Old Cats Full Back Ben Doney scores his third try.

On Saturday 11th January the Old Cats rugby team continued their push for a promotion from Surrey 3 to Surrey 2 as the whole team pulled together to score their highest number of points this season.

With seven try scorers, two hat trick scorers and 13 tries overall, they came out very much on top. The tries rolled in from early in the game, with the backs dominating the scoreboard from the off. After a 5m scrum for the Cats in the first five minutes, the ball was passed out to various players, before finding Ben Doney to make it over the line.

Winger Vinnie Kilner then scored two tries, so with the score at 19-0 with only one conversion missed, the Old Cats looked unstoppable.

Paul Briant scored two more for the Cats, which was nearly made three before the end of the first half! Ali Bownas then went over the line after the team turned the ball over in the ruck. Some excellent teamwork support and beautiful passing made it possible to send Bownas over the line, with even the referee commenting on the excellence of play.

With Ben Davidson kicking conversions over with ease to make the score 40-0, the game seemed to be over long before the half time whistle.  Second Row Toby Ruddle proved it’s not just the backs that could score, with a try scored casually under the posts, less than a minute into the second half. This was duly converted by Ben Davidson. After the charge down of a Raynes Park ball, prop Julian Jameson successfully gathered the ball before touching it down just behind the posts. An easy conversion for Ben Davidson put the score at 61-0. Shortly after coming off the bench for try-scoring Toby Ruddle, second row Luke Woods stormed up the pitch, beating defenders at every turn. What looked like it might be a home run for Woods ended with a pass out to Alex Rayment, who dove behind the posts for the ninth try of the game.

Old Cats and Raynes Park supporters look on as a scrum ensues.

Further tries were scored by Ben Doney and Alex Rayment, one of which was converted, before Paul Briant stuck the ball down in the corner for his hat trick score.

Not wanting to leave Paul with all the limelight, Ben Doney scored the final try and his third of the afternoon, diving between the posts to make the score 83-0. Ali Bownas kicked a very easy conversion for the last play of the game, making the final score 85-0. After the match, head coach, Matt Yianni said: “When you win by such a good margin, everyone in the team plays well.

The most pleasing aspect though wasn’t the 85 points, it was the none conceded.” Old Caterhamians would like to thank referee Paul Gossip for officiating and invite you to their next league game, away at Worth Old Boys (8th February, 2.30pm kick-off). In their previous meet, Old Cats won 19-0 at home.