Coach Gregor Dougall is hoping the return of tight-head prop Aaron Sage will help solve Ashford Rugby Club’s forward problems at home to Sevenoaks on Saturday (2.30pm).

Sage missed Ashford’s last two matches in London 2 South East, in which they suffered heavy defeats against Medway, and Deal & Betteshanger because of a tooth problem but he is fit to return this weekend.

Dougall said: “We have been struggling without Aaron at tight-head prop because it’s such a key position in the scrum and you need to be rock solid there.”

Henry Hall also returns at full-back after missing the Deal & Bettes game but Ashford will be without flanker Ben Knight, who starts a suspension after his sending-off at Deal. The club are still waiting to hear from the Kent RFU how many matches Knight will miss.

The two defeats have seen Ashford slip from sixth to ninth but Dougall insisted: “We are a young side who are on a learning curve. We are not going down the money route like some other clubs but instead we are concentrating on developing our own players.”

Falklands War hero Simon Weston will be the guest speaker at an
Ashford RFC dinner on Friday, December 12.

Tickets cost £40 and are available from Vicky Norman on 07903 236733 or email Vicky@paramountplating.co.uk