Saturday 21 March 2026 was the second VP day of the season at The Grove.  A double header against Whitstable for 1st and 2nd XV saw good wins for both teams.

Sittingbourne 1stXV v Whitstable 1stXV (21/03/26),

Sittingbourne (1^st in the league) enjoyed a visit from Whitstable (4^th in the league) this Saturday. With the club hosting their annual Vice Presidents Day, Sittingbourne 1XV and 2XV faced off against Whitstable 1’s and 2’s respectively. Both sides with full rosters and the sun glistening The Grove, the scene was set.

Sittingbourne 1XV got off to a scorching start, with three points through the sticks in just as many minutes it wouldn’t take long for SRUFC to cross the whitewash. Bourne in possession, a couple meters inside their own half, again stepping forward to be accounted, Sittingbourne’s resident battering ram Orestas Poskevicius or better known as “Smash”, carries the ball into 4 white and blue shirts and comes out the other side without a break in stride, after eventually being hauled down ten meters from the line underneath the posts, the ball is shipped quickly out wide to draw the defence to only be reversed back in field, where stopping a tighthead prop from three meters out is easier in writing than principle, Bourne score, conversion successful.

Not wanting to allow Whitstable to gain a foothold and grow into the match, Bourne were quick to find anther Try only five minutes later. Whitstable lineout inside their 22’, Bourne read the call and steal the ball. Quick hands to Smash who uses his presence to draw the attention of the now rushing defensive line, gives an inside tip to Bourne’s No.8 and Quadzilla incarnate Leon Gomm who finds a gap, with a little space opening he finds his openside flanker and Bradley Duffield “Duffy” does the rest. Right next to the post protector, the conversion was never in doubt.

Whitstable were wounded early doors but remained calm and composed, a scrum slightly off centre on Bournes 22’ would lead to Whits scoring their first points of the match. A clever move back towards the scrum after our backrowers had shot off it, lead to their ever destructive inside centre breaking a few tackles as he offloaded to his support player practically on the line. The conversion is good, a roar of defiance, game on,17 minutes on the clock and a long way to go.

The game now evens out, with Bourne seeing the lion share of the possession, strong carrying from both sides resulting in bigger tackles having to be made, for another 15 minutes this was the story. Until an offside penalty allowed Bourne another attempt off the tee which Bourne made no mistake dispatching. Minutes later, a scrum on the halfway line leads to a magnificent first phase Sittingbourne Try. Bournes backs execute a masterclass set move, cutting through Whitstable’s line. No.12 Finley Willaims the beneficiary dives under the sticks all but securing another 7 points to the home side.

Plain sailing for SRUFC if they had not conceded 2 minutes later from the restart. Whitstable’s No.12 again breaking 4 tackles to release his centre partner, who is brought down 7m from the line by Sittingbourne homing missile Duffy. Bourne scramble to recover, but Whitstable are able find the space out wide and stroll over the try line. Conversion missed.

Half time was now upon us, the scoreline 27 – 12.

The changes are made and we are off again, five minutes pass and Bourne have a scrum on Whit’s 22 hugging the touchline, again the backs deliver the goods first phase, the ball is worked out wide to the twinkle toe’d Oli Thorne, who with a hitch kick and a stiff arm, leaves his opposite man chewing grass as he motors his was around and under the posts to secure Bourne’s now customary try bonus point. But that’s not all, from the restart the normally composed Finley Williams does his best Joe Marler impression by heading the ball directly upwards, which like Mr Marler ended up being a good move. Finding Smash, who throws his man to the floor like a toddler having a tantrum about his favourite toy, he proceeds to break the line and runs past the halfway line before finding the leagues 2^nd highest try scorer’ and Bourne’s lineout leader Davey Marsh, who’s long legs carry him underneath the posts. A crazy 90 seconds of rugby and an all but killing blow to the away teams hope of pulling off a miracle.

Another ten minutes pass and another three points from the Tee for Bourne from their go to kicking specialist Jack Miller. A stalemate 12 minute’s pass and with twenty minutes left on the clock Whitstable strike again. A team yellow card shown to Little Jimmy saw a penalty kicked inside Bourne 22’ a 5-man lineout leads to the spare forwards receiving it at pace… chopped down, main threat down or so Bourne thought. The ball fly’s wide with the no.12 drawing two men across and with a out the back pass, find his target, 2 on 1 with the Bourne defence unable to fly across in time try scored by the corner flag.

Now less than ten minutes on the clock, Bourne have a lineout on the 22’. Driving maul time or so we thought as it is sacked effectively by Whitstable. Time to reset we thought, if it wasn’t for a magic moment from our auxiliary No.9 with No.12 on his back, Antoine DuWilliams picks from the base, chipping the ball over the defensive line and gathering the ball while managing to avoid the deeper set backs of Whitstable, with a dramatic dive over the line. We’ll let him have that one.

Again, Bourne were not finished merely 4 minutes later, we were in again, some hard yards earned found us 5 meters outside Whitstable’s 22’ before a wide, tired Whitstable line was besieged by the raw, unfiltered pace of Oli Thorne for a second time as he breezed through the gap like the wind, allowing him to dot his second try of the match under the posts. prompting a quote of “He’s got serious gas” from the Whits No.6.

Like Stevie Wonder once sang about it was all Sign, Sealed and Delivered for Bourne but not Whitstable, who with the final play of the game, again with their deceptive scrum move found some space between the lines and worked the hard yards, before a lovely tip from Whitstable’s (and admittedly, annoyingly, Bourne’s) favourite ginger bearded hooker found the gap putting their man through for a losing bonus point.

Full time, 58 – 24 to Sittingbourne Rugby Club. A fantastic home win against a seriously physical and tough Whitstable side. And it wasn’t just the 1XV reeling in the glory as the 2XV also saw a big 46 – 14 win on their pitch.

We wish all the best to Whitstable Rugby Club in the future and look forward to seeing