8th May 2010 Hampshire 15 v Kent 55
played at Basingstoke RFC’s ground
match report below
15th May 2010 Somerset 14 v 43 Kent
played at Taunton RFC’s ground match report below
22nd May 2010 Kent 66 v Middlesex Nil
to be played at Folkestone RFC’ ground
29th May 2010 Bill Beaumont Shield Final
Played at Blackheath FC’s Well Hall ground
Kent 33 v Warwickshire 27
KENT 33 v Warwickshire 27
Kent are the new holders of the Bill Beaumont County Championship Plate after a fluctuating and dramatic final at Blackheath went to extra time. A Warwickshire side which grew in authority after shrugging off a poor start were on course for a comfortable victory as they approached the final quarter leading by seventeen points. But they dropped their guard too early as Kent staged a stunning late revival, crowned by a vital last minute try from hooker Jack Knight. That left goal kicker Tom White with the most pressurised of tasks to bring the scores level, but the Blackheath full back cooly hit the target from inches inside the touchline to buy his side another 20 minutes of opportunity. He used them to kick two penalty
goals which broke Warwickshire hearts.
There was no hint of the drama to come as Kent made a confident opening to the match and with the visiting scrum in retreat took a sixth minute lead with a try by Number Eight Viliame Stevens, converted by Paul Humphreys. Humphreys then hit an upright with his first penalty chance but made no mistake soon after to push his side ten points in front.
It did not last as an athletic Warwickshire eased back into contention and the coherence that has been a mark of Kent's recent successes drained away. The loss of Humphreys to injury, effective counter rucking by the visitors and untidiness in key areas by Kent brought a change in fortunes. A well worked move from an attacking lineout put wing Joe
Marston through for Warwickshire's first try and the conversion and a penalty goal from Huw Thomas left the contest all square at half time.
Worse was to follow for Kent. After the break they lost their main line-out provider Tom Stradwick to injury and a Warwickshire side which had put its earlier scrummaging troubles behind it began to dominate. Thomas captured the lead with his second penalty goal and with the back line moving with real purpose centre Phil Reed scored a splendid individual try. Two minutes later Kent cracked again as
Nigel Mukarratt went over and with Thomas adding the extra points to both scores Warwickshire led by a daunting 27-10.
If Kent were to salvage anything they needed an urgent response and through sheer determination they found it. Replacement prop James Cleverley made a powerful burst to set up position and when the ball was spread to the right Ricky Mackintosh put in a trademark finish for the try.
The immaculate White converted and, as the minutes ticked away,
added a penalty goal to leave Kent one converted score short. A last
roll of the dice - a quick line out throw and the combination of
Cleverley and Knight - got the county out of jail but it was still down to White to turn the key. He did and in the extra minutes it was Kent who looked fresher
than a deflated Warwickshire. Two fine breaks by fly half Martyn Beaumont were the nearest either side got to a try but White was lurking and ready to punish errors with the boot.
A high tackle and failure to release the ball handed him the two chances he needed and Kent's tremendous rally was rewarded.
Kent: T.White (Blackheath), R.Mackintosh (Dover), S.Hamilton
(Blackheath), P.Humphreys (Blackheath), W.Alkin (Canterbury),
M.Beaumont (Dover), L.Harding (Sevenoaks), J.Stanford (Canterbury),
J.Knight (Blackheath), J.Forsyth (Gravesend) captain, T.Stradwick
(Henley), Z.Stevens (Gravesend), G.Bertolis (Canterbury), R.Hussey
(Gravesend), V.Stevens (Gravesend).
Replacements: J.Cleverley (Blackheath), H.Allen (Blackheath),
B.Johnson (Blackheath), B.Collins (Dover), A.Moorey (Gravesend),
B,Murray (Dover), A.Bishop (Gravesend), B.Sandison (Blackheath).
KENT 66 v MIDDLESEX Nil
A third straight victory crowned Kent as outright winners ofthe Bill Beaumont Cup Division 2 South and earned them promotion to the County Championship's top table next season. The last target is to beat Division 2 North winners Warwickshire in a play-off game at Blackheath and become this
season's national champions. On the evidence so far Kent can go into that contest with confidence. Saturday's demolition job brought their points total to 164, with only 29 conceded, and ten tries scored in the Folkestone sunshine against an outclassed Middlesex bore witness to the county side's all round excellence. The game was over as a meaningful contest by half time with 45 points already in the bank and the only issue to be settled was the size of the final score.
Thanks to Middlesex's fighting spirit and the arrival at various times of all seven replacements from the Kent bench the first half carnage was not repeated. After the break the visitors enjoyed a greater share of possession and territory but discovered that Kent's defensive qualities were just as sound as their attacking instincts.
Earlier, the hunger for tries surfaced as early as the seventh minute when centre Paul Humphreys angled run exposed fault
lines in the visiting defence. When it ended the first of many
lineout steals, with Tom Stradwick in great form, led to a try by Tom
White and Kent were on their way.
The Middlesex pack had no answer to the battering they took
in the loose exchanges where prop Jimmy Stanford and Number Eight
Viliame Stevens made impressive yardage and Rob Hussey was a master at the breakdown. An adventurous back division prospered accordingly.Stanford was rewarded with two of his side's seven first half
tries, the others coming from Jack Knight, Humphreys and two by fly
half Martyn Beaumont.
Middlesex rarely had attacking opportunities and even when they
gained momentum in the second half their hands let them down at crucial moments.
Kent scored three tries after the break, the first the result
of impressive soccer-style skills by Will Alkin and, late in the
game, a glorious 45 metre break from prop James Cleverley set up a
touch down for Ashley Moorey. White rounded off the rout with a final try and added his second conversion to the six already slotted by Humphreys.
Kent: T.White (Blackheath), R.Mackintosh (Dover), P, Humphreys
(Blackheath), A.Moorey (Gravesend), W.Alkin (Canterbury), M.Beaumont
(Dover), B.Ibrahim (Blackheath), J.Stanford (Canterbury), J.Knight
(Blackheath), J.Forsyth (Gravesend), T.Stradwick (Henley) Z.Stevens
(Gravesend), G.Bertolis (Canterbury), R.Hussey (Gravesend), V.Stevens
(Gravesend).
Replacements: J.Cleverley (Blackheath), H.Allen (Blackheath),
P.Hooton (Beckenham), B.Johnson (Blackheath), B.Murray (Dover),
A.Bishop (Gravesend), B.Sandison (Blackheath)
Somerset 14 v Kent 43
Kent travelled to Taunton on Saturday to take on the group favourites Somerset. With both Counties winning their opening games the result of this match was crucial to the aspirations of both. Kent playing with a strong breeze at their back opened the scoring after four minutes through a Paul Humphreys penalty when the home side were caught offside.
The next ten minutes saw both sides looking to impose themselves on the other. Somerset’s heavier forwards tried to dominate the Kent pack but the Kent front row of Jimmy Stanford, Jack Knight and Captain Jamie Forsyth were rock solid. The next score game on the back of a series of quick ball rucks. George Bartolis broke the home defensive line, drove deep into their 22m before being tackled then followed the rucks in which Tom Stradwick, Ziggy and Socks Stevens were prominent. The speed of the rucks and movement of the ball stretched the home defence and sharp handling saw full back Tom White go over. Humphreys added the conversion and Kent led 10-0.
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Somerset came back and looked to carry the game to Kent through their forwards with Craig McGrath leading the way. Kent lost the impressive Luke Aylward to an ankle injury but his replacement Rob Hussey was no less impressive in the breakdown areas. Kent were forced to work hard in defence, despite Somerset creating some overlaps Kent’s defensive organisation was sound and the line kept intact.
When possession was regained Kent, primarily through Tom White and backed up by Ben Ibrahim and Martin Beaumont kicked well to pin the Somerset team back deep in their own half. After 30 minutes Kent increased their lead. Good handling from Beaumont and Steve Hamilton put the ever dangerous Ricky McIntosh away, a fine outside run from him broke the home defence and the inside pass to Paul Humphreys brought the try. Humphreys converted himself to extend the lead to 17-0.
Somerset although down came back strong and with a minute of the first half to go Socks Stevens was sin binned for killing ball. Somerset opted for a scrummage on Kent’s line but despite being down a man Kent held firm. Kent had a dream start to the second half still the man down Tom Bishop broke supported by Tom Stradwick they carried play close to the Somerset line, again quick ruck ball was the key, before the home defence could organise Ibrahim fed Beaumont and he rounded his forward marker to score the unconverted try.
Somerset were rocked but noticeably upped their tempo and were soon rewarded. Kent were pinned back and a defensive kick saw Somerset take a quick throw in. Ian Ashcroft crashed over and with James McKay converting Somerset brought the score back to 22-7.
Somerset continued to put Kent under pressure. Kent’s tackle count climbed but they kept the home side out. Tom Bishop left the field through injury and the visitors back line although re-organised remained effective. Ash Moorey replaced him and was impressive with and without the ball.
On the hour mark Kent broke out through good work from Jack Knight and fly half Martin Beaumont crossed for his second try. Humphreys converted to make the score 29-7. Somerset scored almost immediately from the kick off, a loose defensive kick was gathered by the Somerset back line and Gareth Bowen crossed the Kent line. Mckay converted to put the score at 29-14.
The final period of the game saw James Cleverley, Bill Sandison, Ben Johnson and Ben Murray added to the fray. Somerset pressed hard but Kent’s defence was no less effective, it was the foundation of the team’s performance. Kent were again reduced to 14 men when Beaumont was harshly sin binned for a deliberate knock on. But Somerset were frustrated by the well organised defence.
The match was settled in a frantic last 3 minutes, first James Cleverley crashed over for a converted try after a powerful individual run on the back of good work from Ben Johnson and Billy Sandison. Then further good work from Socks Stevens and Ash Moorey in midfield saw Ben Murray and Paul Humphreys combine to put Steve Hamilton over. Tom White converted and Kent were victorious by 43-14.
Despite the score line this was a very tough match and the coaching staff of Chris Wilkins and Simon Jervis although pleased with the clinical nature of the finishing will be delighted with the defensive improvement which was the platform for one of Kent’s finest victories in recent years.
