It took Whitstable just two minutes to chalk up their first points of the day as flyhalf Marck Olive
dotted down out wide. A line-break from outside centre James Garland gave winger Will Reid the
space to charge down field and bump his opposite man before feeding back inside to Olive for the
score.

Askeans went close to levelling the scores shortly after when their fullback exploited a gap in the
Whitstable defence. The fullback pinned his ears back and headed for the corner but a great
covering tackle from Whitstable’s fullback Steve Mullins was enough to drag his opposite man into
touch before he could get the offload away.

Ten minutes later Garland was on the scoreboard. Several controlled phases from the Whitstable
pack was slowly building momentum and gaining ground, before the ball was moved through the
hands of the backs. Garland again broke clear and outpaced the Askeans backs to double the
Whitstable lead. Conversion missed. 10-0.

On the half hour mark it was Olive who took the Blues to 15-0. Whitstable had been camped on the
Askeans try-line and with both teams lined up to the right of the posts primed for another attack,
Olive switched the direction of play and slid in himself to move one try closer to the bonus point.

Whitstable didn’t have to wait long for the try bonus point; three minutes later Cliff released Josh
Booty who looked set to finish in the corner, but was pulled back by his shirt collar 5 metres short.

With the referee playing the advantage a series of pick and go’s from the pack brought Whitstable
close to the try-line. Once they had reorganised, the ball found its way to inside centre Tony Cairney
who made the most of the overlap as he crashed over for his second try of the season. Unconverted.
20-0.

After half time Whitstable took longer to add to their tally than the first half display would have
suggested, but 20 minutes in replacement winger Andy Till slid over in the corner for 5 points. Strong
carrying through the middle of the Askeans defence had got Whitstable onto the front foot just
metres from the Askean try-line. When prop Luke Pepper found himself at second receiver he
showed his range of skills as he caught a low pass and lifted it perfectly for the onrushing Booty who
drew his man before passing to Till who finished simply out wide. Conversion wide.

The final act of the game would bring up a brace for Garland. Worsening conditions led to a period
of scrappiness from both teams which Garland was able to capitalise on.

With Whitstable dominating in the scrum, the backs were able to apply pressure on their opposite numbers and force
a knock on from the Askean centres. Garland scooped the ball up off the deck and stepped the
fullback to touch down for 30-0.

Whitstable’s inaccuracy from the tee was damage limitation for Askeans, leaving 12 points behind in
a dominant performance. Aside from their early break, Askeans failed to trouble the Whitstable
defence, and the Blues’ patience and composure paid dividends as they finished convincing winners.

Whitstable will face Brockelians on the 17 th February at home.

Match Report credit to Andy Till