Henley Hawks 18 – 18 Dorking
By Jon Watts
Hawks and Cocks share the Honours at Dry Leas
We have most certainly arrived at the business end of the first stanza of this thrilling league. A loss by the narrowest of margins at home last week ending an unbeaten 8 match run and a follow-up away fixture with an experienced and well-respected Henley side today - with more to come as Esher, Sevenoaks and Juddians patiently wait in the wings for their turn. In this context it was imperative that Dorking avoid a defeat, and with the Red & Whites taking the spoils at Dry Leas by the slenderest of margins last season, and the Hawks returning the favour at The Big Field, a tight encounter was expected.
Lovely ground at Dry Leas. Lovely club too. Despite the rain, the pitch looked reasonably firm (deceptively so according to the players post match – Ed), although the ball was greasy to handle. This became apparent from the first whistle to the last with both sides making handling errors.
The first points of the afternoon went to Dorking who looked the more rounded side as a great break from Tom Howe sent Cam Cowell screeching into the left hand corner. The try was unconverted. 0-5. The game then established a pattern that was to be the tone all afternoon - Dorking attempting to utilise the midfield attack to open up options for their two lively wingers McRay and Sanders, and Henley countering with some very strong running from a robust set of forwards. Defence was critical - as always. A solid catch and drive from the Henley pack from a line out and the very quick Henley 9 Webb found the slenderest of gaps in the Dorking defence to go over under the posts. With Titchener’s conversion good, the Hawks too the lead, 7-5
From the restart Dorking recovered possession and McRae had a signature break down the left wing again but this repost fizzled out with a knock-on with the line begging. This was a great contest. Remaining in the Henley 22 Dorking stole a line out - one of a number of steals throughout the game - and following a forwards drive were awarded a penalty. Anscombe’s kick drifted agonisingly wide and the score remained 7-5.
Henley were now in the driving seat for a while - the pattern of the afternoon - and a well judged kick into Dorking’s in-goal area saw their full back Cowell just win the race to touch down for a try saving goal line drop out.
In the set piece scrums Dorking were beginning to get some dominance and following a collapse were awarded a penalty 40m out. Anscombe’s kick was good and restored Dorking’s lead 7-8. Shortly thereafter another scrum penalty saw Dorking electing for a line out in the corner. A secure catch and drive ball was moved wide and back again before another handling error snuffed out the last opportunity for Dorking to extend the lead before half-time.
Half time score Henley 7 – 8 Dorking.
The Second half opening sequence was much like the first half - a midfield tussle followed by penalties various. It wasn’t September rugby that is for sure. A penalty kick at goal by Henley’s Titchener drifted wide of the posts and as the game restarted Dorking upped the tempo with fresh legs from the bench in preparation for a penalty kick to the corner. A clean catch and the ball was moved wide and back again, halted this time by a high tackle penalty to Dorking allowing Anscombe to prize open the lead just a little more, 7 - 11.
It was then Henley’s turn to apply pressure, and forcing a penalty, Titchener’s shot at goal drifted wide. It would not be unkind to say that both goal kickers have had somewhat mixed fortunes in what was becoming a difficult pitch - although Henley’s Titchener redeemed himself minutes later with a good strike narrowing the gap to just one point, 10-11.
Dorking then moved up into Henley’s 22 and swift secure hands in the backs saw Sanders go over for a try only to be called back for a forward pass. However, a misdemeanour from Henley defending the move gave Dorking at least the consolation of a penalty kick to the corner. Another secure lineout (huge improvement this week gentlemen!) and another thrusting move up through the midfield gave Tom Howe space to grubber kick 35 m into the Henley in-goal area, and following up with a mesmerising turn of speed the talented centre touched down for the try. The conversion by Anscombe was good, and Dorking took a 10-18 lead with 20 minutes to play.
Henley replied with characteristic resolve forcing a penalty in front of Dorking’s posts; an easy one even in these conditions and the gap narrowed 13 - 18. Dorking’s forwards seemed now to have the upper hand in the set piece, and they forced a penalty on the half way line. Anscombe thumped a huge kick that had the distance but not quite the accuracy as the ball bounced off the right hand post. Despite the Dorking midfield being quickly up on the ball Henley managed to scramble it away into relative safety up field, where a further infringement gave Anscombe the opportunity of a similar shot at goal, this one drifting just wide again.
Henley then threw all at a resolute Dorking defence with a very co-ordinated and powerful sequence of driving mauls, but the visitors staved off several thrusts to get the turnover scrum and a clearance out of their 22. In the dying minutes of the match Dorking needed to keep that Henley driving maul away from their 22 at all costs, but a penalty to Henley and an inevitable kick to the corner with a line out and a catch and drive to follow was just too much. A try for the substitute Totic, 18 – 18 as the clock went into the red. But wait! Much discussion amongst the officials, both captains and involving a representative from Henley’s bench. A red card is shown to a Henley player on the bench for an incident on the field of play. Will the try stand? ‘Yes’ said the officials. One for the cognoscenti of the laws of Rugby Football - and the disciplinary panel!
And in keeping with the whole afternoon’s saga - for both sides - the conversion drifted wide.
One final twist – as the red card had been issued whilst the game was in play, Dorking were allowed a penalty kick from the half way mark. Which of course fell just short……Oh such fine margins!!
Full time 18-18, honours shared
Avoid defeat at all costs. Well, sort of achieved that with 2 points away from home in a strange, topsy turvy game against a very strong Henley side. Barnes lost to Bury and Dorking remain top of National Division 2 East by a point. Well done boys. KBO. Next week, Sevenoaks at home.
Director of rugby Armand Roux commented:
“It’s never easy walking away with a draw but that said both sides had opportunities to win the game so a draw is probably a fair reflection.
I do feel that we did not get the decisions in certain parts of the game when we had momentum and were in the ascendency, but that is rugby for you.
We had to swallow our pride after failing to perform against BSE last weekend and I am proud of this squad and the reaction we showed in this encounter"
Team:
Cowell, Sanders, Howe, Anscombe, McRae, Holland, Jackson, Birch, Watson, Connor, Howorth, King, Jardine, Dalton ©, Osborne, Ellis, Stephenson, Chamnbers, Grant, Smith
Player of the Match – Fred Dalton
