Canterbury 7s 2010

The RAF 7s season kicked off in a very wet, windy and cold Canterbury, where the greatest challenge was probably the weather rather than the opposition. Eighteen teams made it along to the Spitfire 7s and the RAF team were drawn in the most challenging group, facing experienced 7s sides such as the Kamikazes and Olaf’s Axes. However, after an intense training session at RAF Halton, the Spitfires were feeling confident about their chances.

First match was against the Canterbury Gentlemen and the RAF squad were keen to show off the skills they developed whilst training with the England squad the previous week. From the kick-off they were up pressuring the opposition. An early mistake by Canterbury gave stalwart Dan Kennedy the opportunity to grab the loose ball and surge over for an early try. The RAF kept the pressure on and it wasn’t long before Callum Smith had an opportunity to exploit their defence and was tackled just short of the posts. Tchad Collins-Francois then made an excellent break only to be taken into touch just short of the line. From the line-out, a massive tackle from Nick Monahan prevented the Kentish team breaking through and the knock-on gave the Spitfires a scrum right in front of the posts. From the scrum, a great pick-up by Matt Pereira allowed him to scoot around the defence and score. From the subsequent kick-off a knock-on by Canterbury again allowed the RAF to reattack and a fantastic break and dummy by Scott Garrett allowed him to gain ground as far as their 5 yard line before the ball came out again to Matt Pereira who broke round the right of the defence to score again, giving the RAF a 15-0 lead at halftime.

From the kick-off Tchad Collins-Francois collected the ball, threw a dummy, and then streaked through their defensive line to run most of the length of the pitch to score under the posts. From the next kick-off Canterbury again fumble the ball and the Spitfires get it out to Matt Pereira who takes it down the blind-side to score, completing his hat-trick. Now firmly in control, the RAF again regain possession after the kick-off and Doc, Tim Price passes a blistering ball out to Callum Smith who surges through to score. The match was then firmly wrapped up, when Antony Gartland showed great strength and handed off three players to step inside and score under the posts. The final score, RAF Spitfires 41, Canterbury Gentlemen 0.

The second game was against another local side, the University of Kent. Again the RAF got off to a good start and although the students retained possession for a while, they were pushed right back as far as their own line. Eventually they lost possession and Scott Garrett was on hand to pick up and score. A knock-on by the RAF gave a chance of possession but they quickly fumbled it away and the Spitfires exploit the opportunity producing some excellent ball-handling to get it out to the wing and Reggie Reid, who went over to score. Straight away, they were right back in the faces of the Kent students, and a great individual effort by Antony Gartland saw him hand off two players and then step around the outside of the defence to score, leaving the Spitfires 22-0 up at half-time.

Again, another good start by the Spitfires, and Callum Smith broke through again, but was caught just shy of the posts. From the subsequent scrum, the RAF took it against the head and the ball came out to Karl Craven who used brute strength to hand off two players before running down the wing to score. The match was rounded off with another great individual display from Gartland, who scored under the posts before converting himself, leaving the final score at 34-0 to the Spitfires.

The next two matches were against two of the strongest teams in the competition, Olaf’s Axes and the Kamikazes.

Olaf’s Axes were up first, and following their textbook displays in the first two matches, the RAF were feeling confident of overturning the odds. From the kick-off, the Spitfires applied the pressure, but a few mistakes allowed the Axes to push the ball back towards the half-way line, but the vast majority of play was inside their 22. The RAF pushed them back to their own 5 yard line before being penalised at a ruck allowing the Axes a respite. Again the team pushed back and a break by Dan Kennedy allowed the Spitfires to get close once again. However, he was held up 10 yards out and the Axes regained possession, and were lucky to get away with a series of forward passes before the whistle went for halftime.

The pressure increased in the second half, and a kick to touch by the Axes in their own 22 gave the RAF an opportunity to get close to their line. From the line-out the ball went loose behind the Axes line and Matt Pereira was on hand to dive over and score. From the kick-off, the Spitfires are right back at them and get a penalty close to the halfway line which they kick for touch inside the Axes 22. However, the Axes regain possession from the line-out and break down the right flank and score in the corner. The conversion is missed and the score stood at 5-5 with one minute to go. The Spitfires continued to apply the pressure, working their way well inside the Axes half, but time was not on their side and the match was drawn. However, the squad were justly proud of their performance, against a side which was playing in a league above the season before, and the players were looking forward to their final group encounter with the Kamikazes.

This match was to be the group decider, against one of the most experienced 7s teams in the country. The RAF started well, and from the kick-off Scott Garrett collected and drove forward to the Kamikaze 22, however the ball was knocked on just as the Spitfires reached the 5 yard line and the Kamikazes kicked to their 22. The RAF kept the pressure on and the next 3 minutes were spent in the Kamikazes 22. However the opposition regained possession and kicked the full length of the field. It was now a sprint to the line and unfortunately the Kamikazes had the faster man and they scored in the corner. This brought the match to halftime with the RAF trailing by one try.

The second half started as did the first, and Chris Pearson made a magnificent break and was unlucky to be caught 5 yards short. However the Kamikazes got their hands on the ball and booted it down-field and exploiting the slippery ball dribbled from the halfway line to score under the posts. From the kick-off the ball came back to the RAF’s 22 and unfortunately the Kamikazes saw a gap and exploited it to get through and score again. However, the Spitfires were not put off, and came right back at them from the kick-off through Karl Craven who offloaded to Nick Monahan, who made ground before passing out to Pearson and subsequently Antony Gartland who showed considerable strength and drove over to score under the posts. Back in the fight, the RAF regained possession from the kick-off through Dan Kennedy who offloaded to Karl Craven who drove forward, but the ball span loose and again the Kamikazes kicked ahead and sprinted forward to score. Another try came in the dying seconds, but through points difference the RAF had just scraped enough to make it through to the semifinal of the Shield against the Warthogs.

There was only a 15 minute break before this match, and the wind and driving rain was going to make conditions tricky for both teams. Both started steadily with the ball remaining in the middle of the pitch. The RAF were awarded a penalty which allowed them to make ground to the Warthogs 22, but but it was the Warthogs who gained the upper hand, chipping ahead and charging forward, taking out the referee in the process and scoring to take the lead. A second try followed just before halftime, when both sides tried to shelter from the driving rain whilst discussing tactics for the second half.

The Warthogs started well, and a hard knock to Karl Craven left him concussed and he unfortunately left the field. The Warthogs exploited the loss and came back with two quick tries which left the Spitfires too large a mountain to climb and the match finished with a victory for the Warthogs.

This was the first competition of the new season for the RAF squad, and how far they have come since last year can be measured by their performance against teams who last year would have played a league above. The week long training with the England squad has certainly paid dividends and the side will no doubt go from strength to strength throughout the rest of the season.

Antony Gartland offloads to Nick Monahan



Both sides battle in the shocking weather



Scott Garrett breaks away against the Kamikazes



Spitfires force the University of Kent to retreat to their own half