Guernsey Raiders 29-31 Dorking
Dorking Triumph (Just) At Footes Lane
Guernsey is never an easy place to go to and for the second year in succession the Red and Whites took the Friday evening flight in preparation for a big day on Saturday. They were accompanied by a large contingent of supporters, most of whom were looking to make a weekend of it in the Channel Islands sunshine, and who made their presence heard in the Footes Lane stadium. They were not to be disappointed with a game where although the lead changed hands three times, their side came away with the full five league points.
The game started tentatively; Dorking took the kick off, retained the ball and kicked for territory. Guernsey fielded and returned the ball with interest, and from the resulting lineout mounted an attack in the midfield. Dorking turned the attack over, but the clearance kick went straight into touch for a Guernsey line out on the Dorking 22. With the ball knocked on by Guernsey in attack, Dorking had set piece scrum on the Guernsey 10 m line from which they kicked to touch following a monumental shove. A clean take in the line out by Guernsey’s Lewis Hillier had Dorking on the back foot and although their defence held firm, one of the tackles was judged high allowing Ciaran McGann to slot the simplest of penalties and give the home side a 3-0 lead on the 15-minute mark. Dorking’s response was immediate as Guernsey strayed offside at the restart, and from the penalty and resulting 5 m line out a simple catch and drive put Callum Watson over the line for the first try of the afternoon. With Hardwick’s conversion shaving the posts, Dorking were 3-5 ahead.
The match then settled down as both sides probed each other’s defences, with Jasper King, Will Scholes and Finn Osborne leading the Dorking attack and Tom Bloomer and Harry Elbrow the defence. With Dorking reduced to fourteen men following a succession of penalties against them, it was Guernsey who after three attacking scrums broke the deadlock with a try through prop Dromontas Martinas next to the posts. With an easy conversion for McGann they re-took the lead 10-5.
Dorking had marginally the better of the exchanges in the final 10 minutes of the half, but ill-discipline in the tackle cost them dear in terms of territory and it was Guernsey, through Anthony Armstrong who finished the half with a well taken but unconverted try giving them a 15-5 lead at the half-time whistle.
Dorking started the second half well with a penalty and five metre line out. A patient build up drew a further penalty and further five metre line out, from which Tom Bloomer was shunted over for Dorking‘s second, this time converted try, 15-12. With their scrum gaining ascendancy in the set piece - special mention here to Tom Bristow who was causing all sorts of mayhem with his opposite number, Dorking began to exert more control over the game, and a concerted period of pressure was rewarded with a try out wide for Toby McRae on the end of a move where Finn Osborne and Steve Howorth punched through the midfield to create space and the back line span the ball wide and at speed. With Tom Hardwick’s conversion good Dorking re-took the lead at 15-19, but not for long as Guernsey replied immediately with well worked try by Niall McGann, converted by brother Ciaran. 22-19.
As the match entered its final quarter, and with Dorking’s set piece advantage becoming more apparent they opted to take a scrum rather than kick a penalty near the Guernsey 22. Another training park move saw quick ball through the hands of Messrs Jackson, Hardwick, Hotston and Cowell to put wing Theo Williamson away and over in the corner to retake the lead, 22-24.
With both teams beginning to tire, the game opened up but neither was able to break the others defensive line until the 78th minute when Dorking’s Osborne was over in another training ground move; a quick ball off the top for Jackson to pop him the ball at speed. With Hardwick’s conversion good and less than two minutes to play that looked to be the game secured at 22-31. But Guernsey hadn’t read the script and as Dorking played ‘keep ball’ in their 22 a tired pass gifted an interception to Armstrong who strolled in untouched under the posts for a converted try bringing the home side to within two points of the visitors and literally seconds left.
Dorking took the re-start as the clock went red. Guernsey secured the ball and mounted one final attack through Carter Hackett who set off on a charge from his 22, not being brought down until he was inside the Dorking half. With the ball slipping from Hackett’s grasp as he fell, a grateful Tom Hardwick was able to snaffle the loose ball and hoof it into touch to end the game and seal the Dorking win.
Final score 29-31
Director of Rugby Armand Roux commented:
I am so pleased that we managed to get 5 points over in Guernsey today.
I cannot describe what a tough place it is to come and play and to do so at the end of a 10 week back-to-back block at National 2 level was very impressive.
Guernsey played some good rugby and is a very tough team to break down, but we knew we had to stick to systems and we will find some opportunity later on.
The traveling support was amazing and the post-game celebration was a special one to share with so many supporters.
We will look to rest well this week as we prepare for the final run of games.
Teams:
Guernsey – Boyland, Armstrong, McGann C, McGann N, Smith, Symmonds, Rutledge, Bray, Ceillam, Dromantas, Hillier, Webb, Yarwood, Welch, Hackett. Replacements – Dunn, LeNouray, Rice, Croft, Gladstone,
Dorking – Cowell, Williamson, Hotston, Coyle, Holland, Hardwick, Baldwin, Bristow, Watson, Stephenson, King, Scholes, Bloomer, Elbrow, Osborne. Replacements – Musa, Jackson, Sheldrake, Howorth, Golder
Man of the Match – Tom Bristow
Guernsey Photographer Martin Gray Image here
