Ravens fly into the semi finals

Norwich Saxons…                16

Kent Ravens…                     54

The Kent Ravens over came the odds to progress to the Semi finals of the off of season championship play offs on Saturday. After finishing fifth in the regular season league table, the Ravens where forced to travel up to Norwich to take on the Saxons in the quarter finals, with one match a piece everyone knew this was going to be a tough match and that is the way it started a only the Ravens power made any difference with unstoppable Manbir Mann, Richard Lankshear and Jose Corriera adding the Kent sides three tries on the first half while captain Oakley added two goals, but 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 talk with vice captain Carl Morgan at half time the second half started at an extraordinary pace as the Kent Ravens Pack simply over powered the now tiring Saxons in the forward with Ian Collins and Karl Brandt working overtime, as the Ravens were then able to change the game plan by changing both the scrum half and stand off, as Tom white and Matt Hayward together changed the way of the match, distributing the bal out the back to exploit the spaces out wide that the forwards had made with their relentless work in the middle drawing the Norwich defence together. This was shown by the fact that all 6 Ravens tries in the second half were scored by back, 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, Hayward then go in on the act as he slammed the ball over the try line after the Saxons pulled two fine tries back but Andy reeves with his first try brought the momentum back and then a length of the field sprint by winger Barrington Bigby set up Reeves to add the final try of the match. With White adding all six conversions the Ravens flow past the Saxons and into the semi finals where they’ll face league leaders Bedford Tigers at the Bedford Athletic Stadium this coming Saturday.

For more information on the Ravens and to find out about the Play off positions, do check kentravens.co.uk, call 07707 852 952 or email alan@... and get onto the clubs email list.