Deal and Betteshanger: 3

Sevenoaks: 5

SEVENOAKS RFC won their fifth league match of the season, in horrendous conditions on Saturday.

A Luke Harding try was good enough to see off the challenge of Deal in a match ruined by strong winds, heavy rain and even a hail storm that forced the players off the field of play.

"We said on the way down there that it didn't matter what the score was," skipper Tim Golds said.

"We would have been happy with a 3-0 win.

" The important thing was that we didn't try and play our flairy rugby, which is usually the Sevenoaks way. We actually kept to our game plan!

"We played some pretty hard yards and kept at it. At the final whistle we were absolutely thrilled."

First blood went to Deal when they knocked over three points 10 minutes in. However, Oaks hit back and soon got the decisive score and, unsurprisingly, it was created in the pack.

Tom Hunt, outstanding all afternoon, peeled off the back of a scrum midway inside the Deal half. He offloaded to Luke Harding, who raced to the line for his second try in two games.

That would be the final score of an exhausting encounter.

Ten minutes before half-time both teams had to come off, when hail the size of golf balls rained down.

It was a welcome respite.

After the break Oaks dominated, but just could not get over the line.

The pack, and in particular the front row, were outstanding. Ollie Boatwright-Smith was fantastic in the lineout, while Max Beesley excelled in only his second game.

Despite all their pressure, Oaks were very nearly made to pay.

Late on the hosts rallied and won a penalty deep in the Oaks half. However, instead of kicking for goal – and the win – they opted to go for the corner, a move that stunned Sevenoaks.

The bold and somewhat ridiculous ploy failed, and Oaks celebrated a fine win.

"We've won five games – that should have been six – so will just take each game as it comes now and hopefully keep taking points," Golds said.

"We are certainly playing with more confidence and with more wins will move up the table."

Oaks are in cup action away to Sidcup on Saturday.