Whitstable U13s V Dover U13s
Played Sunday 25th March 2007
They're FINALLY getting there and coming of age. It's no secret that
Dover
U13's have had a torrid season right from the start, struggling with
numbers and continuity of attendance during training sessions. On sunday
the team travelled to Whitstable to play what was expected to be a
difficult game, having been heavily defeated at the start of the season
by
a very well drilled Whitstable team. For the first time all season
Dover
fielded a squad of sixteen lads who were very much up for the game.
The
weather was fine and the pitch in good shape.
Woody the coach spoke to Paul Earnshaw of Whitstable and advised that
they might not need to field their strongest side in order to give the
Dover lads a chance; this in reality didn't happen and the Dover team took
their positions ready.
What an incredible shock was given to the Whitstable side who were
expecting a total whitewash again. Not only did Dover match them man for
man in every position, but Dover stopped them dead in their tracks with
amazing text book tackling and moments of passing brilliance only to be
halted themselves short of the try line. Only experience of playing as a
team prevented Dover from capitallising on their performances. Eventually
tries were conceded by Dover, but only by 17 points going into the second
half.
In the second half all were amazed including the Whitstable lads at
how ferocious the Dover sharks kept up the pressure where unfortunately to
say, fitness levels finally taking its toll. At all times team spirit never
wavered as before and the spectators were treated to moments of team and
individual brilliance. The Dover coach will now take great heart from this
game knowing that these young Dover men are going to make a formidable side
of the future providing all work hard on training sesssions and fitness
levels. Summer training will be a must especially for fitness levels.
Finally, it would be unfair to mention individuals after the game only to
say that every single player deserves credit despite the outcome against
Whitstable who will certainly regard Dover as no easy push over next
season, with the best accolades coming from the Whitstable coaches saying
they regard this team with new respect, WELL DONE DOVER U13's you're
getting there, keep training !
report by Woody
