Aylesford Bulls RFC

A sunny day at the Jack Williams ground saw a powerful Aylesford Bulls side beat Medway II on Saturday. Aylesford, on a 3-game winning streak, approached the fixture as a must win to stay in the fight to finish in the top half of the table, and they started strong. After kicking three points off the boot of Fin Ashdown-Denney, winger Barney Brown went over after 10mins following a line break from inside centre Chester Clough, which was converted by Ashdown-Denney. The Bulls showed a dominant scrum display all day, and soon had points to show for it after no.8 Phil Wilkins went over following a scrum penalty won 5m out from the Medway line. The sunny weather seemed to play its part throughout the game, as the bright sky forced a variety of errors from both sides, leading to a total 23 lineouts, and 20 scrums, meaning both sets of forwards tired quickly under the heat. The Aylesford backline were the first to pounce on the opportunity for running rugby, as we saw Bulls’ other winger, Christian Dolley, beating 3 defenders off a turnover to run it in from 60m out, Ashdown-Denney making it a 7-point score with his conversion. Medway, not wanting to go into half time pointless, took three points off the tee to make it 22-3 going into the break, and after getting their ball rolling, Medway came out of the blocks firing in the second half, scoring within 5mins to make it 22-8. However, it did not take long for Aylesford to bite back as Tom Hughes went over for his 19th try of the season off the back of a scrum. Medway responded themselves with a prolonged period of possession in the Aylesford half, scoring off a set of pick and go’s and then again out wide to make the score 27-20 with 10 to play. Bulls, having regrouped under the posts, turned the screw on the visitors as they pounced on a missed kick to touch by Medway, using their quick transition to attack to take the ball out wide and let Barney Brown run in for his second of the day. With only a few minutes to play, 34-20 down, the Medway prop continued to spend his time talking a big game at the scrum, and not backing it up as he was turned over on his own ball by the Aylesford pack, allowing Fin Ashdown-Denney to kill the game taking three off the tee. Full Time Aylesford 37 – Medway II 20. Aylesford now prepare to go away to 3rd place Old Alleynians in 2 weeks in the hope to continue their 4-game winning streak. Meanwhile, just up the road at Priestfields, the Bulls 2nd XV completed the double over Medway with a hard earned 12-27 victory. In an evenly balanced game, where brutal hits and ferocious rucks ruled, the Bulls showed some moments of brilliance to stay with a big Medway 4ths team; eventually pulling clear with 2 late tries. This Saturday (15 March) sees the Bulls 2nd XV back in action against south London outfit Beccehamians 2nds in the Kent Shield Semi Final at the Jack Williams Ground, Hall Road, Aylesford. Kick off 2pm.