The fans, players and administrators of Kent Ravens Rugby League Club are counting down the hours to the biggest event in the club’s short history, their inaugural match at the new Princes Park stadium in Dartford. The move to the stadium, which will be shared with Dartford Football Club, will highlight the remarkable progress the Ravens have made since forming in 2004.
Initially based in nearby Eltham, the men’s first team have worked their way up through the local amateur ranks, from the London League in 2004 to the Rugby League Conference Regional in 2006 and the Rugby League Conference Premier in 2007. The progress hasn’t only been limited to the men’s open age squad, a successful youth set-up has been developing whilst the club also boasts one of the south’s best women’s outfit.
Older rugby league fans will be aware of the code’s patchy history in Kent, most notably the short lived Kent Invicta club of the early 1980’s. Several amateur clubs have at various points left their mark, albeit many temporarily, on the history of rugby league in the area, but it is the Ravens who have hopefully laid the foundations for more substantial development.
This is not to say it’s all been plain sailing for the Ravens, the step up to the RLC Premier has been a big ask for the club. The southern division of the RLC Premier is arguably the toughest of all the regional divisions, a sign of the growing strength of amateur rugby league in the south of England. The Ravens currently sit bottom of the division and on Friday night face a London Skolars RLC Premier side hoping to leapfrog reigning champions South London Storm into second place and guarantee home advantage in the semi-final playoff against the Storm.
An upset against the Skolars would no doubt be the icing on the cake for the Ravens and most of the unprecedented 500 fans that have already bought tickets for the match, but win or loss the future is looking good for the Kent outfit.
* Tickets for the game priced at £5 will be available on the gate, for directions and ground details click here for the Kent Ravens official site.
Tuesday, 31 July 2007
Sunday, 29 July 2007
History beckons as the Challenge Cup Final returns “home”
The results of this weekend’s Challenge Cup semi-final fixtures have set-up the prospect of a truly historic final befitting the return of rugby league’s grand day out in the sun to its spiritual home Wembley.
Holders St Helens will be the favourites to retain the trophy they collected last season at Twickenham, their comfortable victory over Bradford showing that whilst this season’s form hasn’t hit the highs of last year when they swept all before them, they remain the most dangerous side in British rugby league. But the imagination is really being captured by Les Catalans Dragons, the Perpignan based side who will become the first non-British side to contest the final.
Some had claimed it was “written in the stars” that former cup kings Wigan would return to the scene of their former glories to collect the trophy for the first time from the new Wembley stadium. However, the rest of the rugby league community were far less generous in their aspirations for the club following the recent salary cap scandal. If Wigan were already unpopular for profligate ways during their period of dominance, they are arguably even more unpopular at present due to the widespread perception that the club is attempting to resurrect those glory days by less than fair means.
As it was any script written in the stars was brought down to earth by a gutsy performance from the Dragons, a breath taking first half showed just how good the men from Perpignan can be when they hit their stride whilst the second half saw them tough it out in the face of a cherry and white fight back. Nobody doubts that they will face a far sterner test than Wigan when they line up against Saints in just under a month, but Mick Potter’s men may feel they have nothing to lose and in the Challenge Cup fairy tales do occasionally come true as Sheffield Eagles proved in 1998.
Rugby league fans love an underdog and it’s a fair guess to suggest that when the Catalans run out on to the pitch on August 26th most neutrals will be rooting for them to win, whether or not they get their fairy tale ending another chapter in rugby league history will be written.
Holders St Helens will be the favourites to retain the trophy they collected last season at Twickenham, their comfortable victory over Bradford showing that whilst this season’s form hasn’t hit the highs of last year when they swept all before them, they remain the most dangerous side in British rugby league. But the imagination is really being captured by Les Catalans Dragons, the Perpignan based side who will become the first non-British side to contest the final.
Some had claimed it was “written in the stars” that former cup kings Wigan would return to the scene of their former glories to collect the trophy for the first time from the new Wembley stadium. However, the rest of the rugby league community were far less generous in their aspirations for the club following the recent salary cap scandal. If Wigan were already unpopular for profligate ways during their period of dominance, they are arguably even more unpopular at present due to the widespread perception that the club is attempting to resurrect those glory days by less than fair means.
As it was any script written in the stars was brought down to earth by a gutsy performance from the Dragons, a breath taking first half showed just how good the men from Perpignan can be when they hit their stride whilst the second half saw them tough it out in the face of a cherry and white fight back. Nobody doubts that they will face a far sterner test than Wigan when they line up against Saints in just under a month, but Mick Potter’s men may feel they have nothing to lose and in the Challenge Cup fairy tales do occasionally come true as Sheffield Eagles proved in 1998.
Rugby league fans love an underdog and it’s a fair guess to suggest that when the Catalans run out on to the pitch on August 26th most neutrals will be rooting for them to win, whether or not they get their fairy tale ending another chapter in rugby league history will be written.
RLC Premier Roundup
The RLC Premier South is heating up with St Albans Centurions claiming the minor premiership following the failure of Kingston Warriors to raise a side for this weekend’s clash. They will now meet either South London Storm or London Skolars A in the regional final to be played at The Stoop before Harlequins game against Wigan on August 18th.
Reigning champions South London Storm have hit a patchy run of form winning just four of their last seven games seeing them fall into an unfamiliar second place, whilst London Skolars A are staging a late run to overtake them from third and gain home advantage for the semi-final playoff for the second spot in the region final. If yesterday’s game is any guide the match-up should provide a thriller, with Skolars A sneaking an away win against the Storm with a last minute drop goal.
Much will depend on the final round of fixtures with Kingston Warriors visiting Storm Park next Saturday, whilst London Skolars A will be the inaugural visitors to Kent Ravens new home at Princes Park. The Ravens have found it tough this season, having stepped up a division, but will be hoping to mark the beginning of a new era in the club’s history with a victory against one of the division’s big sides.
Monday, 23 July 2007
Skolars down Town
London Skolars picked up their fifth win of the season away at Workington Town yesterday. The victory showcases perfectly how far the club has progressed in its short lifetime, even ten years ago it would have been considered madness to suggest that a student old boys side from North London would be competing professionally with long established clubs from the rugby league heartlands.
On a more immediate note a run of five victories in the last eight games has been fitting reward for Latham Tawhai’s side after a tough start to the season.
A full match report is here.
Workington Town: (12) 24
Tries: Lavulavu, Sidlow, Lunt, Blair
Goals: Forber 4
London Skolars: (6) 31
Tries: Hodgkinson 2, Coleman, Maitua, Nowland
Goals: Thorman 5
Dropgoals: Thorman
On a more immediate note a run of five victories in the last eight games has been fitting reward for Latham Tawhai’s side after a tough start to the season.
A full match report is here.
Workington Town: (12) 24
Tries: Lavulavu, Sidlow, Lunt, Blair
Goals: Forber 4
London Skolars: (6) 31
Tries: Hodgkinson 2, Coleman, Maitua, Nowland
Goals: Thorman 5
Dropgoals: Thorman
Sunday, 22 July 2007
Giants step over tired Quins
A lacklustre display from the home side saw Huddersfield Giants run out comfortable victors yesterday at The Stoop, with the 06 – 22 score line flattering a Harlequins side struggling to inject any effective structure or shape into their play.
The signs were ominous early on, with Quins defence looking lethargic in response to early probing from the Giants attack. It was therefore almost inevitable when Chris Nero finally broke free of the cover ten minute in to surge away for the opening try. For periods of the first half it looked as if the Giants might score at will, before loose control on the final ball conspired to thwart several promising plays.
Quins struggled on and managed a couple of breaks only to find the quality of the support play or on occasion the final decision making lacking, till Julien Rinaldi finally found a killer pass to send Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook crashing over close to the sticks. A halftime score line of 6 – 6 gave Quins much to be grateful for and the home fans false hope that the second half may bring an improvement.
There was to be no significant improvement in the Quins second half performance as injuries started to take their toll on a side that has punched well above its weight in recent weeks. Shortly after the break Nero added a second try for the Giants as the visiting forwards began to impose their dominance on the game, giving a platform for their decision makers to keep Quins on the back foot. Chris Thorman playing from fullback was impressive, chiming up into the line to put in effective kicks with predictable reliability, whilst Brad Drew operating off the bench injected fresh impetus into the Giants decision making. By the time Thorman converted Steve Snitches try to make the scores 6 – 16 it looked as if the floodgates were ready to burst on Quins.
However, Quins managed to keep their nerve and again looked like they might undeservedly force themselves back into the game when the ever reliable Paul Sykes ran in a try just after the hour mark, but was unable to convert his own effort leaving the sides a single converted score apart at 10 – 16. Unlike the Giants, the Quins decision makers seemed short on mutual understanding; the talismanic Mark McLinden jinked and weaved but found little support for his efforts, whilst halves combination Danny Orr and Scott Hill appear to have completely lost any understanding they appeared to be developing early in the season.
As the second half conditions deteriorated in a rainstorm the Quins forward laboured on in workmanlike fashion, but injuries to Joe Mbu and David Mills all but nullified chances of standing-up the Giants pack. It was clear that absence of first choice back-rowers Rob Purdham and Henry Paul had blunted effectiveness, whilst the penetrating runs of injured prop Daniel Heckenberg were sorely missed.
When standoff Kevin Brown jinked his way to a try with just over ten minutes remaining it was clear that any hopes of a late revival to snatch an undeserved victory had gone. Huddersfield can take full credit for a professional performance in which they outshone their opponents in every facet of the game.
Afterwards Quins coach, Brian McDermott, seemed philosophical about the result, perhaps recognising the way in which his side has in the opinion of many over-performed in recent rounds. The loss of winger Jon Wells early in the game and the knocks to Mills and Mbu symptomatic of a side running on empty. McDermott will no doubt be glad of a weekend off, in which to reassess the damage to his increasingly threadbare squad and regroup for the visit of championship contenders Leeds Rhinos on the 5th August.
Harlequins RL: (6) 10
Tries: McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Smith
Goals: Sykes
Huddersfield: (6) 22
Tries: Nero 2, Snitch, Brown
Goals: Thorman 3
The signs were ominous early on, with Quins defence looking lethargic in response to early probing from the Giants attack. It was therefore almost inevitable when Chris Nero finally broke free of the cover ten minute in to surge away for the opening try. For periods of the first half it looked as if the Giants might score at will, before loose control on the final ball conspired to thwart several promising plays.
Quins struggled on and managed a couple of breaks only to find the quality of the support play or on occasion the final decision making lacking, till Julien Rinaldi finally found a killer pass to send Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook crashing over close to the sticks. A halftime score line of 6 – 6 gave Quins much to be grateful for and the home fans false hope that the second half may bring an improvement.
There was to be no significant improvement in the Quins second half performance as injuries started to take their toll on a side that has punched well above its weight in recent weeks. Shortly after the break Nero added a second try for the Giants as the visiting forwards began to impose their dominance on the game, giving a platform for their decision makers to keep Quins on the back foot. Chris Thorman playing from fullback was impressive, chiming up into the line to put in effective kicks with predictable reliability, whilst Brad Drew operating off the bench injected fresh impetus into the Giants decision making. By the time Thorman converted Steve Snitches try to make the scores 6 – 16 it looked as if the floodgates were ready to burst on Quins.
However, Quins managed to keep their nerve and again looked like they might undeservedly force themselves back into the game when the ever reliable Paul Sykes ran in a try just after the hour mark, but was unable to convert his own effort leaving the sides a single converted score apart at 10 – 16. Unlike the Giants, the Quins decision makers seemed short on mutual understanding; the talismanic Mark McLinden jinked and weaved but found little support for his efforts, whilst halves combination Danny Orr and Scott Hill appear to have completely lost any understanding they appeared to be developing early in the season.
As the second half conditions deteriorated in a rainstorm the Quins forward laboured on in workmanlike fashion, but injuries to Joe Mbu and David Mills all but nullified chances of standing-up the Giants pack. It was clear that absence of first choice back-rowers Rob Purdham and Henry Paul had blunted effectiveness, whilst the penetrating runs of injured prop Daniel Heckenberg were sorely missed.
When standoff Kevin Brown jinked his way to a try with just over ten minutes remaining it was clear that any hopes of a late revival to snatch an undeserved victory had gone. Huddersfield can take full credit for a professional performance in which they outshone their opponents in every facet of the game.
Afterwards Quins coach, Brian McDermott, seemed philosophical about the result, perhaps recognising the way in which his side has in the opinion of many over-performed in recent rounds. The loss of winger Jon Wells early in the game and the knocks to Mills and Mbu symptomatic of a side running on empty. McDermott will no doubt be glad of a weekend off, in which to reassess the damage to his increasingly threadbare squad and regroup for the visit of championship contenders Leeds Rhinos on the 5th August.
Harlequins RL: (6) 10
Tries: McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Smith
Goals: Sykes
Huddersfield: (6) 22
Tries: Nero 2, Snitch, Brown
Goals: Thorman 3
Sunday, 15 July 2007
Skolars stun Cougars
London Skolars picked up their third consecutive home win yersterday with a 39 – 20 win over Keighley Cougars at New River. The Cougars preparation were disrupted by traffic problems on their way down from Keighley and were blown away by a first half onslaught from the home side.
A full match report will appear here.
London Skolars: (26) 39
Tries: Hodgkinson, Benson, Honor 2, Tozer, Lynton
Goals: Thorman 7
Drop Goals: Thorman
Keighley: (4) 20
Tries: Sutcliffe, Eaton, Knight, Sutton
Goals: Eaton, Knight
A full match report will appear here.
London Skolars: (26) 39
Tries: Hodgkinson, Benson, Honor 2, Tozer, Lynton
Goals: Thorman 7
Drop Goals: Thorman
Keighley: (4) 20
Tries: Sutcliffe, Eaton, Knight, Sutton
Goals: Eaton, Knight
Friday, 13 July 2007
Quins fall to resurgent Hull FC
Quins RL suffered their first defeat in three games against Hull FC away at the KC Stadium tonight. Despite the return of Danny Orr to the halfback role and an early lead from a Tyrone Smith try the side failed to find their form against a youthful Hull FC side.
A full match report is here.
Hull: (8) 20
Tries: Horne, Hall
Goals: Tickle (5), Hall
Harlequins RL: (8) 8
Tries: Smith
Goals: Sykes (2)
A full match report is here.
Hull: (8) 20
Tries: Horne, Hall
Goals: Tickle (5), Hall
Harlequins RL: (8) 8
Tries: Smith
Goals: Sykes (2)
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