Dover (39) V (27) Eastbourne
Played on 23rd September 2006
Dover started their London 4 campaign with a promising victory against
their Sussex opponents. The Sharks had two new faces making their debuts
for the 1st XV, Jimmy Byrne an open side flanker signed from Sittingbourne
and Shane Moore, home grown through the youth system as the replacement
front row.
Dover kicked up the slope in the first half and within ten minutes
had scored two scintillating tries to go 10 nil up. Adam Tolman scored
in the opening three minutes with an excellent move by the threes.
Ricky Mackintosh touched down for the second again from quick hands
across the park. Unfortunately Byrne’s debut finished at this
point following an injury to his knee. His replacement was former club
skipper and veteran John ‘Hudson’ Mercer who was drafted
in making another 1st team appearance in his 24th year at the club.
Unfortunately the flurry didn’t continue and Bourne fought hard
to get back in the game kicking a penalty in the 34th minute to narrow
the score. Dover lost their way a little and started to lose possession
which created a few unnecessary problems. However they stuck to their
task and from a scrum spread the ball wide FOR Ed Close to join the
line and touch down. Tolman duly converted. With only a minute left
and straight from the kick Dover won possession and from a suicidal
pass Eastbourne gathered the ball and crashed over to score and put
them right back in the game. An easy conversion followed.
Eastbourne worked hard in the first 20 minutes of the half. With a
few nerves and a lack of confidence Dover initially struggled. Bourne
scored a converted try and kicked a penalty to take the lead. There
was some valiant defence and although the heat was taking its toll
the Sharks never lost the spirit to win this fixture. Moore took the
field having to play on the flank and his contribution was immense.
Chris Lacey was the pick of the forwards with a sound performance,
supported well by Dan Robinson, his partner in the second row. In the
27th minute Ben Murray collected the ball and a perfect kick saw the
flying winger Ricky Mackintosh outpace Bourne’s defence to touch
down. Martyn Beaumont slotted the conversion beautifully. Once again
Bourne came back and within a few minutes had again taken the lead
from a penalty try. Dover responded well and from heavy pressure was
awarded a penalty that Beaumont kicked. This was nerve gripping affair
and in the last five minutes of normal time plus eight for injury Dover
finished the game as they had started. They created two superb opportunities
that saw JamieTownley touch down followed by the skipper Beaumont who
broke on the blind to score and convert.
Graham Tonks was delighted with the win; ‘We dug deep and showed
a lot of heart and soul. We lost too much possession which was disappointing
and something we can work on. The tries were simply brilliant and showed
just what we are capable of. I’m very pleased with the two points
and both teams should be congratulated for their efforts’.
Team – Chris Lucas, Kirk Savage, Rick Stanley, Chris Lacey,
Dan Robinson, Matt Emmerson, Jim Byrne, Kev Kimble, Ben Murray, Martyn
Beaumont, Lee Tonks, Jamie Townley, Adam Tolman, Rick Mackintosh, Ed
Close, John Mercer, Shane Moore and Mark Beaumont.
Report by: Richard Collins
Posted 06/03/2007
