Dorking 21- 35 Bury St Edmunds
Bury Too Clinical For Dorking
By Kevin Beal
An in form Bury St Edmunds arrived at The Big Field looking to further their promotion aspirations and they did so in some style with a first half performance that despite a second half Dorking fightback effectively sealed the game. Two tries in quick succession from winger Clarke McFarlane put them 14 points up in the first quarter, with a further from Samir Kharbouch bang on 30 minutes, all converted by James Penfold to give a half time lead of 0-21.
Mc Farlane’s first try came after a period of pressure close to the Dorking line and a catch and drive five metre line out followed by quick hands from the back line which set him into open space for a sprint to the line. His second came shortly after as Josh Pilkington took a quick tap which was again spun down the back line and he found himself in open space with the line begging. Kharbouch’s came as he barrelled through the centre to touch down under the posts.
This was not to say that Dorking didn’t have their moments; the back row of Harry Elbrow, Tom Bloomer and Will Scholes took the game to Bury but the cover tackles and counter rucking from fired up opponents meant that their efforts came to naught. It was a similar story with the normally elusive back line where Bury’s tackling and counter rucking ensured that even the ghosting runs of Tom Hardwick and Max Coyle were foiled, although they came close on a number of occasions.
Dorking rallied in the second half, but it was Bury on the board first again as Kharbouch was brought down illegally as he chased a through ball over the try line and a penalty try was awarded. Thereafter, the Dorking pack turned up the heat and began to get on top in the set piece, with the front row of Bristow, Head, Barry, Rawlinson and Stephenson (- yes - all five of them) finally securing scrum penalties and some quality possession for the side to work with. There were probing runs from Messrs Howe and Powell supported by great catches of the high ball and silken running from wings Theo Williamson and Harry Barker. The pressure finally told and Ollie Rawlinson was driven over the line for a converted try following a catch & drive move from a 5m lineout as things looked to be swinging back Dorking’s way but somewhat against the run of play Andrew Denham restored the differential with a blistering run through the centre to dab down close to the posts.
As Dorking made the most of their better possession, Nick Barry was last up following another catch and drive lineout move, with Tom Bloomer, following a succession of scrum penalties to the home side over on the 80th minute. In between there were further chances for the red & whites, the closest being debutant Will Darbishire who looked to all to have made it through the Bury defensive net only to be adjudged a blade or two of grass short of the line. But it was all a bit too late and Bury were comfortable, if tired winners as the final whistle blew. 21-35
James Shanahan, Bury Director of Rugby commented “we got the job done in the first half when I thought that our performance against a strong Dorking side was outstanding. We knew Dorking would be strong in the second half, and credit to them they were, putting us under pressure particularly in the set piece. Our plan in the first half was to come out fast and in the second half it was not to lose”
Director of Rugby Armand Roux commented "We had frustrating first half where we did not convert our opportunities and credit to BSE for their defence and forcing errors on us. We won the second half 21-14 but the damage in the 1st half was done where our execution was poor and allowed BSE momentmum."
Teams:
Dorking:
Coyle, Barker, Howe, Powell, Williamson, Hardwick, Jackson, Bristow, Head, Barry, Sammut, Goodfellow, Scholes (c), Bloomer Elbrow. Replacements: Rawlinson, Stephenson, King, Howorth, Darbishire
Bury St Edmunds:
Rees, McFarlane, Hema, Kharbouch, Denham, Penfold, White, Robinson, Hicks, Cooper, Sams, Bretag-Norris, Grigg-Pettit (c), Andrews, Williams. Replacements: Walker, Parilli-Ocampo, Cilia, Pilkington, Andrew.
Scores
Dorking
Tries: Rawlinson (50), Barry (69), Bloomer (80)
Conversions: Hardwick (51, 70, 80)
Bury:
Tries: McFarlane (10, 14) Kharbouch (30) Pen Try (47) Denham (57)
Conversions: Penfold (11, 15, 31, 58)
Attendance: 680
Star Man – Samir Kharbouch (Bury)
Dorking Man of the Match – Ollie Rawlinson
Referee: Mr Phil Russell
