Dorking 15 - 38 Canterbury
Dorking Outclassed at Home
By Kevin Beal
Dorking welcomed Canterbury back to The Big Field for the first home game of the season hoping to put the previous week’s defeat at Havant behind them. And in the first quarter of the match it looked as this would be the case with normal service resumed, as they ran from wide and deep and pressured the Canterbury line. But stout defence by the men in gold kept them out with only a solitary penalty goal to show for their dominance and territorial advantage. Strangely it took a yellow card on the 20 minute mark to spur the men of Kent into action, and reduced to 14 men they took possession of the ball as Dorking looked to the catch and drive, and from thereon the contest took on a very different complexion as they scored four tries in quick succession.
The first from Harry Sloan on the crash ball following a succession of pick and drives, to which the Dorking defence had initially seemed equal. The second out wide following a lineout catch and drive as replacement prop Lucas Earle emerged up last with the ball, the third from Sloan again following a strong run through the midfield and he fourth, a second from Earle, again from a 5m lineout catch and drive. With Lewis Hollindge on target for three of these, Canterbury took a hefty 3-26 lead into the half time break.
The second half was a more even contest from the point of the scoreboard, 12 apiece, however this didn’t really tell the true story, Dorking tried everything in their playbook to square the match but nothing quite seemed to go their way as scoring chances went begging, and Canterbury upped their defensive work rate to match. This, combined with a number of enforced changes of personnel meant that their attack lacked penetration and the finishing touch. Twice the line was crossed only for the ball to be held up, twice a sure fire run in to the line was called back for a forward pass. Even the usually solid set piece scrum didn’t have it all their own way as Sir spotted a number of technical front row offences and decided that it was the Red & Whites to blame.
Olly Frostic was next to score for the visitors, being on hand in support as replacement Will Waddington ran the ball up field extending their lead to 28 points. Dorking responded with further, again repelled attacks on the Canterbury line but it wasn’t until the 71st minute, by which time the game had clearly gone that they were able to register any score as Jack Thorn pounced upon a wayward lineout ball for a converted try. But the celebrations were short lived as Canterbury’s Owain Collins, not for the first time in the afternoon scythed through tired Dorking tackles to be brought down just short of the try line and robbed of the ball. But as Dorking looked to control and clear their lines for a counter attack, the quick pop pass was snaffled by the oncoming Thomas Williams who had but centimetres to go unopposed to touch down under the posts. Collins, now on kicking duties made light of the conversion, 10-38.
As everything finally clicked, a late try from Theo WIlliamson was scant consolation for the home side, and with the conversion drifting wide, it was 15-38 at the final whistle.
DoR Armand Roux commented:
“It was a frustrating afternoon for us and not through a lack of effort or desire. Our execution was poor and no matter how hard we tried another error was on the horizon.
We really cant take anything away from Canterbury. They did their homework and outplayed us. Simple. Credit to them.
There is no time to ponder too long as we are over at Barnes later this week where they pushed OA’s into the last minute. (Same as Canterbury last week).
Momentum is everything and we are adjusting with some personnel changes which is no excuse as National League rugby is in a great place. We will be finding that momentum.
I have no doubt in the coaches and the troops that we will be finding our groove, just need to knuckle down.”
Teams
Dorking – Barker, Sanders, Hotston, Stephens, Williamson, Thorn, Lock, Stephenson, Tyson, Barry, Sammut, King, Wilkie, Elbrow ©, Goodfellow. Replacments – Rawlinson, Chambers, Jackson, Lee, Litchfield
Canterbury - Collins, Ashley-Jones, Morgan, Sloan, Campbell, Hollidge, Farrance, Macmillan, Rogers, Frostick, De Vreies, Stephens, Trapp, Thomas, McCormack. Replacements- Williams, Huntley, Waddington, Eule, Dengate
Referee:
Mr Tom Bird
