Sat 18 Oct 2025
Aylesford Bulls seemed to spend the first 40 minutes against Old Alleynians shaking off the south London traffic.
Despite a promising start and early score from winger Christian Dolley and conversion from Fin Ashdown-Denney very little else went Bulls way.
OAs played the sloping cratered pitch expertly, careering through holes in midfield and pinning Bulls into their own 22.
While Bulls’ scrum dominated the usually well-oiled line out creaked and spoiled any attacking momentum.
The defence of debutant winger Sam Tripp was a notable exception during a lacklustre first half which saw the hosts run in five unanswered tries.
The 29-7 deficit may have seemed unassailable but recent weeks have shown sides should not be written off.
And so the second half started but early positive signs for Bulls were snuffed out by another OAs score.
What followed, though, was a remarkable comeback with Bulls crossing four times without response.
The same corner of the pitch played so well by OAs in the first period was now bearing fruit for Bulls.
In a whirlwind 15 minutes Bulls brought the deficit back to a single converted score. 36-29.
Dolley snatched a second, Phil Wilkins barrelled over, Addison Geer finished a lovely move in the corner and Tom Hughes also scored.
Unfortunately for Bulls, that was as close as it would get, with OAs scrambling over in the corner then pilfering a ball from the back of a ruck and cantering down the wing to close proceedings at 50-29.
Bull visit Ditchling in the second round of the cup on Saturday.
Despite a promising start and early score from winger Christian Dolley and conversion from Fin Ashdown-Denney very little else went Bulls way.
OAs played the sloping cratered pitch expertly, careering through holes in midfield and pinning Bulls into their own 22.
While Bulls’ scrum dominated the usually well-oiled line out creaked and spoiled any attacking momentum.
The defence of debutant winger Sam Tripp was a notable exception during a lacklustre first half which saw the hosts run in five unanswered tries.
The 29-7 deficit may have seemed unassailable but recent weeks have shown sides should not be written off.
And so the second half started but early positive signs for Bulls were snuffed out by another OAs score.
What followed, though, was a remarkable comeback with Bulls crossing four times without response.
The same corner of the pitch played so well by OAs in the first period was now bearing fruit for Bulls.
In a whirlwind 15 minutes Bulls brought the deficit back to a single converted score. 36-29.
Dolley snatched a second, Phil Wilkins barrelled over, Addison Geer finished a lovely move in the corner and Tom Hughes also scored.
Unfortunately for Bulls, that was as close as it would get, with OAs scrambling over in the corner then pilfering a ball from the back of a ruck and cantering down the wing to close proceedings at 50-29.
Bull visit Ditchling in the second round of the cup on Saturday.
