Dorking 41 – 10 Havant
Fourth Quarter Blitz Seals the Win
By Kevin Beal
Director of Rugby Armand Roux’s pre match prediction at lunch, “It will be hard going for the first 60 but we’ll win it in the final quarter” came true as Dorking ran in seven tries to one, with four coming after the 60 minute mark in a second half performance where it was their scrum dominance and clinical back line passing that made the difference.
Dorking were made to work hard in the first half and most of the play was in the middle sector of the pitch. As Havant attacked in the first move of the game, Sam Blade went for the interception, knocked the ball on and received a yellow card for his trouble; not the start the red & whites were looking for. Havant looked to press home the numerical advantage but strong Dorking defence (the most parsimonious in the National Leagues according to the statisticians) met them and they were unable to capitalise. After repelling numerous attacks Dorking were able to work their way up to the Havant 22 for a lineout from where Tom Bloomer drove forwards before slipping the ball to George Head for the first points of the afternoon. Conversion missed, 5-0.
With two good defensive sides, it was the aerial battle in midfield that then dominated proceedings, so it was not until the 25th minute that the score board moved again; a penalty for Havant by Joel Knight as the Dorking defence strayed offside. A second close range try from Nick Barry on 30 minutes after a monstrous 50-22 clearance kick from Tom Hardwick gave them territorial advantage, and holding fast against wave after wave of Havant pick and drives they went into the sheds 12-3 up.
With their forwards in the ascendancy in the set piece, the backs cut loose in the second half. After a further bout of aerial ping pong, Dorking were on the attack with a succession of lineouts in the Havant 22. A quick off the top ball from Will Scholes found Bloomer on the peel breaking through tackles and eventually getting the ball away down the line to the right, from where it was switched back left to Harry Barker out wide on the wing and only one man to beat. Evading the tackle and diving for the line the try was good, as was Hardwick’s conversion from the touchline. 19-3.
Havant pressed from the restart and had probably their most consistent period of possession but were unable to breach the Dorking defensive line. Dorking finally won a penalty and cleared their lines to half way, where Havant gave way a penalty on their own throw in allowing further territorial gain for the home side and a 22m lineout. Rinse and repeat – Scholes off the top to Bloomer, down the line etc this time to Max Coyle who was over the line in the bottom right hand ‘coffin’ corner. 24-3 with the conversion missed.
From thereon in Dorking turned up the gas and mauling the ball from the kick off won a further penalty, kicked to touch for a lineout on Havant’s 5m line. A perfectly executed catch and drive put George Head over for his second, converted by Hardwick and a now comfortable 31-3 lead. Havant, sensing that the game was slipping away upped their game and as the heavens opened, took advantage of the slippery conditions to pick and go at the Dorking line. Again strongly repelled but eventually successful and fly half Sisk burrowed his way over just to the right of the posts. An easy conversion for Captain Knight. 31-10.
The final 10 minutes of the match were played in atrocious conditions. Dorking’s scrum superiority had them camped in the Havant 5m zone with three scrum penalty resets for collapsing before there was a clean shove allowing Will Scholes to pick up from the base of the scrum and score. 36-10 and game over, or so everyone thought. But no, there was time for a re start and man of the match Bloomer collected the scudding ball, made some ground and shipped the ball out to the back line – Hardwick, Blade, Howe and on to Coyle for a sprint to the line and the final score (and move) of the day. 41-10. Game over.
Director of Rugby Armand Roux commented:
“Really pleased with this 5 point win today.
We had to work hard to get any momentum, as Havant was relentless with their attack and defensively never gave up.
We started being more clinical towards the latter parts of the game and credit to the Dorking team for staying in shape and getting the better of Havant.
Massive credit to the pack for earning the hard years, the backs execution and the Bench for making a real difference in the last 20mins”
Teams:
Dorking:
Coyle, Hotston, Howe, O’Leary- Blade, Barker, Hardwick, Baldwin, Connor, Head, Barry, Sammut, King, Howorth, Bloomer, Scholes (c). Replacements - Rawlinson, Bristow, Goodfellow, Elbrow, Falloon
Havant:
Evans, Perry, Knight Jo (c), Knight Ja, Trodd, Sisk, Holt, Leat, Boa, Smith, Young, Durnin, Southern, Dugan, Ashworth. Replacements - Shepherd, Stoffel Person, saunders, Gwyther
Star Player - Tom Bloomer, Dorking
Scoring:
Dorking
Tries: Head (10, 65) Barry (31) Barker (46) Coyle (60, 80) Scholes (78)
Conversions: Hardwick (31, 46, 65)
Havant
Tries: Sisk (70)
Conversions: Knight (70)
Penalties: Knight (25)
Referee: Mr Tom Bird
Attendance 320
Images:
Dorking Camera Club
Ed Payne Photography
