Saturday 1st April 2023
Big Field Brockham
Dorking RFC 44 v 24 Tonbridge Juddians RFC
A fine spring day saw an afternoon which showed all that is good about rugby. Three Dorking teams winning at home hosting TJ’s (44-24), Richmond FC (56-12), Chobham RFC (26-21), a sold out lunch for 120, a good crowd and some old Dorking RFC faces from the past.
The results all went Dorking’s way, but it was with heavy hearts that all present paid their respects to Club stalwart Gary Broom, who recently left us. How he would have loved the day, a good lunch, on what would have been his birthday, good rugby and few beers with friends into the evening. We will all miss you Gary, but your spirit will live long in a club you served and supported so well.
In the main event, a 100% kicking masterclass from Henry Anscombe (19pts, 5 conv, 3 pens) underpinned a solid win for Dorking against a competitive TJs team.
Dorking were first on the score board with a try from Johnny Ellis after a catch and drive from a lineout. Dorking kept their noses ahead with further well taken tries from Osborne and Dalton. TJs showed they are no pushover with some good attacking moves. Stalwart fly half Tom White provided some creativity, putting centre Duncan Tout in for a nice try, which he converted, and also slotting a penalty kick. Having taken all the extras through Anscombe, Dorking led 21-10 at the break.
The game remained evenly balanced but the Dorking forwards eventually got on top. A steady stream of possession resulted in tries for Will Scholes and the ever present winger Toby Macrae to go over in the corner to keep up his remarkable try scoring record this season. TJs kept themselves in the game with a couple of White converted tries from Duncan Tout and Luke Talbot. Dorking however turned up the pressure in the last 20 mins and 3 further penalty kicks from Henry Anscombe pushed the home team clear to win 44-24, and take the 5pts,.
Overall a comfortable win, and Dorking now head into the Easter break with 2 matches to play. First up – away to bottom of the table Westcliff RFC on the 15th April and the last match of the season on 22nd April, home to confirmed Champions Blackheath FC – it should be a cracker!!
Director of Rugby Armand had the following comments:
“It was a great result for us today. We really took some energy from that last min defeat earlier in the season, as we knew we did not play too well that day.
I personally loved the enjoyment on everyone’s faces today and the fact that we went out there and expressed ourselves in a controlled manor. It is very easy to go and try different things, but we have a solid foundation and understanding of what we need to do, earning those special moments by doing the basics well.
You would never of said it’s the 10th game in the row for us, so lots of credit to the players, medical and conditioning staff for managing the bodies to this point.
We train again Tuesday, then players will have 1 week off before the last push.”
Dorking team
Powell, Ellis, Bristow, Howarth, Scholes, Norwood, Dalton , Osborne, Jackson, Cowell, McRae, Anscombe, Jeffrey, Mosley, MacDonald.
Replacements: Catton, Sheldrake, King, Grant, Ramsden
Referee: Simon Waite
Attendance: 560
