Dover 4th XV (5) v (42) Canterbury V XV
Played at Dover 20/01/2007 (EK3 LEAGUE)
It was a disappointing week for the 4th team Sharks with last minute changes made to the team just hours before kick off. Yet again the Sharks were dominated by a much heavier and experienced pack, and it didn’t take long for the visitors to get on the scoreboard with a converted try in the first few minutes. It was hard for injured skipper Hover to watch as the visitors racked up 35 points against his side before the half time whistle. But wasn’t all bad viewing and credited should be given to development squad flanker Rix who just couldn’t quite make it over the try line despite side-stepping his way through Canterbury’s 22-yard area.
However, it seemed that a different Sharks team took to the field
for the second half. Knowing that they were out gunned in the pack,
the
Sharks made more ball available for the backs who applied constant
pressure to the visitors defence. It was however No8 Yarnell in his
first match back from a long injury who crashed over the try line
for Dover’s only points.
This lifted the Sharks spirits but even
with great runs from Sampson and the lightning fast legs of Porter
they just could get over the try line again. Canterbury added insult
to injury with a final unconverted try and a cheeky drop goal winning
42-5. Unfortunately this report cannot do the team justice as ALL
players made individual performances which they should be proud of.
Next week
the team travels to Whitstable for the second leg of the East Kent
Cup Plate in which they lead by 3 points.
Team: McKENZIE, CLARKE, RAYNER, CLUELOW, McADAM, RIX, COLE, YARNELL, R. GAUGHRAN, BOWMAN, MUNNS, SAMPSON, ATKINS, SPEAKMAN, IRELAND, PORTER, M. GAUGHRAN
reported by Richard Hover
