THANET WANDERERS IV 19

TUNBRIDGE WELLS III 23

Kent Rural League Late Red 4

BOTTOM-of-the-league Wells travelled 70 miles to take on high-flying Thanet Wanderers with a mixture of third-team regulars, veterans and youngsters, under skipper Simon Parsons.

Four members of this season's u17 squad answered a late SOS to make their senior rugby debuts and Freddy Montaner-Willis, Liam Cook, Peter Carvalho and Duncan Colf all excelled.

Wells started strongly and against the run of play, Thanet broke away for an opening converted try.

However, Cook was controlling the game from outside-half and kicked three penalties to give Wells the lead before strong work from Rob Sharma released Tom Doubell to speed over for a try, Cook converting to produce a 7-16 half-time lead.

The visitors stretched clear early in the second period when Graham Withers went over for an opportunist try, again converted by Cook.

However, Thanet, playing robust rugby, muscled themselves back into the game so that they trailed just 19-23 entering the final five minutes.

However, valiant defence from Wells, with man-of-the-match Colf, Lenny Gacuma and Ben Swinson to the fore held Thanet at bay.