Kent Women capped off a strong campaign with a gritty 20–12 win over Surrey in a bruising encounter at Esher RFC, securing second place in their group — their best finish in recent seasons.
The visitors started brightly, with powerful forward play laying a solid platform for the backs to exploit. Early pressure forced a series of penalties, and Lauren Hunt opened the scoring with a well-struck penalty. Sustained dominance in both territory and possession eventually led to the game’s first try, with second row Eirlys Withers crashing over from close range following a quickly taken penalty.
However, as Kent loosened their structure, Surrey grew into the match. A spell of indiscipline saw Steph Rukin shown a harsh yellow card, and although Kent defended resolutely, Surrey found space out wide and scored just before the break.
Half-time: Surrey 5 – Kent 8
Rallied by honest words from both coaches and players at half-time, Kent came out determined to reassert their authority. But despite a string of substitutions and dominant possession, too many handling errors in the final third hampered their ability to finish chances.
Surrey capitalised and took the lead with a well-executed try, piling pressure on the visiting side. But Kent showed real character in response. Lizzy Nicholl, ever a physical presence, forced her way over for a crucial try, which Hunt duly converted.
As the clock ticked down, Kent’s forwards went to work. A succession of powerful pick-and-go phases near the line ended with Rukin making amends for her earlier card, diving over for the final score of the match.
Though Surrey pushed hard in the closing stages, Kent’s defence held firm to seal a deserved victory.
Final Score: Surrey 12 – Kent 20
This result confirmed Kent’s second-place finish in the group, a significant achievement that reflects the growing strength and unity of the squad. It marks the culmination of three seasons of consistent development and hard work.
Congratulations to all players who wore the blue shirt this campaign — a fantastic collective effort and a season to be proud of.
