Whitstable picked up another bonus point win as they hosted Faversham in wet and windy
conditions, but it was the visitors who were first off the mark.

Successive infringements from Whitstable allowed Faversham to work deep into the Whitstable half
before taking the game’s first opportunity for points as they duly sent the ball through the post for
three points.

On the half hour mark Faversham lost their tighthead to the sin bin for repeat infringements whilst
camped on their try line. After a bundle of players crossing the Faversham try line and being held up,
as well as Reid’s effort in the corner also judged to have not been ground, it was Number 8 Eanna
Flannagan who picked up Whitstable’s opening try. A dominant scrum drove the Faversham pack
back over their own try line, and good footballing skills to control the ball to the line allowed the
Number 8 to touch down with ease. Not converted.

Faversham would then regain the lead as they knocked over a second penalty to make it 5-6, but
three minutes later Andrew Huey replied with penalty of his own to put Whitstable back in front; a lead they
sustained til the end.

In the opening minutes of the second half Faversham would go a man down for the second time in
the match as their openside flanker was sent to the sinbin.

With their man advantage, Whitstable’s Ben Cliff crossed for his 20 th try of the season. A surging
Whitstable maul was the platform from which Cliff launched his attack; peeling off from the back
and carrying two Faversham defenders over the line as he burrowed over for 13-6. Conversion
missed.

Minutes later Cliff doubled his tally for the day and opened a significant gap between the two sides.
Flannagan picked from a scrum in the Faversham half and went blind before feeding Andrew Huey. Huey’s
attempted kick through was charged down by a Faversham player but regathered by Andy Till who fed
Jamie Piggins to break down the wing before being caught by the cover defence. Quick ball allowed fly half
Olive to release Cliff who sprinted under the posts unopposed. Huey converts – 20-6.

Whitstable quickly got back on the offensive only to be halted illegally by Faversham in a try scoring
opportunity. When the Faversham tighthead found himself on the wrong side of a ruck he made no
attempt to roll away, and the referee brandished him his second yellow card of the match.

Faversham would play the remainder of the game with 14 men and scrums became uncontested.
From the resulting penalty Whitstable opted for a scrum. Flannagan picked from the base and
attacked the Faversham backs before showing a good turn of pace and ghosting through a gap
between the Faversham 10 and 12 and sliding in to complete the scoring. Conversion wide.

Faversham looked set for a consolation try as their scrumhalf danced past several Whitstable
defenders but a heroic chase from winger Bobby Powell brought down the Faversham man short of
the line.

Whitstable came close once more as a clever kick from Olive put pressure on the Faversham
fullback. The chase culminated in the fullback and Piggins diving on the ball simultaneously with the
referee awarding a 22 dropout to the visitors.

A much more composed Whitstable closed the game out as their confidence in attack was
rewarded, as was their determination in defence. 5 points to add to their league total brings the
Blues up to 52 points and top of the table having played 1 game more than Brockleians.

Match Report credit to Andy Till