Whitstable Secures Second Consecutive Away Win

Whitstable 1st XV continued their strong start to the 2024/25 season, securing their second win on the road with a 31-15 victory over Sittingbourne. This impressive result not only maintains their unbeaten run but also marks Whitstable's first competitive away win against Sittingbourne since the 2006/07 season.

The game started similarly to their opening match against NAG, with Whitstable immediately putting pressure on their opponents. Five minutes in, they broke the line following a well-rehearsed backs move but were halted just short of the try line. A handling error allowed Sittingbourne to clear their lines.

From the resulting lineout, excellent interplay between Sam Churchyard and Ben Cliff moved Whitstable closer, and scrum-half Darren Gladden capitalised with a darting run to score the first try in the left-hand corner. The conversion drifted wide, leaving Whitstable with a 5-0 lead.

The game became a battle for territory after the kickoff, with Whitstable once again breaking through from deep within their half. However, another handling mistake led to a counterattack, allowing Sittingbourne to score around the 20-minute mark. The converted try put Sittingbourne ahead, 7-5.

Whitstable, unfazed by the setback, maintained composure, and played smart rugby to regain territory. After a Sittingbourne infringement, they kicked to the corner, and Captain Ben Cliff scored his third try of the season in the left corner. Another missed conversion left the score at 10-7 in Whitstable’s favour.

As halftime approached, possession frequently changed hands, but Whitstable regained control with the clock in the red and kicked the ball out to end the half.

Whitstable came out strong in the second half, regathering their kickoff after a Sittingbourne fumble. This led to a penalty, which fly-half Huey kicked to the corner. From the ensuing lineout, the forwards took control, and veteran Ben House finished off the drive with a try, which Huey successfully converted to extend the lead to 17-7.

The next 15 minutes saw both teams share possession, but Whitstable found themselves defending deep in their own 22 as Sittingbourne launched a series of attacks. Eventually, around the 60-minute mark, Sittingbourne executed a strike play down the blind side from a scrum, scoring in the right-hand corner. The missed conversion kept the score at 17-12.

From the restart, Whitstable's chasers, led by veteran flanker Garry Drew and winger Luke Quinney, put Sittingbourne under pressure. A poor clearance landed around the 10-metre line, where Huey collected the ball and broke through, advancing to within 15 metres of the try line. Whitstable then spread the ball wide through centre Alfie Sutcliffe and, after another infringement by Sittingbourne, Huey kicked for the corner as Whitstable chased the bonus point try. A quick tap from the resulting penalty allowed replacement flanker Adam Rosan to sneak over for the bonus point. Huey added the conversion to make it 24-12.

After the restart, Whitstable debutant Johnny Brooks, a junior graduate, made a 10-metre break to put the team on the front foot. The ball went wide to Rosan, who carried it up to the halfway line, before James Garland’s quick pick-and-go took play beyond the opposition's 10-metre line. A perfectly timed pass to a charging Ben Cliff saw the Whitstable hooker sprint 40 metres to score unopposed, with Huey converting once again to bring the score to 31-15.

In the closing minutes, Whitstable controlled possession to see out the game, despite a late yellow card for Rosan due to repeated infringements.

Overall, it was another dominant away performance from Whitstable, making it two from two on the road and securing a maximum of 10 points from their opening fixtures.

Starting XV:
1) Luke Pepper
2) Ben Cliff (c)
3) Jake Povall
4) Sam Churchyard
5) Craig May
6) Brandon House
7) Garry Drew
8) Ben House

9) Darren Gladden
10) Andrew Huey
11) Harrison May
12) Alfie Suttcliffe
13) James Garland
14) Will Reid
15) Cameron House

Replacements:
16) Johnny Brooks
17) Adam Rosan
18) Luke Quinney

Next up, Whitstable welcomes both Old Gravesendians 1st & 2nd XVs to Reeves Way for their first VP Lunch of the season as well as the first 1st XV home fixture.