Dover 2nd XV (20) v (6) Thanet 3rd XV
Played on
24th February 2007
After last weeks excellent win to take them to the top of the table Dover took to the field to play last years league champions Thanet in a potential banana skin game.
Dover started like they have in recent weeks, pressuring the kick
off and loading the rucks and mauls to give themselves a foot hold
in the game, but Thanet stood firm and a good forward drive put Thanet
inside Dover’s 22. The home side remained patient however and
after turnover ball through the Dover pack in particular, Chamber,
May and Blair the ball was passed to the blind side winger, Dan James.
James beat the first defender with a clever jinking run and then outpaced
the chasing full back to score after receiving the ball from well inside
his own 22. Marsh converted to make it 7-0 in the first 2 minutes.
Thanet kicked off and the ball was gathered well by Cattermole who
punched up with purpose to create a gap for the support players to
exploit. Denning released the backs who passed the ball left along
the line before being brought down by the Thanet winger. The forwards
arrived in numbers to secure the ball which was then passed right to
Marsh who put man of the match Holdsworth in an inch of space to break
the gain line before passing to Captain Price and then finally to Dean
who beat the last defender to put Dover up 12-0 within 10 minutes.
Thanet again kicked off, which was fielded well by the Sharks pack
drove forward to the halfway line, where Thanet went offside in a desperate
attempt to prevent Dover’s brilliant attacking game. The penalty
was taken by Marsh with the boot from just inside the Thanet half successfully
to increase the score to 15-0. Thanet came back at Dover and some poor
discipline in the rucks lead to Dover conceding a penalty and 3 points.
This took the half time score to 15-3 to the home side.
Dover went back to the field a looked determined to wrap the game up
but Thanet were not ready to concede the game yet and some good attacking
from the visitors brought out some brilliant defensive work from Price,
man of the match Blair, playing out of position, and Morton. The ball
was recycled well by Thanet who really applied the pressure. This was
rewarded by a penalty kicked by the fly half to make it 15-6. Captain
Price had a few inspirational words for his team who returned fired
up and produced a great score, set up Price’s quick hands. The
ball was won well at the line out by Dover through Jacobs which was
then converted into quick attacking ball for the backs. Price received
the ball, making good ground and then drew his opposite man before
passing into the hands of a rampant Holdsworth who had the simple task
of running over for a well earnt try. With the score at 20-6, the two
teams played out an evenly contested final 10 minutes displaying some
excellent defensive and attacking rugby.
The team: Foster, Chambers, Hewer, Jacobs, Cattermole, May, Liddon,
Blair, Denning, Marsh, Holdsworth, James, Morton, Dean, Rix, Kamara
and Gill.
Next week Dover travel away to Canterbury where a win would put one
hand on the league title.
Report by Paul Cairns
