Dover 1st XV (5) V Charlton Park (22)
Played on 25th November, 2006
Following the deduction of two points in recent weeks for an administrative error it was vital that Dover won this game to keep ahead at the top of the league. Although playing conditions were not great there can be no excuse for this error strewn performance against a strong and hungrier Charlton Park Side. Dover kicked down the slope in the first half and for the first quarter had sufficient possession to punish the visitors, who defended valiantly. Unfortunately the Sharks failed to take their opportunities and create the attacking platform that we have been used to seeing in recent years at Crabble. Lineouts were yet again problematical and Dover was punished shortly after losing a lineout when the Park inside half touched down. Dover’s problems mounted when Ben Murray was binned after a moment of madness. Credit to Dover who responded well from a scrum on their 22, Martyn Beaumont collected at the base passed to Jamie Townley on the blind who fed Ricky Mackintosh to sprint and waltz round the full back to even the score.
From hereon Dover were on the back-foot throughout the remainder of the game. It would be fair to say that there were a number of absurd decisions from an official who seemed to enjoy hearing his own voice rather than maintain a consistency in his decision making; but there again the opposition were also of a similar view. At the interval Dover lost Buster Collins through injury and his ball carrying and aggression would be missed in the uphill battle that followed.
Park took the game straight to Dover in the second half and their inside half was to throw more dummies than Burtons window, the majority of which were accepted by the Sharks. The defence, normally one of Dover ’s strengths was woeful at times and Park increased the score during a lapse of concentration. Park had their hooker binned and Dover were still unable to make a mark on this opportunity. The confidence was low and a number of useful passages of play were broken down. A further try from Park followed with a conversion and a penalty a few minutes later and the visitors deservedly took the two points.
Sharks coach Graham Tonks commented, ‘Our performance today is probably the worst since I took over. We reached a new level against Hove two weeks ago and hit rock bottom today. Our attitudes, commitment and passion were lacking and there wasn’t any consistency in our game. Some of my players need to carefully look at themselves after that display. We need to regroup, put this behind us and make sure we win our remaining two matches before Christmas’.
Team; Lucas, Savage, Stanley, Tonks D, Lacey, Emmerson, Matcham, Collins, Murray, Beaumont Martyn, Tonks L, Townley, Beaumont Mark, Mackintosh, Close, Gill,May, Wallace.
Posted on 30th November 2006
