Dover 4th XV (17) v (12)THANET V XV
(East Kent League 3) 24.02.07
After the Sharks had a week off last week, they took to the field
in good spirits especially with a great turn out and the return of
some familiar faces.
The game didn’t start too well with indecision, and poor talking
leading to an early score by Thanet before the Sharks had even settled
in. That however is the only bad thing I have to say about this Sharks
performance as from then on in it was a great game of rugby to watch. ‘Tommy
two-tries’ Dean retired early on in the game and was replaced
by young Alfie Ross, who at only 17 made his senior club debut and
what a debut it was as he showed he wasn’t scared to tackle any
of the more ‘Veteran’ Thanet players. The Sharks pack was
proving tough for the visitors, with hooker Brad Rebbeck, back after
an absence of 3 years taking scrum after scrum against the head. It
wasn’t long before Dover levelled the score with No8 Paddy McAdam
the first to make it over the line. There followed some great passages
of play and Kane Mercer, who was having great joy disrupting his opposite
number, was providing plenty of ball to the backs. The formidable duo
of Chris Bowman and Mike Sampson worked well together with great handling
throughout the backs and just before half time it was Sampson who made
it over the try line with Bowman following up with the conversion.
The second half was as thrilling as the first. Dover kept up the high
tempo and were playing as a whole team for the first time this season
much to the spectators delight. Great driving play from the Sharks
pack, and in particular flanker Dave Pellett, saw Dover camped on the
visitors try line for what seemed like an eternity but even after punching
through the wanderers defence the ref deemed the ball to have been
held up over the line. Steve Golden, another 17 year making his senior
club debut old, joined the field, replacing centre Chris Atkin and
made a great impression. Dover were firing on all cylinders now and
flanker Jason Wall, who had been all over ball made it over the line
for a much deserved try. Thanet who had played a great sporting game
of rugby in a hard fought match were rewarded with a consolation try
and conversion but it wasn’t enough. Final score Dover 4ths 17 – Thanet
5ths 12.
Team: TANNER, REBBECK, REVITT, SHRUB, CLEWLOW, PELLETT, WALL,
McADAM, MERCER, BOWMAN, DEAN, ATKINS, SAMPSON, SPEAKMAN, PRESCOTT,
WHYTE, ROSS, GOLDEN
reported by Richard Hover
