Dorking Colts travelled to a traditionally strong Reading Rams with two squads for a double-header fixture on a very warm Sunday afternoon.
Dorking Reds
The match began with early pressure from Dorking, who demonstrated good control and power in the opening exchanges making territory and nearly scoring in the opening drive. Rams had a number of power runners in their back row and real pace in the back 3. It was a combination from these players that led to the first score 10 minutes into the game, a nice move from a set-piece scrum to score a converted try and take a 7−0 lead.
The power runners from Rams further punished Dorking mistakes to take control of the half with a second try coming from an interception in the midfield, which was duly converted to make it 14−0 albeit Dorking had dominated possession and territory to this point.
The home side continued to capitalise on poor defence and errors, adding two more converted tries before the interval. Dorking through controlled play executed a set piece on the five yard with Josh Krango scoring allowing them a consolation into half time but leaving Dorking with a significant challenge as the halftime whistle blew with the score at 28−5.
Following the restart, Dorking began the second half with purpose. A period of controlled play and hard running put pressure on the Rams' backfield, eventually leading to a five-metre scrum. Dorking took their chance, with Toby Shepherd hitting a hard line to power over taking the score to 28−12.
Rams were quick to issue a response, hitting back from the restart with expansive play that sent their winger over in the corner with poor defence from Dorking (33−12). The home side would add more tries, one from a swift transition following a Dorking handling error near their own try line and a further two from an interception and backfield errors pushing the score to 54−12.
To their credit, Dorking continued to fight and finished the match with a dominant spell that resulted in two tries and demonstrated what the team can achieve with a higher level of ball control. Spike Davis, one of the late try scorers was player of the match and the forward pack demonstrated real excellence in line out and driving maul. Final score 54-24
Dorking Whites
The whites game was a tighter affair with both teams cancelling each other out in a tight contest that Rams managed to take the victory. Dorking felt like they had a good plan and approach to cause Rams trouble but struggled to keep consistency and develop momentum.
In a tight game Dorking felt aggrieved in the final quarter to have an awarded try turned over but as a group we don’t want to leave it up to a ref decision, we believe we had a stronger unit and should have closed out the game earlier.
Try scorers on the day were Josh and Henry with both Will Brooks at full back and Jack Haines at out half stepping up and showing maturity and control. Henry Sergeant who stepped in at loose head was player of the match. Final Score 14-12.
We will host RAMS in a return fixture early in the new year.
Pre-season friendlies are a learning exercise and the squad will build from here into our first Surrey League fixture in two weeks and a National Cup opener the first weekend of October
