Dover 4th XV (10) v (7) WHITSTABLE III XV
Played at Dover 13/01/2007 (East Kent Cup Plate 1)
Back home at Crabble, after what seemed like an eternity playing away
fixtures, the Sharks were determined to play a winning game of rugby.
After being knocked out in the first round of the Cup, this was the
first of two legs for the challenge of the Plate.
It took a while for both teams to find their feet. The Whitstable pack
were soon dominating in the scrum but around the park it was the Sharks
who had the upper hand, forcing the visitors to kick down field whenever
they had the ball. Dover kept the pressure on with good rucking and
mauling, and quick ball out to the backs who tried to force their way
through the Whitstable defence. After a lot of effort, Dover was rewarded
with a penalty in front of the posts, and Bowman kicked with ease.
Dover ended up back in their own half with Whitstable attacking but
a high clearance kick from Bowman bounced unluckily for two Whitstable
players both going for the ball, who collided with each other. The
bounce however favoured winger Speakman who scooped up the ball from
the halfway line and ran it in for a try under the posts. Bowman added
two more points and Dover led at the end of the first half.
The second half was as fraught as the first. Whitstable fought back
with a converted try but Dover just got more fired up. With the Sharks
more determined than ever to win this game, the pack were now gaining
ball against the head in the scrum.
Young prop Rayner, enjoying only his second senior match, was having a great second half. Despite the continued attack on Whitstable five-yard line, the score remained 10 – 7 in Dover’s favour for the final whistle. A great team result.
Team: MILLS, RAYNER, SHRUB, WHYTE, CLUELOW, HOVER (Capt), WALL, McADAM, BIGGS, BOWMAN, MUNNS, ATKINS, PRESCOTT, SPEAKMAN, SAMPSON, CLARKE, GAUGHRAN, DEAN, IRELAND
reported by Richard Hover
