Dorking 19 – 38 Esher
By Kevin Beal
Esher Take the Spoils in Top of the Table Clash
Dorking last met Esher around ten years ago in the Surrey Cup. It was a tight game then and with the two sides placed first and second in the rankings and with similar results against other sides in the league a tight game was expected in this fixture. And so it turned out, although perhaps, the score line would suggest differently.
Three well worked tries from Esher’s back three in a purple patch midway through the first half were enough to sink Dorking’s hopes as fliers Ben Robbins and James Botterill both crossed the whitewash, the latter twice in a 5 minute spell as the former Championship and Nat 1 side showed why they are very much in the running for promotion this season. With all three tries converted by Captain Sam Morley, two from way out wide in a gusting wind they took a commanding 14-28 lead at half time. The second half was a more evenly matched affair with a further converted score from scrum half Pierre Thompson after barely four minutes which effectively ended Dorking’s chances, a penalty goal from Morley and a late consolation try for Dorking’s Joe Andresen.
The match started well enough for the Red & Whites as with barely five minutes on the clock Fraser Mosley charged down a Thompson box kick and collected the kindly bounce to score just wide of the posts giving an easy conversion for George Jackson and a 7 point lead. Esher were quick to respond as their powerful pack took control on the Dorking 22 and created a gap for lock Hugh Sloan to wrestle through and sprint to the line untouched under the posts. With Morley’s conversion a formality the scores were even at 7 apiece
Some midfield tussling between the forwards ended with a Dorking penalty and an attacking line out 8 metres from the Esher line - enough space for a secure catch and drive led by captain Jonny Ellis and for Tom Howe to receive the ball and go clear of the defence to dab down for Dorking’s second. With Jackson adding the extras their 7 point lead was restored. Until the Esher backs cut loose that was….
Some midfield aerial ping pong made interesting by the swirling westerly wind followed by sustained attacking pressure created the space and winger Robbins was next over the line out wide followed by a fine touchline conversion from Morley to even the scores once more. Two minutes later, slick backline hands meant it was Botterill’s turn to go over, and two minutes later in a carbon copy move he was over again. With both tries converted by Morley, again from difficult field positions Esher held a comfortable looking 14 point lead.
Dorking upped their game retaining possession but repeated forward drives led by Finn Osborne, Steve Howorth and Captain Jonny Ellis came to nothing and their usually incisive backs were unable to break through Esher’s defensive lines. With no further scores in the half it was 14-28 at the break.
The second half started with Dorking receiving, playing uphill and with the wind ever so slightly in their favour. A speculative kick into the Esher half was returned with interest but the visitors were able to regather the ball after the line out and release the backs putting scrum half Thompson in the clear for a run to the line. With Morley’s conversion good, Dorking found themselves 14-35 down and with a mountain to climb. They kept up their attacks throughout the half, assisted by a yellow card for the visitor’s Harry Chamberlain for a high tackle, but again were unable to break a solid Esher defence. They came frustratingly close on several occasions only to be called back for a forward pass or a knock on. Esher too had their moments, but Armand’s half time chat had obviously stressed the need for tighter defence and they were denied, often at the last by a wall of red & white shirts.
Esher extended their lead by a further three points on the 70th minute as Morley opted to kick for goal rather than the corner – and indication of the tightening of the game perhaps - but despite further pressure Dorking were unable to add to their tally until the final move of the match with a well worked but unconverted try out wide by Joe Andresen.
A deserved 19-38 victory to Esher, moving them ahead of Dorking and clear at the top of the table by three points.
Esher Director of Rugby, Peter Winterbottom commented:
“It was good to get the win in this top of the table clash. Our team performed well and I thought our defence, especially in the second half when Dorking threw everything at us and we were down a man was immense”
Dorking Director of Rugby, Armand Roux commented:
“It simply was not our day today and all credit needs to go to Esher for the pressure they put on us in both attack and defence.
We simply were not clinical enough in both our exits and our athavecking play where we lost possession too many times and agood team will make you pay the price.
I would have loved us to play well and give a good account of ourselves, but simply was not to be today and now we will have to go and do it in the away fixture.
Massive credit to the grounds men, facilities and the support crowd for making it a such a great day down at The Big Field.”
Man of the match Esher – Sam Morley
Man of the match Dorking – Steve Howorth
Teams:
Dorking:
Andresen, Sanders, Howe, Mosley, McRae, Cowell, Jackson, Birch, Ellis (c), Bristow, Howorth, King, Jardine, Grant, Osborne
Replacements - Stephenson, Connor, Bloomer, Tuilagi, Smith
Esher:
Faulkner, Robbins, Donnelly, Waters, Botterill, Morley (c), Thompson, Ganley, Skoumbourdis, Sloan, Inglis, McBrearty, Chamberlain, Wilkins
Replacements - Crawley, Bowerman, Dow, Rowland, Ham
Referee: Mr Phil Russell
Attendance 750
Scoring:
Dorking
Tries – Mosley (5 mins) Howe (14 mins) Andresen (80 mins)
Conversions Jackson -2 (6mins & 15 mins)
Esher
Tries: Sloan (9 mins) Robbins (23 mins) Botterill (25 & 27 mins), Thompson (44 mins)
Conversions: Morley (10, 24, 26 & 45 mins)
Pen: Morley (71 mins)
