Sittingbourne 2's 17 V Thanet 4's 17

With recent league commitments interrupted by the Christmas break and snow postponements, Sittingbourne were eager to stage this league game against strong opponents Thanet, who had already beaten Sittingbourne earlier in the season.
Sittingbourne flew out the traps, a storming run from Macnamara setting the tone for a frantic opening to the game, with neither side able to move the ball as wide as they would like with the rain falling heavily and the ball acting like the proverbial bar of soap.
Sittingbourne dominated the opening exchanges in terms of territorial possession, Foreman and Godfrey running hard from the break-down, but the combination of a stern Thanet defence and a lack of quality in the final phase meant that Sittingbourne were unable to endanger the scoreboard.   Thanet looked dangerous on the counter-attack, but with Full-Back Carter taking the high ball comfortably and turning defence into attack quickly Sittingbourne remained in the ascendancy.   Both teams look highly committed to the cause in what resulted in a fascinating battle between two evenly matched sides, Sittingbourne were guilty of giving away cheap penalties, but were thankful for Hooker Nutley and the rest of his scrum regaining possession against the head, and Fly-Half Collins regaining territory with the boot.   It was that very same boot which opening the scoring with a penalty in front of the posts for the home side, and after a long-distance attempt from the Thanet Kicker went agonisingly wide, Collins doubled the lead with the final play of the half to send Sittingbourne into the break with a 6 point advantage, the slender lead perfectly portraying the battle both sides were producing. 
Ironically, against the mode of rugby the conditions dictated, Sittingbourne scored the opening try of the game after a positive passage of play In the opening moments of the half.   A Collins kick was well chased by Winger Horne, and at the breakdown second row Easton, making his first start for the team, won the battle on the floor and charged up the field, before combining with Hooker Nutley who drove over strongly in the corner to touch down.
Thanet however, came back strongly, and after a long passage of play where some string Sittingbourne defence kept the away side out, the ball was finally spun wide to the pacy Thanet backs who were finally allowed the space to use the ball and touch down in the corner.   A Collins Penalty edged Sittingbourne further infront, but once again some slick passing by the Thanet backs resulted in another score and leaving Sittingbourne with a three point deficit going into the final ten minutes.
Sittignbourne came out fighting, strong scrummaging and committed rucking bringing them infront of the posts, and Collins brought the sides level with another penalty.  The game was on a knife-edge and although a draw was a fair result, both sides can feel that they could have won the match.
Sittingbourne are still in the upper realms of the league, and can be pleased of their contribution to a hard-fought, committed rugby match, a game for lovers of running rugby this was not, but it had all the markers of passion and desire that make rugby a great game to play as well as enjoy from the sidelines, and come April, it could be a vital point in their endeavours in finishing on top of the league. Sittingbourne face Snowdown away next on Sat 23rd Jan.

MOM – Hooker Nutley, a dominant and committed performance in his first game since an early season injury ,leading the forwards by example.

Sittingbourne : Leach (Ford), Nutley, Foreman, Easton, Godfrey, Wilson (Truss), Fender, Macnamra, Chambers, Collins, Caney, Rage, Thomas, Horne (D Catlin) Carter, Sutton, Slack.