Sat 1 Mar 2025, 14:00
Four tries from Tom Hughes saw Aylesford Bulls run out convincing victors against bottom side Dartford Valley on Saturday.
But a slow start and scrappy exchanges made what on paper appeared a run-of-the-mill bonus-point victory look like anything but.
Bulls, fresh from a week off, travelled to the north Kent side’s impressive ground looking to build on an assured victory over high-flying Thanet. But they were caught napping twice early on and trailed 14-0 within 10 minutes.
In the shadow of the QEII bridge, Dartford towered over Bulls early on, smashing the ball up through the centre channels with big carriers running dangerous supporting lines off the shoulder.
Bulls eventually hit back in much the same fashion, bulky centre Devon Berrington receiving a deft offload from fly half Paul Cooper and crashing through flailing arms and under the posts. Fin Ashdown-Denney added the first of six conversions to cut the margin to seven.
Full back Tom Hughes, one of the league’s top scorers this season, then scored his first of a remarkable set of tries in trademark hot-stepping fashion. 14-12.
Winger Barney Brown then added a converted try. Dartford hit back but Hughes crossed again before the break to take the half time score to 21-26.
Bulls pulled away in the second forty, their scrum motoring forward at a rate of knots, Hughes with two more improbable finishes and man of the match Christian Dolley, a menace on the wing throughout, finally reaping the reward from repeated raids into the host’s half. His try late on brought the final score to 21-47.
Bulls, now eighth, welcome Medway to the Jack Williams ground this Saturday.
Bulls 2nd XV lost 0-29 to Weavering.
But a slow start and scrappy exchanges made what on paper appeared a run-of-the-mill bonus-point victory look like anything but.
Bulls, fresh from a week off, travelled to the north Kent side’s impressive ground looking to build on an assured victory over high-flying Thanet. But they were caught napping twice early on and trailed 14-0 within 10 minutes.
In the shadow of the QEII bridge, Dartford towered over Bulls early on, smashing the ball up through the centre channels with big carriers running dangerous supporting lines off the shoulder.
Bulls eventually hit back in much the same fashion, bulky centre Devon Berrington receiving a deft offload from fly half Paul Cooper and crashing through flailing arms and under the posts. Fin Ashdown-Denney added the first of six conversions to cut the margin to seven.
Full back Tom Hughes, one of the league’s top scorers this season, then scored his first of a remarkable set of tries in trademark hot-stepping fashion. 14-12.
Winger Barney Brown then added a converted try. Dartford hit back but Hughes crossed again before the break to take the half time score to 21-26.
Bulls pulled away in the second forty, their scrum motoring forward at a rate of knots, Hughes with two more improbable finishes and man of the match Christian Dolley, a menace on the wing throughout, finally reaping the reward from repeated raids into the host’s half. His try late on brought the final score to 21-47.
Bulls, now eighth, welcome Medway to the Jack Williams ground this Saturday.
Bulls 2nd XV lost 0-29 to Weavering.
