Dorking 16 – 17 Bury St Edmunds
By Kevin Beal
Osborne’s late try in vain as Bury hold on – Just.
In an end to end game at The Big Field Dorking failed to repeat their recent habit of snatching victory in the dying moments of the match.
After taking the lead early on with two Henry Anscombe penalties, Dorking let things slip as Bury worked their way back into the game with a penalty goal from Charlie Reed and somewhat against the run of play a fine try out wide from William Christie following a break from the base of the scrum by Ruaraidh Williams. Well organised defence saw Bury repelling successive Dorking attacks and they went into the changing rooms at half time with a 6-11 lead and the prospect of playing uphill in the second half.
Dorking looked to take back control of the game 4 minutes into the second half as Bury infringed at the ruck and from the line out following the penalty kick to the corner, Dorking’s Jonny Ellis was driven over the line. With Anscombe’s conversion drifting wide the score was 11 points apiece, which is how the score remained for the next 20 minutes. Dorking had the greater possession but were unable to crack open a tight Bury defence, and as the game ticked away Bury pressure saw Dorking giving away a succession of penalties, two of which were well within Reed’s range giving them a 6 point advantage.
However, as in previous weeks, Dorking turned up the pressure in the final 10 minutes winning a succession of penalties which they chose to kick to the corner or run rather than take the points but were unable to break the Bury defence. As Bury cleared their lines and with the clock well into the red there was time for one more Dorking attack, and following three further penalties, Finn Osborne crashed over for Dorking’s second try. Anscombe’s conversion, from a similar position to his first attempt again drifted agonisingly wide leaving Bury as worthy winners on the day.
DoR Armand Roux commented:
“It was a game where it simply did not click for us today. Bury pilled lots of pressure on us in attack and their defence was pretty solid, so credit where it due.
Even though I’m disappointed about the result, again the squad showed some great character to get back into it.
There are many little moments we can question, but simply was not our day.
The fact that we almost won it in the end, also speaks volumes when it’s not your day.
Next week we will travel to OA’s so its quick reflection and we move on to the next game.
Team: Cowell, Hunt, Mosley, Jeffery, Emens, Anscombe, Jackson, Birch, Ellis, Bristow, Chambers, Scholes, Grant, Dalton ©, Osborne, Catton, Sheldrake, Goater, Macdonald, Ramsden
