DORKING WOMEN V DIDCOT VALKYRIES
SUNDAY 17 MARCH 2024
Undaunted by the closure of the M25, the Dorking Women travelled to Didcot for the return match v Didcot Valkyries.
Didcot kicked off and some lovely, structured phases of play from Dorking saw Rachel Higgins and Dara Wilson make it to 5 metres out. A knock on led to the first Didcot scrum, followed by 15 to 20 minutes of frenetic play by both teams. Great line speed, strong tackling by Ellie Richards, Naomi Brown and Wilson, and good scrummaging got Dorking the ball on several occasions, but Didcot retained most of the possession.
A series of penalties kept Dorking on the back foot and Didcot got up into our half before finally being brought down by Marcie Wood. A knock on set up a strong Dorking scrum and good hands saw the ball move out to Jemma Wood, who set off down the pitch to score under the posts against the run of play. Higgins slotted the conversion.
The try settled the Dorking players. When the ball didn’t go 10 metres at the restart, Dorking took the scrum on the halfway line. The ball went out down the line to Lexie Potgieter, who dodged past several defenders before passing the ball via Wilson and Brown to Higgins who scored. Rowan Shiers slotted the conversion.
A good run by Tamzin Kerslake from the restart but eventually the ball was turned over by Didcot who worked their way up to our 22. Again, strong tackling from Kate Harvey, Richards, Brown and Wilson kept them at bay. A few minutes later, good pressure from Dorking resulted in a scrum on the centre line. The ball came out to Shiers, who made good ground, to Amelia Corbett, to Leah Garel to Nat Rudley and then J Wood, who dodged her way through the Didcot throng to score. Conversion by Higgins.
Dorking took the ball from the restart with Didcot applying good pressure. A loose ball was kicked through by Higgins, who chased it up and scored again. Conversion missed. Good runs from Brown and Potgieter from the restart gave us ground before conceding a penalty for holding on. Didcot took it quickly and got past us to reach our 22 before being brought down, but Dorking shifted the ball quickly to J Wood who took off again to score. Conversion good by Higgins.
A mistake at the restart allowed Didcot to again get close to our 22 but strong rucking got possession back and the forwards made good ground. Didcot got the ball again, but Dorking won the next two scrums against the head. The ball went out to Higgins, was recycled to Garel, who did a lovely one-handed pop back to Potgieter, who ran through, passed it to J Wood who ran in to score. A great team try. Conversion by Higgins.
Some strong work by the forwards including Erin Taylour and Lynn Tickner at the restart but some rather loose ball slowed the Dorking attack slightly. Eventually the ball went to Harvey, who made a great run before popping the ball out of a tackle to Potgieter, who sprinted through defenders to score. Conversion again by Higgins, so 0 – 47 at the half time break.
Good pressure from Dorking at the restart secured the ball and strong runs from Pitt-Payne and Harvey took us up the pitch but Didcot stole the ball and attacked again. The ball changed hands several times until we had the first line out of the match. Brown won the lineout, but Didcot recovered the ball again from an ensuing tackle.
A further passage of play saw us awarded two penalties, which were taken quickly and resulted in a second line out on their 5-metre line. Unfortunately, Didcot took possession and with a penalty against Dorking, kicked to touch. A third line out in 5 minutes saw Didcot attack again, and it took heroic tackling from Higgins, Potgieter and Wilson to stop their momentum. They got back into our 22 but eventually the ball was turned over and Oyku Caunt and Erin Courtman made good runs before the ball was knocked on. Strong pressure at the ensuing scrum and maul resulted in a Dorking penalty, which was taken as a scrum, and the ball went through the hands to J Wood, who scored again. Conversion wide.
Good runs by Caunt and Hannah McAlpine from the restart but penalties saw Didcot take possession and kick for a couple of line outs near our try line. They looked threatening until Brown turned it over and Wilson took a quick penalty. Pitt-Payne stormed down the pitch, brushing off defenders as she went, followed by a phase of amazingly quick support play by Potgieter, Brown, Kerslake, Wilson, H Cater, Courtman, Higgins etc to score again. Conversion just short.
Some confusion at the restart and Didcot again pressurised our defence. A turnover by Brown saw the ball passed through Dorking hands to the hard-running Potgieter, who popped it to M Wood, who was high tackled. Wilson pounced on the ball however and scored in the corner. Conversion missed. 0 – 62.
Didcot were not giving up; strong tackling secured them possession and they attacked yet again. A quick penalty saw them break through, leaving J Wood to make a try-saving tackle, and for Didcot to pick and go at the ruck. Awesome defence by Dorking held them out, the ball was turned over and Higgins kicked to clear it. Dorking raced down the pitch to tackle the Didcot player and with no-one in the back field, Wilson scooped up the ball and ran down the middle to score. Conversion missed and final score 0 – 67 to Dorking.
A great game for the Dorking women who remain unbeaten in the League, but a testament too to the tenacity and spirt of the Didcot Valkyries, who refused to give up and fought until the final whistle.
Forward of the Match – Tamzin Kerslake. Back of the Match – Marcie Wood. Player of the Match – Lexie Potgieter.
