Kent 31 Surrey 29

Kent U20s began their Jason Leonard campaign with a visit to Esher RFC to face Surrey. Fielding a youthful side, with many from last season no longer eligible, Kent made a nervous start.

The game was played at a high tempo, with both teams guilty of unforced errors. Surrey opened the scoring after five minutes with a converted try, finishing a well-worked lineout move as their backs sliced through the middle of Kent’s defence.

Much of the next ten minutes was spent in the Surrey half, where a defiant defensive effort eventually gave way. A clever kick through was regathered by Kent’s left wing, Ben Stokes, five metres short of the line. He offloaded in the tackle to inside centre Brett Smith, who powered over for an unconverted try.

Play then settled largely between the two 22-metre lines, with both sides seeing attacks disrupted by defensive line speed and forced errors. Kent struck next from a scrum just in front of the posts inside the Surrey 22. Captain Jake Caple picked up from the base, broke two tackles, and offloaded to Isaac Divine, who passed out of contact to Finley Ashdown-Denney to score. William Lawes added the conversion.

However, Kent were caught napping in the final five minutes of the half, allowing Surrey to score two unconverted tries and take a 17–12 lead into the break.

Five minutes into the second half, Kent responded with a lineout five metres out. The set-piece was cleanly executed and driven over, with prop Alex Smith claiming the touchdown. Lawes converted from out wide, the ball bouncing off the crossbar and over.

Surrey continued to press and were rewarded when Kent’s goal-line dropout went awry, allowing the Surrey right wing to reclaim possession and run in unopposed for a converted try.

Kent’s Gill Smith then crossed for a converted try after a series of quick rucks put Surrey on the back foot. When the ball spilled loose, the front-rower reacted quickest, tapping it through and regathering to score.

Surrey replied with an unconverted try from a scrum inside the Kent 22, moving the ball wide for their right wing to finish.

The game ebbed and flowed as both teams pushed for a decisive score. With five minutes remaining, Kent delivered. Strong carries up the middle earned territory inside the Surrey 22, and from quick ball the attack shifted wide. From the ensuing ruck, Bailey Williams drove over from five metres for an unconverted try.

The young Kent side showed outstanding resilience in a frantic closing period, securing a thrilling 31–29 victory.

Kent’s next fixture is at home against Hampshire on 15 March, with a 2.00pm kick-off at Ashford RFC.

Try Scorers:
Brett Smith, Finley Ashdown-Denney, Alex Smith, Gill Smith, Bailey Williams

Conversions:
3 – William Lawes