Dover 2nd XV (53) – (10) Deal/Betteshanger 2nd XV
Played on
3rd February 2007
This week Dover took on local rivals Deal/Betteshanger Lions in an
East Kent 1 League match at Crabble. 
The Lions started the game well, kicking off and fielding the drop
kick. From this they made good ground but some solid defence from the
Dover back row of Matcham, Landman and Howard prevented Dover from
conceding early points. 
This early pressure spurred the home side on who came back with a series of attacks. The first of which lead to an excellent try for Dover, through Blair who eluded three defenders with some fancy footwork to touch down under the posts and leave Marsh an easy kick to add two more points.
The lions quickly replied with a penalty kick after Dover went off-side
to reduce the deficit. The Sharks bounced straight back with another
try scored by second row Dan Gill after some excellent forward play
from Cattermole and May around the ruck area, Marsh duly converted.
Dover kept up the momentum and added a further seven points when the
new lad Henson scored his first try for the second team, finishing
off an excellent backs move, created by Marsh, Blair and Price. Deal
returned with a spirited comeback, which culminated in them scoring
a try through their backs, taking advantage of a two man overlap, which
was converted.
Dover, who received great supported from the touchline by the first
team, showed good character to bounce back and prevent Deal from adding
anymore points, through good, patient defensive work lead by Matcham,
Jacobs and Man of the Match, James Morton.
When Dover stole possession in midfield, Marsh from fly half saw an
opening behind the Deal defensive line which he kicked into and chasing
his own high ball, put pressure on the opposition full back causing
him to fumble. Marsh showed great determination in chasing the ball
down and threw himself on the ball to score a splendid solo try. This
took Dover into half time with the score at 26 – 10 ahead.
The Sharks continued the momentum into the second half, this positive
attitude was rewarded almost immediately when Stuart Dean cut through
the Deal defence at pace to score. Deal came back once again and troubled
the Dover line on a couple of occasions, but the defence stood firm
and denied the visitors another score.
The sharks pack quickly turning defence into attack with more turnover
ball, this time from the scrum. Howard picked up from eight and drove
into the 10 channel, drawing the Deal back row to assist their fly
half. The gap this left on the blind side allowed a bullish Hewer to
break through three tacklers, and showing good pace score an impressive
solo try. Marsh converted putting the match well beyond Deals reach.
Dover fielded the kick off and the pack drove on well with a series
of well worked mauls instigated by Matcham and May, which caused the
Lions to commit more players into stop the drive. Dover scrum half
Denning spun the ball to the backs to exploit a three man overlap.
Despite ageing legs Captain Price took the ball and pinned his ears
back to race for the line taking the score to 43 – 10.
Not finished there Dover wanted to reach the 50 point mark, and bought
on the fresh legs of Michael Rix and Adam. The pack once again stole
the ball in the lineout through Jacobs and their rolling maul surged
15 metres up field. The ball was then fed to Morton who took on four
of the Deal players before being brought down on the half way line,
but managed to pop the ball to an inspired Denning who seeing the overlap
Dover had created, sent the ball down the line to Rix who managed to
sidestep two defenders and outpace his opposite number to score. With
the Lions heads dropping, Howard saw an opportunity to score, just
before the end of the match. Picking up from the back of a ruck he
powered through two defenders and rounded another to score from the
Lions 22 and bring the final score Dover 53 – 10 Deal/Bettes
Lions.
With this win Dover go into their next match against Faversham at
home on the 17th Feb joint leaders with Faversham.
Report by Paul Cairns
Photos by Melanie Price
