Dorking 77 – 7 Oxford Harlequins
Dorking Return To Winning Ways In Thirteen Try Bonanza
By Kevin Beal
Dorking shook off the narrow defeats of the previous two matches and it has to be said last season’s away loss with a dominant display against Oxford Harlequins at The Big Field. Superiority in all areas of the game saw them run out comfortable winners in blustery conditions at The Big Field, scoring thirteen tries to one in a game that never looked in doubt.
The forwards led the way with Captain Will Scholes on the sheet after two minutes with a pushover try from a set piece scrum as Dorking turned the screw with a couple of scrum penalties. With Hardwick’s conversion blown just wide by the wind, a feature of the afternoon for the kickers, Quins took the restart kick which, after a couple of sessions of aerial ping pong, full back Jamie Whitwell put into touch for a Dorking line out. A practised move saw Harry Elbrow taking the ball at speed from Scholes moving play back to the visitor’s red zone, with Dom Sammut crashing over close to the posts after four patient pick and drives from his fellow forwards. With Hardwick on target the Red & Whites had a 12-0 lead, quickly added to as after two charge downs, Sammut was again on hand to finish off a fine backline move with his second, this time under the posts. Hardwick’s conversion was again good, and the 4th officials hardly had time to update their notes before scrum half Luke Baldwin was over the line for the bonus point converted try as Sammut stole the Quins lineout on the Dorking 10m line and Chris Bird charged through the midfield to put the supporting Baldwin in the clear for the run in. Sam Blade then scored his brace, the first as he charged down a clearance kick and somehow managed to keep both the ball and then himself from going in to touch on his way to coffin corner, and the second as Max Coyle and Theo Williamson combined down the left wing resulting in a goal line drop out. Harry Elbrow, who had been putting in ferocious tackles all afternoon fielded the kick, broke through the oncoming defence, slipped the ball to the supporting Baldwin who found Blade on his inside for a sprint to the line. With Hardwick’s conversion good, the home side were 40 points clear with 30 minutes played. Quins finally got on the score sheet as at the re-start they were awarded a penalty for obstruction which they kicked to touch and retaining quick ball from the lineout put centre Adam Field over next to the posts untouched. Dorking responded immediately as forwards and backs combined to put Tom Howe away for his first of the afternoon, and then on the stroke of half time, Coyle brought up the half century as he touched down wide out right.
50 – 7 at half time.
The second half saw more of the same as the Dorking forwards overpowered their opponents in both set piece and open play, giving the half backs an armchair ride allowing the back line to cut loose. Firstly, Hardwick with a 50 metre run in from half way, then Williamson as Dorking opted to scrum and spin the ball down the line rather than kick penalties. Quins did not look a bad side, when they had possession, their backline looked dangerous in attack, but they were thwarted at every turn by aggressive Dorking tackling which more often than not resulted in turnover ball for the hosts. Next on the score sheet was Coyle, celebrating his birthday with both try and conversion after a jinking solo run down the left wing, and then on the 79th minute Daragh Chambers rumbled over following a penalty and rolling maul. As the clock clicked over there was just time for the restart, and a tired kick off that didn’t go the full 10 metres gave Dorking a scrum on half way, from where Tom Howe was able to run in for his second of the afternoon, followed by an attempted drop goal conversion (missed) and the final whistle.
Final score Dorking 77 – 7 Oxford Quins
DoR Armand Roux commented:
I’m really pleased for the players and the fact that they responded with such an impressive reaction from the Oundle game.
Our attack was built on some solid defensive foundations and the fact we delivered such a disciplined performance meant we had plenty of opportunity ball in hand.
There was of course some missed opportunities and a couple of errors, but overall pleased with the application of the players.
Teams:
Dorking:
Coyle, Hotston, Howe, Blade, Williamson, Hardwick, Baldwin, Bristow, Head, Stephenson, Sammut, King, Bird, Elbrow, Scholes (c). Replacements - Rawlinson, Connor, Chambers, Burtler, Falloon
Oxford Harlequins:
Whitway, Mcoubrey, Field, Sayer, Vernede, Haines (c), Burne, Cashman, Camiaux, Wilkinson, Jenkins, Harding, Smith, Ireland, Johnson. Replacements - Hopkins, Skiddin, Knight, Davies, Cooke
Star Man – Max Coyle Dorking
Scoring
Dorking
Tries: Scholes 2, Sammut 10, 15, Baldwin 16, Blade 20, 30, Williamson 35, 58, Coyle 40, 60, Hardwick 51, Chamber 79, Howe 80
Conversions: Hardwick 10,16, 20,30. Coyle 60
Oxford Harlequins
Try: Field 32
Conversion; Whitwell 32
Referee: Rebecca Piddlesden
Attendance 420
Charlie Connor scoring in the second half
