hinge Hales, now Joey Locked down Hales, Guy Williamson on Official VC duties for the first time and Fin in at 8. Harry Hopkins sat in at 9 (for at least part of the game), Brad Statham at 10 supported by a centre pairing of Alex Manning and Skipper Kieran???? …….. at 13 ……... really!!! Jorge and Brad Nash took up the wings respectively and a debutant appearance from Jasper Southgate at full back.

The game was hard hitting and physically draining from minute 1 to minute 80. Sittingbourne showed grit and determination and the exact reason they are now a contenderin Counties 2. Their ball carrying was hard and intimidating from every player their pack was made up of freakishly big blokes, and their scrum drive and lineout routines were next to perfect. Ash spent the first quarter very much pinned down in defence from these aggressive lines a credit to the Sittingbourne training. But Ash didn’t disappoint every player put their body on the line in defence holding them out, and holding up two, tries a real credit to the work we have done on this defence over the last year of training.

The second quarter brought some more found confidence for the Green and Whites we started to play with some belief stringing together some beautiful running lines in the backs and some classy set pieces from the boys up front. We let in afew tries form simply weak shoulders in a tackle, the real life display of what difference 4 leagues makes, and our building momentum unfortunately came to an abrupt end when Scrum-Half Harry Hopkins was forced from the field of play after sustaining a serious arm injury. We wish you a speedy recovery and hope to see you back on the playing field as soon as possible. Some changes were forced Fin Parfit dropped in at the centres, Al Manning at 15 Jasper to 9 and Joey Heathcote off of the bench into the pack. We played out the rest of the half only letting in one score.

The second Half saw the boys really showcase what the Ash way is all about. Points down in hot and humid conditions on a rock solid pitch but the boys came back fighting, we put two tries on the board the first from a well worked backs move around the corner ending in the hands of Alex Manning who screamed over the try line. The second later in the game, Brad-Lee Nash takes an intercept and darts under the posts converted easily by Brad Blaxland.

There were moments of brilliance defending our own line for multiple phases with only 13 men available at the time, players being able to switch position seamlessly, Jasper’sclinical kick from the back of a lineout, Brads run and exit ball from our own line, Riley proving himself in harsh contact for the first time, Guy being an absolute tackling machine, Kieran sitting down opposition centres like they were stuffed toys, Brad-Nash’s 3 last ditch tackles in the corners, Swifty lasting 80 minutes and his black eye magically healing overnight, Ben Brabham not punching anything, Jimmy not getting injured and Joey Hales “Brilliant ??????” kick.

The result didn’t go our way but it certainly didn’t reflect the performance, the boys wore their heart on their shoulders and represented the club exceptionally as always putting in the plays we’ve studied in pre-season and really taking the game to a higher league opponent, well done all 17 of you should be proud of yourselves.

Sittingbourne, what can we say. You were brilliant opposition and hosts as always, a real group of class individuals with a club full of rugby spirit. Thankyou for your help dealing with our players injuries and for facilitating the shot of Sambuca in our Birthday Boys dirty pint. We wish you all the best for the season ahead in Kent Counties 2 and Kent Rural B.

Thankyou as always to the referee and our travelling supporters, without you we wouldn’t have much of a game at all.

As for the Ash Boys, next stop is Thanet Away under Friday Night Lights, 7.30pm Kick Off 18 September. A big show of numbers is needed at Tuesday training this week to iron out the kinks from this game and prepare for the next.