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Sport

Vigo Rugby Club rise to the occasion at Saracens’ StoneX Stadium to become sole Kent winners in RFU’s end-of-season Papa Johns Community Cups

By: KentOnline reporter multimediadesk@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 14 May 2023

Updated: 07:34, 14 May 2023

Vigo’s Papa Johns Counties 2 South Shield win at Premiership Saracens’ StoneX Stadium was a Kent first.

Their 27-22 victory over Somerset-based Wells made them the only Kent winners in the inaugural RFU end-of-season tournaments.

Vigo celebrate being crowned Papa Johns Counties 2 South Shield champions

They started strongly at the StoneX Stadium, their counter-attacking game in good order in the opening stages. Tony Whitehead crossed after 13 minutes, James Clemmence converting, and Clemmence added a penalty soon after.

But for some handling errors Vigo could have been out of sight before Wells responded.

Lewis Garrard scored for them, converted by Aaron Cook, to peg Vigo back, but Clemmence booted another penalty.

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Wells ramped up the pressure in the second half and the impressive Tom Phillips stormed over to bring Wells to within a point.

Vigo rang the changes but Wells continued to press and, when firstly replacement Charlie Partleton scurried over for a try, and Clemmence was yellow-carded for an infringement at a ruck, the writing looked on the wall for the Kent team.

But the card seemed to galvanise Vigo and a brilliant solo try by Ollie McSweeney-Atkins, converted by Whitehead, snatched back the lead.

Once numerical parity was restored Vigo edged further ahead, Dom Mickelburgh capping an outstanding performance with a try and Whitehead adding the extras.

However there were sitill about 13 minutes of injury time left and Wells threw everything at Vigo. They held on until, in the last play, Corey Baker latched on to a kick-pass from Cook to score a consolation try.

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