In an eagerly awaited return fixture the Bison’s travelled up the hill to New Ash Green, our hosts, to be welcomed by a thick blanket of fog which was to remain throughout the morning.

With the Bison’s looking to build upon their recent win against Brentwood B and NAG out to show that their early season win over the Bison’s was no mistake, both teams signalled their intent to play a physical game from the outset.

The Bison’s were able to call upon a largely full strength squad with 4 changes to the squad, 2 planned and 2 enforced.

Both teams started with some strong tackling and running with no quarter given in the contact areas but it was the Bison’s who broke through early with a good phase of possession swinging initially right with a powerful run from centre Harry Cates, with the ball switching back left through some forwards intervention until it eventually popped out on the left into the hands of Harry Cates who crossed in the corner.

5 mins, conversion missed, 5-0

There followed a long period of play with the Bison’s controlling the game and keeping play deep in their opponents half, the ball moving well through the safe hands of Jordan Stanway and Ben Townson, the half backs and the Bison’s were nearly rewarded again when debutant, Niall Banks went over in the corner but foot was adjudged to be in touch due to superb cover tackle from the NAG defence.

More good possession with some good carrying from Sam Bartholomew, George Tween, Fraser and Finn, the team were rewarded with another score when Harry Cates was released wide right to cross in the corner. conversion missed.

10-0 halftime.

The Bison’s made 5 changes to the team at half time, bringing players back from injury, sickness and trying others in new positions. The freshness in the new legs did not really show through as NAG dug deep as they tried to claw their way back into the game.

Frustrations began to show through with some ill discipline at the breakdowns which, regrettably, some of the Bison’s saw fit to
return, the ref eventually calling both captains to order.

The forwards were starting to look a little ragged and were not working as a unit, with too many instances of standing out of the ruck waiting for clean ball. When they did work together as a unit they were invariably rewarded with good ball.

A 75 yard pick up and go from Finn resulted in him rounding the try line and heading under the posts only to fail to ground the ball properly and the referee adjudged that the ball had been dropped.

Frustrations continued to boil over and both teams again showed
regrettable lapses of discipline.

In the final 10 minutes, the Bison’s found themselves edging at the NAG try line and after several good forward phases, Dan Wiliams smuggled the all over.

Conversion missed 15-0

In the last minutes of the game the Bison’s began to ruck as a unit resulting in Finn Warner carrying the ball over in the corner and despite appeals from the NAG players and supporters that the player had been pushed into touch, the referee without the benefit of a fourth official and video playback awarded the final score of the match.

Final score Bisons 20 NAG 0

The consensus was that spectators had witnessed a compelling game of rugby, with every phase of possession fiercely contested and it is a credit to the Bison’s that they were able to come away from this game with a clean sheet. Even if it was a slightly flattering scoreline of a very close game.

4 try's on the board, every member of the squad getting at least a half game, players trialling in new positions and new players playing their first match. They now look forward to Tunbridge Wells next week with a "winning streak" to protect.

Terry B