2007 Season
A hard year, with a little rebuilding!
Regular Season
|
Statistics |
The 2007 season turned into a mini-rebuilding year for the Exiles, the year saw a new head coach for the third year running as Craig Ramsey took the helm following James Mitchell's return to the USA. Coach Ramsey had been a freind of the team for many years, and had scouted opponents in the past, and the club was glad a change in personal circumstances meant he could coach full time.
Coach Ramsey was joined by Nigel Hadley, who returned to the club after a year out, and Norman Navarro who also came back following a year with the Southern Sundevils.
The year also saw two of the clubs greatest servants hang up their boots. Mat Tompsett retired after 12 seasons of great service, and Matt Duncan returned to the USA with his job. Both left huge holes to fill in the team.
The year did see several new aquisitions, Quarterback Damian Marshall arrived from the Manchester Titans, Richard Harper from the Essex Spartans and Tony Bainbridge returned from the Maidstone Pumas. The youth team once again provided more graduates including Luke Aylward, and Justin Tanega became the first of the original 1992 flag team to graduate through the ranks into the senior team.
On the playing front the year was difficult and frustrating, with a general feeling that we did not play to our potential, something no club can afford to do in the highly competitive Southern divisions. The Oxford Saints games summed up our season as we lost 26-0 away in some of the worst conditions ever played in as a rainstorm hammered down all day effectivly cutting out the Exiles passing attack, and playing to the Saints strong running attack. And then in the home game we has a chance to tie the game with only seconds left on the clock, but Joel Grundy's pass to Martin Jefkins was deflected and agonisingly fell incomplete.
The season was rounded out on a high as the Exiles beat the Sussex Thunder, avenging defeat earlier in the season, and ensuring they finished below us in the table.
The Farnham Knights cruised to the Division 1 final following their shock relegation from the Premiership the previous season, and defeated the Bristol Aztecs in the final.
| Team | Win | Loss | Tied | PF | PA | % |
| Farnham Knights | 10 | 0 | 0 | 468 | 89 | 1.000 |
| Ipswich Cardinals | 8 | 2 | 0 | 230 | 109 | 0.800 |
| Oxford Saints | 6 | 4 | 0 | 220 | 220 | 0.600 |
| Kent Exiles | 3 | 7 | 0 | 92 | 259 | 0.300 |
| Sussex Thunder | 2 | 7 | 1 | 141 | 264 | 0.250 |
| Colchester Gladiators | 0 | 9 | 1 | 51 | 283 | 0.050 |
END OF SEASON AWARDS
Exile of the Year: Julius Hobbs
Players player of the year: Aaron Alexis
Coaches Award: Mark Vickers
Offensive player of the year: Tony Bainbridge
runner up: Sean Starwind
Defensive player of the year: Aaron Alexis
runner up: Mark Vickers
Special Teams player of the year: Kerry Gray
runner up: Sean Starwind
Lineman of the year: Rob Osborn
runner up: Kerry Gray
Rookie of the year: Paul Crawford
runner up: Randall Smith



