Dorking 42-22 Canterbury
Dorking return to winning ways at The Big Field
By Kevin Beal
Dorking returned to winning ways at The Big Field with an impressive performance putting the disappointments of the past two matches firmly behind them. Previous encounters between the two clubs had traditionally been tight affairs with honours even at four wins apiece, but an efficient and motivated Dorking side made a very capable Canterbury team look ordinary as they ran in seven tries to Canterbury’s three, with two conversions to one and a penalty apiece.
Canterbury were first on the scoreboard with a Frank Reynolds penalty on the six minute mark as the Dorking defence strayed offside, taking an early 3 point lead. The home side were quick to respond with two tries; the first from the re-start as Dorking took the play back into the Canterbury 22 putting the visitors under pressure and securing two penalties leading to a 5m lineout, a catch and drive from the forwards and Mosley collecting the ball to force his way over the line. With Henry Anscombe’s conversion good they took the lead, a position that they would hold all afternoon. The second try, by Captain Jonny Ellis, followed a similar pattern, only this time the spoils went to the pack and with the conversion drifting just wide the score stood at 12-3.
The visitors struck back midway through the first half in a counter attack with flanker Cameron Murray on the receiving end of the move and with Reynolds just missing the conversion the contest was finely poised. A promising Dorking back row move ended with a fumble as Canterbury stemmed the move illegally, from which Dorking gained a penalty followed by a 5m attacking line out. With quick ball secured the backs moved the ball out wide to Will Sanders who managed to evade the covering defence to touch down in the right hand corner for an unconverted try. Sensing that the game might be slipping away, Canterbury went on the offensive lead by a scrum half dummy from Tom Williams which fooled the Dorking close defence – but not Daragh Chambers who was having a fine afternoon defensively and forced a turnover and penalty, setting up another 5m line out from which Jasper King scored the home side’s fourth and bonus point try. With the conversion again just wide of the mark it was 22-8, and that’s how it remained at half time.
With the majority of territory and possession, tied with a couple of yellow cards for the visitors, Dorking extended their lead in the second half with three further tries. George Jackson was next on the score sheet as Sanders miraculously avoided both the defensive cover tackle and the touchline with an impressive inside reverse pass to find the scrum half in support. With the conversion from the touchline missed it was 27-8. Canterbury went on the attack through no8 Oliver but were unable to make anything of their possession as the Dorking defence quashed their advances, forcing errors and turnovers. Next on the score sheet was Toby McRae, the beneficiary of Tom Howe’s chip through following quick ball off the top of the lineout, and a solid conversion from out wide by Anscombe. Finn Osborne iced the cake with Dorking’s final try of the afternoon, breaking through Canterbury’s defensive set following another 5m lineout and a succession of pick and drives from the forwards. The conversion and a penalty goal from Henry Anscombe saw the home side take a comfortable 42-8 lead into the final quarter.
However the final plays went to Canterbury as two yellow cards in quick succession left Dorking short of cover and Canterbury hit back with a penalty try and a well worked backs try out wide for Nathan Morris. With Reynold’s conversion good it was 42-22, but there was just time for Dorking to mount a further attack, and despite touching down at the end of a backline flourish, Howe was called back for a knock on as he gathered the ball, and the final whistle.
Full Time 42-22
Director of Rugby Armand Roux commented
“Overall, I am pleased with the result today as the players worked hard over the last 2 weeks so we can get back on track and they fully deserve all the credit.
The way we want to play requires everyone to work hard off the ball with lots of effort to get in the right position early and they certainly did that.
Credit to Canterbury for making us work hard for every score, as they never just roll over.
Guernsey away next, so all focus turns to the next job”
Referee: Mr Conor Boyle
Dorking
Andresen, Sanders, Howe, Anscombe (vc), McRae, Holland, Jackson, Birch, Ellis (c), Bristow, Chambers, King, Howorth, Bloomer, Osborne
Replacements: Watson, Connor, Musa, Mosley, Grant
Canterbury
Waddington, Jones, Morgan, Best, Orris, Reynolds, Williams, Lusher, O’Donoghue, Herriott, Kerry, Stephens (c), Evans, Murray, Oliver
Replacements: Law, Morris, Huntley, Mackenzie, Cooper
Scores:
Dorking:
Tries:Fraser Mosley – 10 mins, Jonny Ellis – 14 mins, Will Sanders – 29 mins, Jasper King – 33mins, George Jackson - 47 mins, Tom Howe-55 mins, Finn Osborne – 67 mins
Conversions: Anscombe (2) 11 mins, 56 mins
Penalty: Anscombe 73 mins
Canterbury
Tries: Murray – 24mins Penalty – 77mins, Morris 79mins
Conversion: Reynolds 79mins
Penalty: Reynolds 8 mins
Star Man: Daragh Chambers (Dorking)
Attendance – 450
