Match Report
Norwich 30-54 Kent
Kent Ravens overcame the odds to progress to the semi finals of the championship play offs on Saturday. After finishing fifth in the
regular season league table, the Ravens had to travel to Norwich to take on the Saxons, and with one match a piece everyone knew
this was going to be a tough encounter. That was the way it started and only the Ravens power made any difference with unstoppable
Manbir Mann, Richard Lankshear and Jose Corriera adding the Kent sides three tries of the first half while captain Oakley added
two goals. However, the Saxons came back with two tries of their own to go in at half time with the visitors up 16 points to 8.
After a rousing half time talk with vice captain Carl Morgan the second half started at an extraordinary pace. The Kent Ravens Pack
simply over powered the now tiring Saxons in the forward with Ian Collins and Karl Brandt working overtime. The Ravens were able
to vary their game plan by changing both the scrum half and stand off. Tom White and Matt Hayward together changed the nature of
the match, distributing the ball out the back to exploit spaces out wide that the forwards had made with their relentless work in
the middle to draw the Norwich defence together.
All six Ravens tries in the second half were scored by backs, firstly full back Alex Hatzidakis powered through back on the
inside, then White floated through the defence. Winger Sean Franz then added to his tally with a superb team play, and Hayward
then got in on the act as he slammed the ball over the try line. The Saxons pulled two fine tries back but Andy Reeves with his
first try gave the Ravens their momentum back and a length of the field sprint by winger Barrington Bigby set up Reeves to add
the final try of the match.