Dover U12s v Whitstable & Sheppey
Sunday 25 February 2007
The Sharks under 12s entertained teams from Whitstable and Sheppey on a rain soaked pitch at Crabble on Sunday.
Dover (0) v (5) Whitstable
The first game against Whitstable got off to a very competitive start with both teams attacking hard, although the muddy pitch and continual rain made it difficult for the players to put together any free flowing phases of play. Dover were pegged back close to their try line for much of the latter part of the half, but the home supporters were rewarded with an excellent display of defiant defence taking both teams into the second period without score. Again no quarter was given by either side and in the last minute just when a nil all score looked to be the only possible outcome, Dover were judged to have made a high tackle within a few metres of their try line conceding a penalty. Whitstable capitalised on this position and just managed to get the ball down for the only try of the match to win 5 points to nil.
Dover (15) v (5) Sheppey
Stung by their close defeat, the young Sharks plucked themselves up for their second match against Sheppey, immediately taking the initiative to score an early try against the islanders. Again the home side imposed themselves on a creaking Sheppey defence to score a second try, going into the second half 10 points to nil up. During the second period both sides struggled with set piece play and were unable to achieve any fluidity hampered by what appeared to a playing surface consisting of black porridge. The Sharks however looked the sharper of the two teams and after consistent forward pressure punched through Sheppey to register their third try. Sheppey to their credit came back strongly putting together their best period of play to score by the corner flag. The match ending with Dover as victors by 15 point to 5.
Dover Under 12s, Connor Allen, Luke Allen, Joe Bissett, Hal Bryan,
Jordan Caldwell, Thomas Clarke, Marcus Coulson, Robert Duffy, Shaun
Field, Isaac Geoghegan, Sam Gibbs, Sam Harrison, Thomas Johnstone,
Oliver Latham, James Moynan, Luke Rigden, Thomas Saunders, Oliver Thompson
and Joe Tonkin.
Reported by Chris Bryan
