Kent 39 Lancashire 37
This was a superb advertisement for County Rugby, unloved it would seem in parts of England. A roller coaster of a Final was an excellent shop window for the Bill Beaumont County Championship, error strewn at times, but played by both squads committed to running, attacking rugby.
Lancashire controlled the 1st half, gained what looked control over territory and possession. But a fierce comeback from Kent turned this around and by 5 minutes into the 2nd half they had clawed their way to parity. A 76th minute Kent try looked to have clinched the match before a last minute response by Lancashire brought them back to a two points deficit with the conversion of the try to come. The kick drifted just wide and the Red Rose hopes for another County Championship title went with it.
Kent opened the game with a penalty by impressive fly-half Sam Evans after a couple of minutes. Then Lancashire took control as all the play was in the Kent half. It took them 17 minutes to get on the scoreboard but a driving maul ended with prop Danny Rylance getting the touchdown.
Yellow cards were to prove pivotal as the game progressed. Kent’s Stevens was given his marching orders in the 21st minute and a glut of tries followed as Lancashire exploited their numerical advantage.
In the 24th minute neat running and off loading saw hooker Ben Gregory racing clear to score down the left. Greg Smith’s attempted conversion hit the post, as it was to prove rather extraordinarily the first of three similar occurrences. But the dynamic running from Lancashire continued when following yet another break by centre Connor Wilkinson winger Tom Grimes touched down expertly in the left corner in the 27th minute.
Another startling breakout involving Rhys Henderson down the right touchline, linking with Jacob Browne and Wilkinson once more was foiled by a Kent hand as the line beckoned. This was merely a short interruption in Lancashire’s progress as Wilkinson’s delightful delayed inside pass put in flanker Toby Harrison for his side’s fourth try. Smith hit the post again with the conversion attempt but his side had a clear 3-20 lead.
Kent notched their first try in the 34th minute with a well constructed move down the left and a try converted by Evans. But the style of the 1st half resumed in the 39th minute when another break and offload by the outstanding no 8 Fairbrother 15m out from the Kent line was latched on to by Wilkinson who scored under the posts. Smith’s conversion gave Lancashire a 10-27 advantage at half-time.
Both coaches started to use their replacements on this hot day at HQ and it was Kent who changed the course of the game as they upped their running game. With them camped on the Lancashire line, replacement flanker Henry Higginson was adjudged to have interfered with Kent ball and he saw yellow. From the ensuing scrum and maul, Kent were awarded a penalty try and the deficit had reduced to 17-27.
Two minutes later a fine Kent attack down the right saw Kent winger Toby Wallace break clear to score, converted for a 24-27 scoreline. An Evans penalty in the 48th minute levelled it up and the whole direction of the game had changed before the Lancastrians had really got their 2nd half underway.
But the Red Rose county came back strongly and immediately. They launched a series of attacks in the Kent half before skipper and prop Dan Birchall found a way through a packed defence to drive over in a 15m burst. Smith hit the posts with the conversion but his side had their noses in front again at 27-32.
Kent in turn resumed their dangerous attacking and pressed on the Lancashire try line. Once again, the referee adjudged an offence by the desperate defenders and it was Greg Smith’s turn to have a 10 minute rest. The Kent pack were on top now, so different from the 1st half, and drove over for the inevitable try. The conversion was missed so the scores once again were level at 32-all in the 56th minute.
A 20 minutes period of equality followed as both teams searched for a crucial scoring advantage. The Hop County had the sniff of victory now and in the 76th minute they scored a good try by their blindside flanker, Rafael Dutta, converted by Evans.
Still Lancashire came back for one last attacking effort. They constructed a neat break down their right in the 80th minute which ended with winger Henderson diving over for a deserved try. Could the returning Smith take the Final into extra time with a tricky conversion 10m in from the touchline? It drifted agonisingly wide and with it went Lancashire’s hopes for another County Championship title after a five year gap.
Nevertheless, this was an excellent spectacle and advertisement for the tournament. Kent may have been outscored by 5 tries to 7 but they had created enough pressure on the Lancastrians to edge a victory which was celebrated extensively on the field and amongst the Kentish supporters as the final whistle blew. After a 96 year’s gap this was completely understandable! Lancashire’s players, coaches and management are to be congratulated for an excellent campaign which fell just inches short.
Lancashire’s Squad Co-ordinator Mark Nelson said: “It was a rollercoaster of a final which in the end could have gone either way. Both sets of players gave everything on a sweltering afternoon and the game matched the previous showpiece Barbarians v World XV for entertainment but in a far more competitive intensity as it was a cup final. A fantastic advert for the County Game, as was the Women’s final earlier in the day.
“Huge praise and credit goes to the players, coaches, management and committee of this Lancashire Team who battled through a tough pool to reach the final. The result wasn’t what we wanted , but the commitment, performance and passion displayed was top drawer. This is a new group of players and coaches for the Red Rose County and there is a taste for Twickenham now and a great desire to get back there next year and get a win.“
Click here for video coverage of the whole game.
KENT: 15 Bryan Hotson (Tonbridge J); 14 Toby Wallace (Westcombe Park), 13 Jake Hennessey (Blackheath), 12 Matt Harrison (Westcombe Park), 11 Alfie Orris (Canterbury); 10 Sam Evans (Worthing), 9 Tom Williams (Canterbury); 1 Luke Boon (Tonbridge J), 2 Ryan Jackson (Bishops Stortford), 3 Reece Conlon (tonbridge J), 4 Tom Stradwick (Blackheath), 5 Dave Irvine (Canterbury), 6 Rafael Dutta (Westcombe Park), 7 Harvey Furneaux (Canterbury), 8 Jamie Stephens (Canterbury).
16 Alex Witchell (Blackheath), 17 Danny Herriott (Canterbury), 18 Jesse Liston, 19 Mohammad Pangarker (Medway), 20 Jacob Buckley (Westcombe Park), 21 Lewis Hollidge (Canterbury), 22 Andrew Denham (Blackheath).
LANCASHIRE: 15 Jacob Browne (Preston G); 14 Rhys Henderson (Sedgley P), 13 Connor Wilkinson (Fylde), 12 Sam Russell (Blackburn), 11 Tom Grimes (Fylde); 10 Greg Smith (Fylde), 9 Jacob Tansey; 1 Dan Birchall (Sale FC) (c), 2 Ben Gregory (Fylde), 3 Dan Rylance (Sedgley P), 4 Olli Parkinson (Fylde), 5 Bob Birtwell (Sedgley P), 6 Toby Harrison (Fylde), 7 Andy Hughes (Sale FC), 8 David Fairbrother (Fylde).
16 Corey Bowker (Fylde), 17 Oli Trippier, 18 Oscar Crowe (Sedgley P), 19 Vanu Tane Bentley (Sedgley P), 20 Henry Higginson (Fylde), 21 Scott Rawlings (Fylde), 22 Will Hunt (Preston G).
