Colts Blues Pull Away in Feisty Colours Clash
Colts Blues 29 – 5 Colts Reds
Venue: The Big Field, Dorking
Conditions: Clear day, very heavy underfoot; ball like a "muddy bar of soap" Dorking
In a highly anticipated Colts Colours Match, the Dorking Blues secured a 29-5 victory over the Dorking Reds in a fiercely contested battle at the Big Field. The stage was set for a feisty encounter after the Reds locked the Blues out of their changing room on Thursday night. With plenty of new calls created, trick plays drawn up, and players looking to prove themselves, the derby atmosphere was palpable from the first whistle.
First Half: A Tightly Fought Deadlock The Reds started out as the brightest and smartest side, enjoying early territorial dominance. However, the two teams effectively cancelled each other out for the opening 20 minutes, with neither side willing to give an inch. The breakthrough finally came for the Reds from a planned scrum move designed to get the ball wide. Seb Williams capitalized, lifting the deadlock with a powerful drive over the line. Stung into action, the Blues lifted their game and made excellent territorial progress in response. A fantastic pick from number 8 Joe Leach at the base of a scrum brought the Blues deep into the Reds' 22.
Following some great recycling, Jaleel Rudder—who had switched from the wing to the number 7 jersey—carried the ball over to tie the game at 5-5. The Reds spurned a scoring opportunity right on the stroke of halftime, sending the teams into the break level.
Second Half: Discipline Defines the Derby The second half became a story of discipline. The Reds, who had controlled much of the first period, began to ship penalty after penalty, eventually leading to yellow cards. The Blues ruthlessly capitalized on these lapses. The initial momentum shift came from a late tackle penalty, putting the Blues into the 22. The ball was shipped out wide to Jack Haines, who crossed to give the Blues a 10-5 lead. Although the Reds responded with a period of pressure, the Blues played smarter rugby. Executing a move straight out of the Colts playbook, the Blues sent the ball wide before chipping it over from a ruck. Ellis Long gave chase and scored, with Jack adding the extras to extend the lead to 22-5.
As conditions deteriorated, the match devolved into a 10-minute mud wrestle. In the closing play, the Blues opted for a speculative kick through the middle. Josh Leitch displayed excellent speed and footballing skills to dribble the ball forward and score a superb try. Ellis slotted a drop conversion to finalize the score at 29-5. The forfeit was a piggy back dodge ball - the reds had a piggy back race from half way line to try line while blues took shots at them from the sidelines ! While the final 29-5 scoreline was not truly representative of what was a very close contest, the match provided a crucial lesson in discipline and game management for the Reds. Overall, it was a fantastic exercise for the entire playing group.
Standout Performances:
● Adrian Webster: Made an impactful return from injury.
● James GL: Led brilliantly from the front.
● Xavi: Tackled himself to an absolute standstill.
● Joe Leach: Showed sheer class on both sides of the ball.
Next Up: Warlingham at home in the Quins Cup Qtr-Final
