Dover 2nd XV (33) v (12) Folkestone 2nd XV
Played on 6th January 2007
With the rain pouring and the wind blowing hard the second half of
the season began for Dover with a tough home fixture to local rivals
Folkestone.
Folkestone began brightly driving the home side back onto their 5 m
line from the kick off. This pressure was short lived as turn over
ball gave a good attacking platform for the forwards to capitalize
with. Dover broke quickly and Folkestone gave away a penalty to stop
the attack from turning into an early try. Marsh stepped up and in
typical style slotted home the first points of the day. 3-0.
Folkestone came back at Dover for a brief period before Denning sniped
well around the ruck, passing to a charging Howard who found himself
with room to run into before being brought down. Gill then gathered
the ball and went off on an aggressive charge of his own.
Dover’s new converted hooker Craig May through well throughout
the game to a salmon like Matcham at 4 in the line. This was good ball
for Dover all game. The lineout gave the Sharks a good platform to
attack from and eventually the pressure showed again with Folkestone
going offside trying to intercept a pass. Marsh again added the points,
Dover 6 – 0.
Folkestone showed a lot of heart and a good break from there fly-half
nearly led to a try before being stopped well by Blair and Frogger.
The visitors kept on attacking but strong tackles from Landman and
Liddon on charging forwards halted the attack. Eventually the pressure
showed, with Dover’s defence now stretched the Folkestone back
scored a well earned try, which was converted. 6 – 7.
Dover bounced back through a spirited charge from Hewer who broke the
line well, supported by Gill. Folkestone killed the ball in the tackle
area and another penalty was awarded which Marsh duly slotted home
to make the half time score 9 – 7.
Captain Price rallied the team at half time wanting more from them
and to kill the game off quickly, which seemed to have worked as Dover
began the second half on top pinning the visitors on their 5m line.
A couple of errors from Dover gave Folkestone’s speedy winger
the opportunity to race the length of the pitch for a try against the
run of play, which he took. 9-12. Dover bounced back quickly with good
tactical kicking from Price giving the wingers Frogger and Mo something
to work with. Still on the attack and hungry for more points Marsh
chipped the ball over the defensive line. The Folkestone winger made
an error and spilt the ball on his own 5m line for Marsh to gather
up and score a good solo effort. Marsh then converted his own try.
16-12.
Marsh added a further 3 points with the boot after a good 40m break
from Dean led to Folkestone illegally trying to win the ball.19-12.
Folkestone tried to mount a comeback but excellent work at the lineout
from Matcham, Cattermole and Howard secured the ball well. The forwards
drove on from the lineout gaining 15m in the maul before Man of the
Match, Matcham peeled off and ran through the opposition Fly Half to
score 5 points. Marsh converted 26-12.
Dover returned into the Folkestone 22 again winning good lineout ball
and driving on hard for the line. Hewer this time charged bull like
for the line ripping a massive hole between the Stone’s 9 and
10 to score a well worked try. Marsh added the extras to give a 100%
kicking record and take his tally to 23 points for the game.
Dover Team – Cattermole, May, Hewer, Liddon, Gill, Landman,
Matcham, Howard, Denning, Marsh, Price, Blair, Frogger, Mo, Dean, Rix
and Jacobs.
Report by Paul Cairns
