Dorking 45-23 Westcombe Park
By Kevin Beal
Dorking v Westcombe Park fixtures have historically been tough, with the results not necessarily going with the ‘form’. Today, however third placed Dorking overcame fifth placed Westcombe Park in a hard fought contest at The Big Field outscoring them by seven tries to three in a game that saw both sides play expansive entertaining rugby.
The first half hour was a cagey affair as both sides sought to establish themselves. Set piece scrums and lineouts went with the possession, but despite territorial supremacy by the Red & Whites, it was Combe who took the lead initially through the boot of fly half Nathan Wyman as Dorking’s defence coughed up a couple of high tackle penalties directly in front of the posts. This seemed to spur things on and a five try spree from the hosts during a 17 minute ‘purple patch’ either side of half time saw them take an unassailable 33-6 lead by the 50-minute mark.
Callum Watson kick started things with a well taken catch & drive try from a 5m line out, before Theo Williamson, coming in from the opposite wing as Finn Osborne took a quick tap penalty and fed the ball to Tom Howe, touched down next to the posts. Tom Hardwick was next on the score sheet as Dorking, through the boot of Craig Holland worked their way up field and exerted continued pressure on the Combe line. Holland’s conversion, on the stroke of half time slipped agonisingly wide and it was 19-6 as the teams left the field.
Tom Bloomer and Tom Howe continued the assault at the start of the second half as the Dorking backs found their form. Firstly, Bloomer on the end of a move started by Osborne which saw both him and Jasper King make considerable yardage touched down unopposed next to the posts, and then Howe, bludgeoning his way through the defence and over the line. With both converted, Dorking were 26-6 up with the try bonus in the bag. Combe however didn’t lie down. They stepped up the pressure and came back through two tries in quick succession by Leo Jowett, following a training ground ‘off the top of the lineout’ move, and Nick Cooke, taking the more conventional route through a gap in the Dorking defence. With only one conversion successful it was 33-18.
Dorking’s response, in what was fast becoming an end to end game came as Watson steadied the Dorking ship with his second catch & drive try. Combe responded immediately in similar fashion as Cook bagged his second following a 5m line out, but by now time was running out and the game belonged to the home side. Man of the match Osborne sealed the win as he fielded a loose ball, set off at pace down the wing, followed up his kick through and won the foot race to touch down and put the result beyond doubt. FT 45-33 (HT 19-6)
Director of Rugby, Armand Roux commented:
Overall, pleased with the bounce back from the squad today with some great passages of play.
Westcombe Park is a strong team and not to be underestimated so the result today is an important one.
It was not without error and we have identified a few areas still we need to work on but overall massively pleased for the players and coaching team.
Dorking:
Coyle, Hotston, Howe, Holland, Williamson, Hardwick, Jackson, Rawlinson, Watson, Bristow, Scholes (c), King, Howorth, Bloomer, Osborne. Replacements: Musa, Sheldrake, Golder, Copp, Smith
Westcombe Park:
Burkett, Jewett, Braithwaite, Webster, Wyman, Davies, Roof, Kitchen, Kenny, Smith-Joshua, Combo, Lofinmakin-Dutta, Coock, Charnock. Replacements: Wagstaff, Richards, Munich, Burman, Griffiths
Star Man – Finn Osborne (Dorking) Sponsored my Mistral Recruitment
Referee: Mr Alex Powedrell
Attendance 385
Scoring
Dorking:
Tries – Watson 30, 62. Williamson 33, Hardwick 40, Bloomer 41, Howe 47, Osborne 75
Conversions – Holland 31, 34, 41, 48,76
Westcombe Park:
Tries – Jowett 55, Cook 58, 65
Conversions - Wyman 59
Pens – Wyman 23, 27
