Canterbury 10 - Dorking 12
14 points. That was the consensus of the home supporters that the slope of the Merton Lane ground was worth. Add a blustery with-slope wind and the decision to play up the slope first half seemed eminently sensible. And so it proved as the first half saw Dorking pinned in their own half, if not their own 22, for just about the entire period in the knowledge that you just needed to weather the storm. There were a few carries into the opposition half but mostly snuffed out by a resolute defence or fizzling out due to some uncharacteristic handling errors. Set piece of scrum and line-out outcomes fairly evenly matched with one scrum snaffled against the head for Dorking.
Dorking’s defence was, for the most part, well organised and determined although after a series of probing attacks and quick ball Morgan, the Canterbury 11 found space twice to go over in the left corner. Neither tries were converted, with the second kick ricocheting off the left upright.
End of the first half and it’s 10 - 0 to the home side. 14 points remember. Justified optimism.
Second half and the play continues almost incessantly down-slope with Dorking now pressing the home line and, it must be said, Canterbury making a few more incursions up field than had Dorking the first half. Nothing, however, that looked remotely threatening. The faithfuls’ expectations of a steady accumulation of points was dashed by a number of unforced errors by the red and whites and the game settled into a pattern of possession, solid running, good support play, recycle, further bullocking charges, recycle, wayward pass to the opposition or turnover. Frustrations began to build.
Finally after another fine attack by winger Austin Emens and a certain scoring lob pass to Joel Grant was just deflected back by a Canterbury defender into the in-goal area and a home grounding resulting a 5 metre scrum. Number 8’s aren’t permitted to pick and go and score from 5 metres out these days. Defences are too well organised. Obviously nobody told Finn Osborne. Conversion ricochets off the left upright. 10 - 5. 15 minutes to go. More pressure with some really determined hard running in the centre and the wings probing the outside. Again, too many unforced errors kept the score resolutely stuck in the home sides favour. A fine chance by winger Emens - after a darting attack down the left wing - the ball quickly recycled with the same winger reading the game superbly sprinting to midfield to take a looping pass into the void for a certain score - if only. Again, the final finish fell short. Similarly with the clock ticking down into the last couple of minutes Tom Hunt on the right wing seemed certain to score but again the final finish was missing.
At this juncture a less resolute side might have parked this game in the ‘it’s not our day’ bin. Not so this team. Relentless pressure from Dorking continued with the home side unable to get out of the 22. This pressure on the home side leading to couple of penalties in Dorking’s favour - with pick and go the weapon of choice - providing a thrilling spectacle for the spectators. Canterbury’s defence was immense and the line held. Finally with the home side back in possesion a handling error gave Dorking the scrum at about 7 metres out. Cometh the hour etc. The Dorking scrum gave it their all and shunted Canterbury back a couple of metres and the scrum wheeled rapidly. Penalty.
Pick and go. Several drives at the try line and then James Catton picked from the base and went low and below. Try. Last kick of the game and a ice cool Henry Anscombe slotted the conversion and Sir blew for time. All credit to Canterbury who held out with a superb backs-to-the-wall defence and well done to Dorking for maintaining the belief when it wasn’t going entirely to plan.
A cracking game of rugby, excellent officiating and Canterbury really nice hosts.
Director of Rugby, Armand Roux said:
"There was a lot of things that did not work for us today, but the commitment and fire playing for each other is something that can not be coached, and they showed this in spades today.
Both teams made lots of errors today and we wont enjoy looking back at some part of that game, but the result matters and they again managed to find a way to win at the death.
Canterbury was great hosts and I'm sure we will have a good game back at The Big Field."
Dorking Team:
Birch, Ellis, Bristow, Howorth, Chambers, Grant, Dalton (c), Osborne, Jackson, Anscombe, Emens, Jeffery, Mosley, Hunt, Cowell, Catton, Sheldrake, Goater, Macdonald, Ramsden
