Dover 1st XV (48) v (5) Old
Elthamians
Played 5th January 2008
Dover commenced the second half of the season against Old Elthamians
and it was important that any festive hangovers were well and truly
out of the players’ system. In recent years Dover have struggled
against this South London team and had lost on three previous consecutive
fixtures. With the confidence and cohesion growing in the host’s
squad in the past two months it was vital that two points were won
to sustain the pressure on high flying promotion hopefuls Gravesend.
A good crowd were present and in perfect playing conditions Dover produced
a performance of value; albeit that some of the supporters expected
more than the 43 point advantage!
The first ten minutes was an aggressive onslaught by Dover and Old
E’s were placed immediately on the back foot. 
Within five minutes
Dover’s pack had waltzed 40 metres up field in a rolling maul
with Dale Tonks touching down. 
The
second score followed with Ed Close taking a quick throw on the halfway
line.
He fed the ball across the
park and openside Jon Foster delicately chipped the ball to the left
flank with Martyn Beaumont out sprinting the defence to touch down.
After the initial burst Dover lost there way for some 20 minutes or
so and E’s missed two relatively easy penalty attempts. 
Although
the fluency was a little disjointed the pressure that Ricky Stanley’s
Dover pack placed upon their opponents was immense throughout the whole
contest. Young Shane Moore was on top of his game and he destroyed
his opposite ‘old’ number with an excellent display, showing
great strength and determination. Unfortunately Dale Tonks was forced
to leave the field following an incident with Buster Collins making
his comeback from the bench after a period of injury. The forwards
display was inspirational as was that of inside half Ben Sedgwick .
He caused havoc with his opposite number and he gave a faultless performance.
Dover turned the screw and the third try was scored by winger Ricky
Mackintosh following some excellent ball handling. 
This score virtually
extinguished any real revival from Old E’s and although they
rallied by scoring a try, helped by some woeful tackling, there was
little chance of them turning this game around. The fourth try was
scored by the energetic Gus Surendorff
who was in close support for
an inside pass and he powered over the line to touch down. Beaumont
converted.
The second half started badly with hooker Kirk Savage quite rightly
shown a yellow card for a moment of madness. Although one man down
Dover’s pack still outplayed their opposition. In total five
lineouts and one scrum was taken against the head by Dover during the
game. The back row of Foster, Davison and Collins nullified anything
that was offered by the visitors and Dan Robinson was working tirelessly.
The next score was an absolute peach, a miss pass to centre Lee Tonks
saw him cut a marvellous line through the E’s midfield and Mackintosh
was in support to score in the left corner. Beaumont converted superbly
from wide. Direct from kick off Surendorff collected the ball and was
taken out the game with an illegal challenge from behind. Surendorff
was helped from the field with a similar injury as to that sustained
by Dale Tonks earlier. Dover were awarded a penalty only and the crowd
were somewhat mystified as to the action taken and of the consistency
in the decision making of the official. Greg Hewer took over from the
injured player and the hard working Jamie Phillips was replaced by
Mark Beaumont who was returning to action after many months away from
the game and his return is welcomed by all at Crabble. Although Dover’s
penalty count was a little disappointing they never lost their focus.
The pressure that was placed upon E’s midfield was immense and
although they tried to use the ball the hustling by Dover, in particular
the centre partnership of Tonks and Jamie Townley, put them completely
off their stride. The next score came from some desperate handling
from one of the E’s second row and his mistake was pounced on
by Foster who touched down. 
The icing on the cake followed shortly
before the end of the game when further holes in the E’s midfield
were found and Martyn Beaumont ran half the length of the field to
touch down and convert.
Dover remain in second place in the league three points behind leaders
Gravesend and three points in front of third place Lordswood.
Dover meet Norfolk side Diss next week at Crabble in the next round
of the EDF Cup – kick off 1400 hours.
Team ; Moore, Savage, Stanley, Tonks D, Robinson, Davison, Foster, Surendorff, Sedgwick, Beaumont , Tonks, Townley, Mackintosh, Phillips, Close,Hewer, Collins, Beaumont.
Report by: Richard Collins
pictures by Ian Shilson
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