Dorking 40-20 Guernsey Raiders
By Kevin Beal
Second Half Performance Wraps It Up
Guernsey finally arrived at The Big Field on Saturday having suffered firstly at the hands of Storm Bert back in November, and then on the morning of the rescheduled game, tech gremlins on both the rostered aircraft and its replacement leading to an anxious exchange of emails and a later than scheduled kick off. But it was a match worth waiting for as a resurgent Dorking side, with four tries in the second half secured the bonus point win as they overcame a determined Raiders side. Tom Howe and Max Coyle lead the way with a brace of tries apiece, with Callum Watson also on the score sheet and Henry Anscombe adding three penalty goals and two conversions.
Anscombe put the home side into a 6 point lead early on with two well stuck long range penalties as Raiders infringed in the face of strong Dorking attacks. With Jasper King recovered from his bout of flu and Finn Osborne taking charge and creating space, the backs, marshalled by the half back pairing of George Jackson and Tom Hardwick were free to call the shots. Solid work in the air from Max Coyle, Bryan Hotston and Will Sanders negated the visitors box and clearance kicks, but it was Raiders who struck next to back to take the lead with a penalty by Charlie Simmonds and a converted try by Anthony Armstrong. 6-10. As Guernsey looked to build on their lead and Dorking to recover the initiative, the match became somewhat bogged down in midfield, with no way through the defences for either side. Special mentions here to Max Sheldrake and Ollie Rawlinson for some ‘truffle hunting’ tackles. As a result, both fly halves looked to kick for territory, often gifting possession back to their opponents in the process. Howe steadied the ship shortly before half time with a converted try following a great catch and running break from Coyle to give the home side a 13-10 lead, and with King and Osborne supported by Captain Scholes combining to pressure the Raiders’ defence in the final plays of the half, the Red & Whites went into the break in buoyant mood.
Dorking came out of the blocks quickly at the re-start and Howe’s second try, two minutes into the half, again fashioned following a great take in the air by Coyle and then six minutes later Coyle’s first, set the tone for the rest of the game. With Anscombe’s conversions good Dorking took a commanding 27- 10 lead.
Their set piece scrum now very much in the ascendancy, Dorking looked to cut loose and but for a couple of fumbles in the tackle could well have scored twice more in quick succession. Raiders fought back, notably through no.8 Jack Colbourne, and as Dorking’s Osborne was invited to take a ten minute breather for playing the 9, Raiders made the extra man count scoring a well worked catch and drive try wide out left through James Burger. With Simmonds conversion missed it was 27 – 15.
Raiders Colbourne took the restart kick cleanly and set off at pace – right into the path of a charging Sheldrake. The tackle impact was felt in the clubhouse, and as Bryan Hotston recovered Guernsey’s clearance kick he was tackled high.
The resulting penalty and lineout gave Dorking a good attacking position, and Howe was, but for a last ditch cover tackle in for his third. Guernsey cleared their lines to half way and as Anscombe looked to run the ball back a clash of heads in the tackle meant a red card for Guernsey’s Carter Hackett. And as Guernsey had done earlier in the half, Dorking took advantage of the extra man. Watson rumbled over the line under cover of a rolling maul and shortly after, following a fine solo run through the midfield by the veteran Steve Howorth, Coyle was in for his second to extend the home side’s lead.
With the game lost, Raiders Captain Creber scored a consolation try as Guernsey applied pressure with two minute to go, but it was Anscombe who sealed the Dorking win with a penalty on the 80th minute.
Director of Rugby Armand Roux commented:
Some great improvements seen today and glimpses of what we have been working on which was great.
It is one of those games where you come back from a 1-point loss the week before and you can chose to make the difference or just go through the motions.
The energy levels and the physical application on show today was simply fantastic and every player needs credit for the efforts they have put in today.
I really respect Guernsey and what they can bring to the party and it makes the win today even more important.
Scoring
Dorking:
Tries; Howe (2) 36 & 42. Coyle (2) 48 & 77. Watson 75
Conversions; Anscombe (3) 37, 43, 49
Pens: Anscombe (3) 2, 13, 80
Guernsey Raiders:
Tries; Armstrong 32, Burger 60, Creber 78
Conversions; Simmonds 33
Pens: Simmonds 27
Teams
Dorking
Coyle, Hotston, Howe, Anscombe, Sanders, Hardwick, Jackson, Bristow, Rawlinson, Sheldrake, Scholes (c), King, Howorth, Musa, Osborne. Replacements - Watson, Karimanzira, Chambers, Copp, Holland
Guernsey
Roberts, Armstrong, McGann, Dawe, Smith, Simmons, Boyland, Dunn, Ceilland, Dromantas, Webb, Hackett, Welch, Creber (c), Colbourne. Replacements - Burger, Bray, LeNouret, Rutledge, Yarwood.
Man of the Match – Max Sheldrake (Dorking)
Referee: Mr Alex Rose
Attendance = 356
