Dorking vs Rams Colts – Match Report, 31 March 2024
Dorking hosted Rams in the semi-final of the National Cup on Sunday, still smarting from their first defeat of the season against Wimbledon in the Harlequins Cup three weeks ago. Any hint of complacency was definitely out of the system now, and Dorking were able to field their strongest team for the first time this season, with two players returning from long-term injury.
The club were determined to make the most of the rather odd scheduling, with a rare Easter Sunday game. On the pitch, the club laid on the full first-team treatment, with Dan Mackenzie preparing the boys and Newks on hand to sort out the kit and set up the changing rooms.
With the carvery pre-match lunch sold out and the ‘Ramily’ travelling in good numbers, the boys were welcomed on to the pitch by a large and vocal crowd, with a Derelicts guard of honour and some red pyrotechnics to set the mood.
Rams were a bit of an unknown quantity, with the two clubs having never faced each other before. With their first team playing in National 1 and their Colts unbeaten in all competitions, Dorking knew this would be another stiff test. But the boys also suspected they had had a much tougher route to the semi-final, dispatching Horsham, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge Juddians (the defending champions), Winchester and Rosslyn Park.
With the sun breaking through and no rain for almost two days, Dorking felt the conditions would play into their favour. The pre-game message from the referee Rebecca Piddlesden (who was excellent again) was that she wanted the game to flow and she was true to her word.
Dorking kicked off, playing with the slope. The opening 10 minutes were a cagey affair, with both teams feeling each other out. Rams began strongly, with their big forward runners looking to break the line. Dorking were happy to soak up the pressure, with the defence looking rock solid. Hooker Reuben Pilbeam, in particular, was chopping players for fun, forcing Rams to retreat.
The Dorking forwards knew that they had to match the larger Rams pack if they were to win this game and were determined to put a marker down in the early scrums. Despite suffering an injury in the warm up, prop Scott Bloomfield was taking the battle to Rams, with Duncan Stott also excelling at loose head. From a strong scrum on the left, Dorking moved the play wide. Eventually the ball made its way to winger Will Simpson, around 30 metres out. The Rams defenders gave him too much space and he stepped through three covering defenders and powered over in the corner. Charline Nichol, kicking from the wrong side, just missed with the conversion. 5-0
Dorking pinned Rams back from the kick off, determined to make the advantage of the slope count in their favour. They also maintained the pressure in scrum, this time taking one against the head and rocking Rams back. With almost a carbon copy of the first try, Dorking spread the ball to the right and Simpson knew he had the beating of his man, stepping round him and dotting down in the corner. Having had a sighter with the first kick, this time Nichol expertly slotted the conversion for a 12-0 lead.
Dorking then, inexplicably, eased up and conceded a couple of soft penalties, giving Rams some territory. The visitors opted for a kick to the corner and a chance to deploy their very well-drilled catch and drive from the lineout. Dorking managed to sack the first attempt but were penalised for collapsing the maul. From the second attempt, Rams were able to force their way over, despite the despairing efforts of captain Alex Power. 12-7 and game on.
Dorking were determined not to let things slip and pressed Rams back into their own 22. From another strong scrum, Dorking moved the ball to the outstanding Will Darbishire in the centres, who broke through the cover tackle to score from close range. 19-7
The Dorking defence was now relentless and Rams were struggling to break the line. From a spilt ball, centre Chris Styles broke clear and a lovely looping pass found Nichol breaking down the left touchline. There was no stopping him as he rounded the last defender to score in the corner. 24-7
Dorking then scored from another scrum. Running a set play, number 8 Sam Whittaker broke right into space, feeding Darbishire to score to the right of the posts. Nichol’s conversion drifted wide to leave the score at 29-7 at the break.
The message at half time was more of the same please.
Dorking responded with the first score of the second half, with Darbishire carving through the Rams defence from the visitors’ 10-metre line for his hat-trick. 34-7
Dorking were determined to ram home their advantage. From another break, Dorking were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. They opted for the shot at goal, with Nichol extending Dorking’s lead to 30.
The Dorking attack was really coming into its own, with forwards and backs combining. Replacement hooker Lewis Gover was regularly breaching the Rams defence and from one such break Dorking thought they had scored again, only for the final pass to drift forward.
Rams were starting to get the upper hand in the scrums but could not clear their lines with the unrelenting Dorking pressure in defence. From another Rams penalty in their own 22, Dorking opted for the scrum. Lightning struck twice, with Dorking running the same set play as the first half, with Whittaker feeding Darbishire to score his fourth. 44-7
Rams were getting on the wrong side of the referee now, with a string of penalties for answering back. But credit to them for not giving up as they were next to score. From a rare Dorking penalty (the discipline was excellent all afternoon), Rams kicked for the corner. Dorking held the first drive but Rams cleverly moved the ball to the side and powered over for their second score. 44-12
Dorking were not done yet and scored again from another scrum. This time, with dangerous runners all around him, fly-half Wood Aldridge dummied the onrushing Rams defence and sprinted over from 20 metres out. 51-12
Dorking rounded things off with another try on the final play (from yet another scrum!). This time the ball was worked wide right and a beautiful miss pass put replacement centre Charlie Aldridge into space and he broke into the corner to round things off. 56-12
Dorking had reserved their best performance to date for the semi-final. The old adage of ‘forwards win matches, backs decide by how much’ couldn’t have been truer. Dorking’s set-piece had to be at its strongest against a much bigger pack and the boys really fronted up. But the Dorking backs were electric all afternoon, scoring tries from all phases of the game. The victory was also founded on great discipline and defence, honed over the last few months under the expert guidance of Patrick O’Grady, who joined the coaching set up this season.
This was another excellent squad performance, with all 21 players contributing. Rams nominated Charlie Nichol as man of the match for his incisive breaks from full back and excellent all round kicking game. But in truth the award could have gone to any of the boys.
Dorking can now look forward to the final on 28 April at Worcester against Newport Salop, who defeated Chester in the other semi-final. The journey continues…
