Sunday 29 March Dorking RFC 15 – 19 Olney RFC
The Big Field played host to a National Cup Semi-Final that was as much a test of character as it was of rugby skill. Against the backdrop of a challenging week following a recent RFU sanction, the Dorking squad took to the pitch determined to let their rugby do the talking. Under a blustery Surrey sky, they delivered a performance that cemented their status as one of the top four Colts teams in the country, even if the final result—a heartbreaking 15-19 loss—did not reflect their dominance.
Dorking started the match with the territorial advantage of playing downhill, though they were forced to contend with a difficult, blustery cross-wind that made every high ball a lottery. Despite these testing conditions, the hosts started with clinical precision. The deadlock was broken after 17 minutes through a moment of pure backline class: Ben Hemmings threaded a kick to Seb Williams, who provided a "cold" assist for Jack Haines to finish in the corner.
Dorking continued to apply pressure, with the forward pack providing a platform of relentless physicality. After 30 minutes, the ball was called for the backs, and Zac Moore floated a beautiful, looping wide pass to Seb Williams for the second try. Haines’ conversion pushed the lead out, but the final moments of the half proved pivotal. A "soft" try conceded just before the whistle allowed Olney to head into the break trailing 12-7. While Dorking led, those 7 "uphill" points for Olney—scored against the slope and through the cross-wind—were to prove incredibly expensive, giving the visitors a psychological foothold they perhaps had not earned through general play.
As the teams swapped ends, the tactical advantage shifted significantly. Olney, now playing downhill and benefitting from the same tricky cross-wind, began to build significant momentum. An early penalty from Ellis eight minutes in nudged Dorking further ahead to 15-7, but the territorial battle was becoming increasingly difficult as the slope now favoured the visitors.
The momentum truly swung at the 20-minute mark of the half. Olney utilised the downhill advantage to pin Dorking back, eventually crossing for a forward-dominant try after a series of bruising phases. In a moment of pure desperation and defensive grit, Dorking managed to charge down the conversion, leaving the score at a razor-edged 15-12.
What followed was a final 15 minutes of extraordinary tension. Dorking’s tackling and commitment were "off the charts." Led by a tireless, physical performance from Player of the Match Josh Krango, the team demonstrated the incredible resilience and hunger that has defined their season. Everyone of our players scrapped for every inch of turf, refusing to buckle under the mounting Olney pressure. Credit must be given to Olney; they were clinical enough to take the few chances that came their way in a highly tense affair. However, the game reached a controversial boiling point in the dying minutes. A harsh penalty awarded to Olney 5 metres out viewed by the home faithful as a "gift" from the officials—provided the visitors with the clincher. It was a cruel way to decide such a monumental clash.
Dorking will undoubtedly feel that they let this one get away. While they appeared to be the better side with the superior tactical plan, the game served as a harsh "pressure cooker" lesson in how small lapses and external decisions can swing a result at this level.
Head Coach DP summed up the mood of pride mixed with frustration:
"I couldn’t be prouder of our squad. It was a game of very small margins. That soft try before half time and points left behind in the first half were likely the swing factors. We felt like the better team on the day, but the result and the decisions didn’t go our way."
The National Cup dream may have ended, but the season is far from over. This squad has proven they belong among the elite, and they now pivot immediately to the Quins Cup Semi-Final.
This group of players deserves a stadium final, and the focus is now squarely on securing that trip to The Stoop
