Canterbury 42 – 35 Dorking
Canterbury Take the Spoils at the Death
By Jon Watts
This the final away game of the season - with just the slightest flicker of hope for a league winning season for Dorking - snuffed out by a resolute Canterbury side.
The opening exchanges saw Dorking playing down the notorious 12 point slope at Canterbury’s very pretty Kent ground with a gentle breeze blowing in the opposite direction. The first quarter of the game was played for the most part in Dorking's half with an occasional sally down the slope coming to nought through good Canterbury defence and Dorking handling errors. The pressure from Canterbury increased following a penalty kick to the corner 7m from the Dorking line. The recycled ball was shipped wide with the quick Dorking defence deemed offside and a Frank Reynolds penalty kick for goal was successful. 3-0.
Dorking responded with some good play from a solid set piece scrum on the Canterbury 10 m line - at this stage of the game Dorking’s scrum was dominant. Quick hands through the backs saw Max Coyle over the Canterbury try line but adjudged to have knocked-on. Further ebb and flow found Dorking defending deep and a high tackle gave Canterbury another attempt at goal. An unusual miss for the reliable Reynolds.
The game oscillated for a period with break-outs and determined defence by both sides - crunching tackle of the match must go to Steve Howarth. Eventually continuous pressure on Dorking in their 22 gave Canterbury the option to take the points and it’s good, 6-0
There then occurred the first of a number of critical handling errors that will be seen as the difference between the sides. The kickoff to Dorking was handled well but a dropped pass was pounced on by the ever sharp Canterbury wing Morgan who kicked through, gathered and scored. Conversion good.13-0
Dorking then upped a gear and Harry Elbow took the defence on in resolute fashion and popped a great pass to Jasper King who gained speed and momentum to shake off every effort to down the big man in full flight. Great try. Conversion good from Henry Anscombe.
13-7
Canterbury replied almost immediately as a poorly placed chip from Dorking is gathered and fed via a beautifully weighted pass to the Canterbury full back Moss who scythed through the defence o score under the posts giving Reynolds the easiest of conversions. 20-7
However, one senses that the game is within Dorking's grasp - we seem to be gaining confidence. A penalty was kicked to the corner for an attacking line-out. Dorking's maul was well controlled and Callum Watson claimed the grounding for a well taken try. Conversion from Henry. 20-14
Morale and expectations were further lifted with the try-of-the-game from Max Coyle. All from a seemingly innocuous scrum on the half way line which generated the opportunity for a break down the blind side, and with his blistering pace he cut through the Canterbury defence. Again Anscombe’s Conversion was good. 20-21 and it’s half time.
All to play for and the slope against but the wind in favour. Sun still shining.
The Second half got underway and early on Tom Bloomer put in a crunching tackle and Dorking are rewarded with a penalty for holding on. The attacking line out is well taken and Tom Hardwick shipped the ball to Tom Howe to Bryan Hotston; slick handling put the latter in space and over for the try. A good Good conversion from Henry, and the Canterbury supporters - all very generous of spirit – were now a little muted. 20-28
Canterbury always looked dangerous and pounce on any loose ball or wayward kicking. The latter provided the Canterbury outside centre Harry Sloan the opportunity of a lovely break into clear space only to be hauled down by the deceptively spritely Will Scholes. The first of a couple of decisions that had a big impact on the game. It’s one of those for the pundits on the TV. If a tackler - in this case Will - gets to his feet and the gets hands on ball and the tackled player is on the ground and holding on, has the tackler been deemed to have not released the tackled player or has the tackled player not released the ball? The judgment went against Dorking and Will had to cool his heels in the sin bin for his trouble.
The ensuing penalty kick to the corner and the line out wasn’t straight to giving Dorking some respite. The scrum dominance that Dorking enjoyed briefly in the first half has now been turned and Dorking were under immense pressure in the set piece. Tom Golder did manage to get away from the rapidly retreating scrum but was quickly tackled and penalised for holding on. Reynold’s Penalty kick was good. 23-28
Further pressure in the Dorking 22 and a penalty kick to the corner saw Canterbury take a line out and drive over for a converted try with a well controlled maul. The Canterbury pack do - in the final quarter – look the stronger. 30-28
Almost immediately Dorking struck back and some fantastic interplay saw Henry Anscombe cut through to score and convert. A great effort from 14 players to regain the lead. 30-35
If Dorking could now settle and control the last few minutes the spoils should be theirs. A spilled catch from the kick off again allowed Canterbury the attacking options and they pressured Dorking again. With a dominant Canterbury pack what Dorking did not need at this juncture were penalty kicks against them drilled into the corner. Well, that is exactly what they got. A penalty from another two player contact (holding on or not releasing debate – see above) resulted in a Canterbury penalty kick to the corner. The line out take and drive are good, and No8 Oliver is over for a converted try to regain the lead.37-35.
With a minute or so remaining any hope of another last minute Dorking victory was erased by a scrum penalty on the half way when the scrum collapsed on engagement. This seemed just a little harsh considering earlier leniency when Dorking had the advantage. Canterbury kicked to the corner and the line out and take is finished off by a well executed driving maul for hooker O’Donaghue to score, unconverted.
Final score 42-35.
A pulsating game and Canterbury deserved the spoils. The difference was a few handling errors and inaccurate kicks from hand but let’s not forget some awesome tackling with some sublime individual and team efforts with ball in hand. The two bonus points puts Dorking clear of Barnes by 3 points remaining second in the league. Our highest ever position in our 104 year history. To stay number two requires us to win against TJs at the end of season finish at the Big Field.
Juicy.
DoR Armand Roux commented:
“Canterbury played some great rugby and need to give them credit for the way they gone about their business.
We did gift them a couple of tries in the first half which ended up costing us, but that is sport for you.
I’m very proud of the effort and application of the Dorking squad as a whole and I know that they are all gutted to let that one slip on the weekend.
We look forward to 1 v 2 on Saturday 26th. ”
Team
Coyle, Hotston, Howe, Anscombe, McRae, Hardwick, Baldwin, Connor, Watson, Bristow, Scholes ©, King, Howorth, Bloomer, Elbrow, Rawlinson, Musa, Golder, Chambers, Holland
