Dorking 50-26 Sevenoaks
By Kevin Beal
Recent games between Dorking and Sevenoaks have been close and often frustrating affairs, none more so than away last season when Dorking clawed their way back into the game, only to let it slip in the dying minutes. So despite the current gap in league positions, there was considerable apprehension amongst the supporters ahead of the kick off. This match followed a familiar pattern as Dorking were ten points up in as many minutes, before letting Oaks back into the game to see a slender 22-19 lead at half time. Eventually they ran out comfortable winners outscoring the visitors by eight tries to four, with a solid second half performance in both attack and defence.
Dorking kicked off playing downhill and regained possession in the Sevenoaks 22 following a line out. Showing intent the backs swung the ball left and right across the pitch and spotting a gap, Finn Osborne broke through and chipped the ball over the oncoming defence. A misfield by the Oak’s full back allowed Toby McRae to collect the loose ball and touch down for the simplest of tries. Conversion missed, 5-0.
From the restart, Oaks infringed whilst competing for the ball and from the ensuing penalty and line out, Dorking were again on the attack. Captain Jonny Ellis found himself in acres of space with a lone defender between him and the try line. Casting his mind back to his younger days in the Colts, he sold the most outrageous dummy and sprinted unopposed to the line for Dorking’s second, again unconverted try.
The restart saw the now familiar aerial ping-pong and at the concluding lineout Oaks stole the ball and took the play up into the Dorking 22 where they were awarded a penalty after several unsuccessful attempts attacking the Dorking line. Taking a quick tap penalty they spun the ball out to no 8 Braydon Porteous who crashed over for a converted try to close the gap to three points, 10-7.
Dorking extended their lead from the kick off, with Tom Howe bursting through the centre to feed Max Coyle coming in to the line at speed for their third try, again unconverted. 15-7. This extension was short lived as Oaks struck back with a 5m lineout catch and drive, with captain Scott Sedgewick emerging from the pile of bodies to claim the score, and with the conversion good it was 15-14.
Although they had the majority of possession, Dorking were unable to turn pressure into points as a combination of Oaks defensive tackling combined with the odd line out error gifted the ball back to the visitors at crucial moments, and it was Oaks who struck next as from a seemingly innocuous midfield position, Ben Adams fashioned the perfect kick for wing Harry Barker to run on to, collect and score. With the conversion from out wide missed, Oaks had a slender 15-19 lead with half an hour played.
Oaks cleared the long re start back to their 10 metre line from where Dorking mounted their next attack, moving the ball into the Oaks half and winning a penalty which was kicked to the 22 for a line out. Further pressure was repelled as the Oaks line held firm but a further penalty and line out gave the home side the advantage, and with three further pick and drives, Finn Osborne was finally over the line for Dorking’s fourth and bonus point try. With Henry Anscombe’s conversion good, the score was 22-19, which is how it remained at the half time whistle.
Dorking extended their lead early in the second half when McRae found himself in open space on the end of a move which started with the returning Will Scholes rampaging up the left touchline supported by Coyle. With Henry Anscombe’s boot now functioning properly the converted try took the score to a more comfortable 29-19. Oaks fought back from the restart kick with a succession of drives at the Dorking line, pinning the home team in their 22 and forcing a penalty for a high defensive tackle. From the 5m line out they rumbled towards the line but were stopped short as the maul collapsed. Brought down illegally it turned out and Sir awarded a penalty try to Oaks and a yellow card to Scholes. (one for the team it later turned out as he was not the guilty party). 29-26.
This turned out to be the final time that Oaks troubled the scorer as Dorking then took control for the rest of the match, sharpening up their attacks and stiffening their defence. Setting up a catch and drive of their own on the Oaks 5m line they were awarded, in similar fashion to Oaks, a penalty try, again with accompanying card for the miscreant. Further sorties into Oaks territory saw Tom Bloomer and Tom Howe both over the line for converted tries, notching up the half century, and in truth there could have been several more scores as promising breaks were called back for obstruction, crossing and offsides with Bryan Hotston and Max Coyle commanding the air chasing Luke Baldwins aerial bombardment and Oaks’ return kicks.
As the November gloom descended Oaks had one last foray into the Dorking 22, an attack nullified by the red & white’s defence and snuffed out by the final whistle.
Director of Rugby Armand Roux commented:
Overall really pleased to get 5 points against a team that generally has been a little bogey fixture for us.
The Scoreline might not reflect the effort Sevenoaks put into that game but the Dorking boys did more than enough to secure the win today.
It was a good day at the club with so many activities happening around the club and great support as always.
Final score 50 - 26
Teams
Dorking;
Coyle, Hotston, Howe, Anscombe, McRae, Hardwick, Jackson, Connor, Ellis (c), Karimanzira, Chambers, King, Norwood, Bloomer, Osborne, Replacements - Bristow, Musa, Scholes, Baldwin, Holland
Sevenoaks:
Adams, Barker, Stone, Shepherdson, Forrester, Live, Jones, Strainge, Sedgwick, (c) Simmons, Green, Southon, Cambier, Rufai, Porteous. Replacements - Rolfe, Chamnaoui, Johnson, Cooper, Mokuolu
Star Man – Toby McRae (Dorking)
Referee : Mr Conor Boyle
Attendance 400
Scorers:
Dorking
Tries: McRae 4, 42. Ellis 6, Coye 15, Osborne 38, Pen try 53, Bloomer 58, Howe 72
Conversions: Anscombe 39, 43, 59, 73
Sevenoaks
Tries: Brayden 12, Sedgewick 20, Barker 28, Pen Try 50
Conversions: Adams 13, 21, 29
