Deal and Betteshanger (9) v (25) Dover 1st XV
With both sides suffering from injuries and abstractions this contest
was evenly matched for a good hard local derby. The two clubs are currently
neck and neck in the league and there is little between them although
the Lions might have had the advantage as they were on home soil and
secondly that Dover have not beaten them for some10 years or so. It
was important for Dover to end this run and remove the ‘monkey’ from
their back, which would in turn provide them with the confidence they
need when they meet their rivals in the league, twice before the Christmas
break.
Dover started well and placed immediate pressure on the Lions and their
efforts were rewarded early on when Martyn Beaumont slotted a penalty.
The celebrations were short lived when following a bit of hanky panky
Ricky Mackintosh was binned. Dover however had some passages of useful
play and possession and the Dover forwards again took to the task,
which would prove key to the final outcome of this game. Lee Tonks’s
lines of running were causing mayhem and Dover should have done better
at times.Both sides showed great determination and the tackling and
defence on display was immense. In the last 20 minutes of the first
half Dover took their foot off the peddle, heads went down and the
Lions were on the ascendancy. Dover conspired to gift the Lions with
three penalties and Tom Best gladly accepted the offers and the Lions
showed good composure by taking a 9 -3 lead. The Lions support was
vocal and every mistake from the visitors was cheered and applauded
around the ground. Dover hadn’t showed their full potential by
any means and the picture was far from healthy at this time.
The second half again started well for the visitors. Ricky Stanley’s
pack asserted themselves and a rolling maul had the Lions in retreat.
Prop Chris Lucas was making his first full appearance for the season
and his contribution on the day was immense, particularly in open play.
On 47 minutes the forwards were camped on the host’s 5 metre
line. Dover forwards dug deep and drove forward with the Lions repelling
each ‘pick and go’ that followed. After a succession of
attempts Ben Murray passed to Beaumont who found the space to skip
round an opponent to touch down and also convert. From hereon Dover’s
confidence grew as did their organisational abilities and they were
to call the shots in the second half. The traffic however wasn’t
all one way as the Lions never sit down and the play returned to the
Dover half. Flanker Jim Byrne was superb in defence cutting down anything
that tried to pass him and his partner Buster Collins was his belligerent
self across the park all afternoon. The third member of the back row
Gus Surendorff was lapping up the day and his calming influence was
important to his junior peers. Whilst under pressure within his 22
Murray hoofed the ball a mile deep into the Lions half. Mackintosh
burst down the flank in chase. The ball came to a stop just before
the try line and in a moment of indecision the Lions full back failed
to deal with the ball and Mackintosh pounced and touched down for a
well earned try. The previously vocal home supporters had been silenced.
Beaumont converted beautifully from the sideline. The Lions territory
had now begun to turn into a colour of Oxford and Cambridge blue. Dover’s
scrummaging was immense with hooker Kirk Savage taking two against
the head and turn over ball was at a premium. It was important that
Dover’s work rate continued with the two ‘donkeys’ Dan
Robinson and Dale Tonks working tirelessly in the remaining quarter.
The pendulum had finally turned in Dover’s favour. Dover’s
discipline was also better in the second half although they felt that
a few late tackles and a spear tackle might have been dealt with differently.
However the referee Mr Harding, who officiates at a much higher level,
was clear, consistent and he controlled and handled the game particularly
well. With seven minutes or so remaining Dover again capitalised and
scored a superb worked try which again stemmed from turn over ball.
The ball was moved on the blind and another piercing run from Ed Close,
who was excellent throughout, who passed inside to Blair Charge to
touch down for his first senior score. The final nail was sunk into
the Lions coffin when Beaumont slotted another penalty to put the game
out of contention for which had been a good team performance. Dover
can now move forward to the next round of the cup and they can now
hope that the ‘monkey’ has finally been removed.
Team, Lucas, Savage, Stanley, Tonks D, Robinson, Collins, Byrne, Surendorff, Murray, Beaumont, Tonks L, Foster, Mackintosh, James, Close, Hewer, Charge, Landman.
Report by: Richard Collins
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