East Peckham 17  President’s XV 24

The Villagers just lost out in this thoroughly absorbing and entertaining match nearly snatching a draw at the last play.  The home backs were outstanding with scrum half in his player of the year season before going back to university at scrum half and with Lee Walker at fly half his first drop goal for the club saw him as only the ninth player ever to have scored one and he is only the second player to score in all of the five ways (try, penalty try, drop goal, penalty and conversion) emulating John Dennison’s long-held feat.  His second conversion leaves him 10th most equal with Steve Guthrie, he is now 12th highest points scorer of all time overtaking Paul Tucker and he is 7th equal most capped fly half with Simon Read.  The centre pairing of Chris Altomstone and Rob Penny was exciting with any combination from a back three of Harry Carden, Jamie French, Sam Chilvers and Louis Monahan leading the new blood.

Flanker Chris Masters became 8th most capped in that position overtaking Paul Bevis and flanker Will Russell was man of the match scoring one try before coming so close to a second with the final break through the middle.  Monahan had scored the first from the wing.

The President’s had the experience which just kept them in the match with a comfortable armchair of a scrum and a few speedy options in the backs.  Centre Tim Shave bagged two and Ollie Allman junior at fly half kicked two excellent conversions.  Lock Pat Markey finished off a classic catch and drive from a clean lineout but the back row of son Liam, Australian Dan Sowden and former skipper Andy Bacon who also scored a try were immense taking on the load from the older front five!  It was good to see Rob Brittin back on the tighthead lasting the entire match after a four year absence.  A memorable, sporting and friendly occasion which celebrated the President’s 700th achievement in style and waved goodbye to a veteran of equal standing in Seb Bryce retiring this season.

East Peckham:           15 Harry Carden 14 Jamie French (replaced Sam Chilvers) (replaced Andy Masters) 13 Chris Altomstone 12 Rob Penny 11 Louis Monahan (try) 10 Lee Walker (drop goal, 2 conversions) 9 Marc Wright 1 Len Sherwood 2 Chris Reeves (captain) 3 Martin Clifton 4 Ben Viney 5 Simon Cathcart (replaced Simon Masters) 6 Will Russell (try) (replaced Stuart Dedman) (replaced Steve Guthrie) 7 James Chalk (replaced Chris Masters) 8 Seb Bryce

President’s XV:         15 Joe Martin (Cranbrook) 14 Aidan McElligott (Crowborough) 13 Tim Shave (East Peckham) (2 tries) 12 Stuart Johnston (East Peckham) 11 Tom MacCulkin (Maidstone) 10 Oliver Allman (Tunbridge Wells) (2 conversions) 9 Duncan McClintock (Maidstone & East Peckham) 1 Simon Dunford (Beckenham) (captain) 2 Ade Delahunty (East Peckham) 3 Rob Brittin (East Peckham) 4 Pat Markey (Beckenham) (try) 5 Andy Bodle (East Peckham) 6 Dan Sowden (Beckenham) 7 Liam Markey (Beckenham & Kent) 8 Andy Bacon (Maidstone & East Peckham) 16 Luke Debnam (Maidstone) 17 Jason Bryce (Beckenham) 18 Phil Caldicott (East Peckham) 19 Barry Marnane (East Peckham & Beckenham)

Jubilee Cup
Edenbridge 5  East Peckham 76

The Villagers retained the Jubilee Cup in some style in a rather unusual match but in a very celebratory spirit for one of their number in particular.  The match was odd as in that for much of the season Peckham have struggled for a front row and on this occasion had only skipper and hooker Chris Reeves in this berth.  Veteran Richard Cserjen and Stuart Dedman rose to the occasion to stand in as props but it resulted in uncontested scrums.  The feast of fast flowing champagne rugby was the result of far superior backs and perhaps a little unkind on the home team who did at least manage a consolation score in the first half.

Full back Harry Carden scored a brace of tries to notch up his 50th point of the season and right wing Chris Altomstone scored his first try for the club.  Centre Louis Monahan featured in the creation of two of these scores before giving way to injury, being replaced by George Pierce.  Centre Rob Penny scored 18 points and secured man of the match in an imperious display with two tries and four conversions.  Ben Viney played his 50th match on the wing and when replaced by Jamie French, the tyro scored with his very best touch of the ball.  Fly half Lee Walker scored three conversions and scrum half Marc Wright a brace of tries also.  Reeves scored a try as he became 7th equal most capped captain with Andy Bacon and Cserjen amazed all with a smartly taken drop kick of a conversion.  Lock Chris Masters scored his 20th try for the club and 100th point and flankers Will Russell and James Chalk enjoyed their run around, Chalk scoring a try.  No 8 Steve Guthrie scored a try, his 50th point of the season and 150th for the club.  Veteran lock Andy Bodle played his 700th match for the club.