Under 12s, Kent Midi Festival
Sunday 26 March 2007
Hosted by Folkestone RFC, a total of 38 teams from all over the County descended on the town to contest in the 2007 competition.
In the first round, the young Sharks drew a strong group comprising of Cranbrook, Deal & Bettshanger and Sidcup. Their first match against Cranbrook started at a furious pace with both sides displaying commitment in attack, but the “Brooks” secured the lead at the interval by a single try to nil. The second period was again played at pace, but Dover where unable to convert their pressure into points. Cranbrook scored their second try just before the final whistle, the Sharks losing by 2 tries to nil.
Dover’s second match was against local rivals Deal and Betts. The Sharks looked the sharper of the two sides and scored their first try from some good passing moves taking them into the second half a try up. Deal and Betts came back strongly but the Dover defence held. A long kick from the Sharks towards their opposition’s try line resulted in a lineout which Dover won against the head, with the forwards going over to register their second try. The match ended with Dover as victors by 2 tries to nil.
In the final group match, West Kent opponents Sidcup dominated in the first half scoring two tries but Dover regrouped, scoring an excellent breakaway try just before the half-time whistle. In the second half honours ended even with neither side managing to break through hotly contested defensive lines. A Sidcup victory by 2 tries to 1.
Dover went through to Bowl quarterfinals, the knock out phase of the competition drawing Folkestone. After a long delay, the match finally got underway with home side looking fired up and hungry for victory. The Sharks were slow to get off their starting blocks and conceded 3 tries in quick succession. In the second period Dover woke up and started to show their potential, putting together some good phases of set piece play and confident passing. This rejuvenation was rewarded by a well-deserved Dover try. The final minutes of the half were played close to a determined Folkestone’s try line but the pressure was not converted into points. The result, a win for Folkestone by 3 tries to Dover’s 1.
Whilst the team did not come way with any silverware, the dedicated army of Dover supporters enjoyed an enthusiastic and encouraging performance from their young charges against some strong opposition.
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
