Kent fall short

A tight, enthralling contest in which the lead changed hands on four occasions.  Had it swayed for a fifth time, as it might well have done had Somerset been penalised for getting on the wrong side with their opponents driving for the goal-line off their line-out in the dying moments, Kent would be in pole position with home advantage in their final pool match next week to travel to Twickenham in a fortnight and challenge for the County Championship Plate.

As it stands they will need to take maximum points from their meeting with Devon at Medway RFC on Saturday, as well as denying the visitors any reward (a tall order against a side who have scored 89 points in two matches), if they are to overhaul the South-Western county and claim the title they won in such style two years ago.

Nevertheless, if there is any sense of injustice it should be tempered by the realisation that it was two moments during the second period, where lapses in concentration allowed the excellent Watisoni Vakalutukali to open them up for the two tries that effectively won the game.

On this glorious spring afternoon at Hyde Park, home of Taunton RFC, Kent had the best of a first half where their set-piece, in particular a faultless line-out where Joe Bonner hit his targets consistently, had the edge, and although a kick to touch on the full put the visitors under enough pressure to concede an early three points to Somerset fly-half Brad Barnes, opposite number James Cameron soon had the scores level as the host county fell off-side following a weaving break from Rob White.

The platform enabled a long period of sustained pressure mid-half, and although the West countrymen's defence held for a while, Kent continued to recycle successfully and in the 29th minute Tom Stradwick found space to dummy across out wide for the first try.  Barnes struck a second penalty, but at the break Kent led 8-6.

However, within four minutes of the re-start the slender advantage had been obliterated.  Vakalutukali served notice straight away with a break that set up another penalty for the immaculate boot of Barnes, but moments later Somerset full-back Adam Francis fielded possession for the Taunton blind-side to rip through the Kent midfield and send fellow flanker Michele Cannuli over for a converted try and for the only time in the match the lead stretched beyond seven points at 16-8.

Another break from Vakalutukali threatened to kill the game, but the move broke down and now Kent managed to respond.  Stooping low to collect a pass out wide, Temi Okenla cut inside to set the ruck from which Stradwick leapt across for the skipper and number-eight's second try, and although Barnes slotted another penalty as Kent went off their feet at the breakdown, Isaac Ajayi released Dan Hamilton.  The left-wing was tackled short, but Charlie Edwards was up quick in support to finish the move, and with Cameron's second conversion the visitors were back in front with a three-point advantage on the hour-mark.

But it didn’t last long.  As so frequently happens when a side claw back a deficit, Kent's focus waned just long enough for Vakalutukali to open them up again, this time down the left flank, and as support was found in the shape of left-wing Oscar James, the Taunton man completed a fine move for the decisive try.

Kent’s reply was to set up camp in Somerset territory, but the final execution deserted them and denied them the score they needed.  As the hosts deliberately collapsed the maul a final opportunity beckoned, but this time when the drive went to ground the turnover was awarded and Somerset were able to see out time.

‘Things didn’t go our way today and that’s obviously disappointing,’ said Kent coach John Gallagher.

‘But the bonus point was crucial and keeps us in the hunt.  We know what we have to do next Saturday against Devon which is score four tries and deny them anything.  That’s the challenge and we’re up for it.’

Kent against Devon at Priestfields Recreation Ground in Rochester is a 3.00 pm kick-off on Saturday.

Somerset

Tries:   Cannuli, Vakalutukali

Conv:  Barnes 2

Pens:    Barnes

Kent

Tries:   Stradwick 2, Edwards

Cons:   Cameron 2

Pens:    Cameron

Kent Squad

15        Frankie Neale              - Westcombe Park

14        Temi Okenla                - Gravesend

13        Rob White                   - Old Elthamians

12        John McMahon           - Tonbridge Juddian

11        Dan Hamilton             - Blackheath

10        James Cameron           - Westcombe Park

9          Charlie Edwards         - Old Elthamians

1          Nick Porter                  - Westcombe Park

2          Joe Bonner                  - Westcombe Park

3          Terry Read                  - Blackheath

4          Luke Bellinger            - Westcombe Park

5          Royce Cadman           - Canterbury

6          Lee Covington            - Westcombe Park

7          Hugh McCormick       - Old Colfeians

8          Tom Stradwick (Capt) - Blackheath

16        Ted Lang                     - Blackheath

17        Jim Green                    - Canterbury

18        Isaac Ajayi                  - Blackheath

19        Josh Hawkins              - Blackheath

20        James Munton             - Sidcup

21        Dave Bonner               - Westcombe Park

22        Ben Hough                  - Old Elthamians