Dartford Valley Rugby Club promoted to Kent 1 after 101-0 win over Greenwich

Dartford Valley Rugby Club clinched promotion to Kent 1 in majestic style with a 101-0 win over Greenwich.

They scored 15 tries en route to victory at The Lodge in their final game of the season. And there could be more celebrations this weekend - if second-placed Whitstable fail to beat Old Gravesendians Valley will be crowned champions.

The hosts brought up their half-century before half-time and continued with their brand of running rugby after the break.

The scoreline doesn’t do justice to Greenwich, who worked hard for 80 minutes, they just happened to be playing a side at the culmination of their best-ever season.

Matt Card led the way with four tries to finish as the top scorer in the division with 24, a total all the more impressive given he’s played out of position for half the season covering injuries.

Callum Vick scored a hat-trick, there were two tries apiece for Jack Marron and Keiron Yates, and tries for Charlie Bennet, Matt Thomas, Jacob Gander Compton and Barry De Jager.

Marron added 13 conversions and the player-of-the-match honours went to Danny Nukajam.

Valley are hoping to celebrate a promotion double with the women’s team battling at the top of NC2 with a couple of games remaining.

Meanwhile, the youth academy have doubled in size from pre-pandemic levels to more than 300 children.

There are 16 age groups, with success stories including the under-15 girls, who have a Kent Cup final on May 2.