Dover U16s (45) v (0) Folkestone U15s
Played on 04/11/2007
Dover welcomed a well organised Folkestone side to Crabble looking
to continue their unbeaten start to the season.
The two sides plunged into the game at full speed and the first ten
minutes were tense as the teams got a feel for each other.
Gradually the Dover pack began to stamp their authority on the opposition
and it was through their hard work that the first try came about, Dover
driving the Folkestone scrum back forcing their scrum half into a hurried
clearance which was charged down by man of the match Josh Coughlan,
and it was Dover’s' ever alert scrum half Beresford who reacted
quickest and touched the ball down for a converted try. Dover’s
backs were looking dangerous with ball in hand and it wasn't long before
their skill and tenacity paid off-the forwards turned defence into
attack with good work at the breakdown from the mobile front row of
Hubbard, Lewis and Sam, the backs quickly moved the ball wide to impressive
winger Sam Foggarty who sold an outrageous dummy before out running
the fullback to touch down for the second converted try. Only the tenacious
defence of Folkestone prevented further scores from Dover until just
before half time when the forwards led by captain Ben Rix, drove deep
into the opposition 22 before Hubbard burst over for an unconverted
try and a 19-0 half time lead.
After some words of encouragement from coaches Gill and May Dover started
the 2nd half at full speed and quickly extended their lead, scrum half
Beresford breaking through for his 2nd of the day. The centre partnership
of Norris and Yarrow was again wall like in defence and excelled in
attack and it was their good work and the impeccable vision of Greg
at fly-half that combined to put bulldozing full-back Jamie Capon over
in the corner for a well worked try and a 33-0 lead.
Folkestone rallied as Dovers' concentration dropped and only the impressive
cover tackling of Dover’s twin dynamo's Nathan and Hayden Annakie
prevented Folkestone scoring on a number of occasions. Dover slowly
began to re-assert themselves led by hard hitting winger Sam Wheeler
and no.8 Nathan who was a nuisance in attack and defence. Dover then
called on a talented bench to carry the fight to Folkestone, Liam,
Ross and solid debutant Ben Hewer adding even more pace and panache
to Dover’s' backline and Mikey Merrit, Sam Ward and Trevor added
pace and grunt to the pack. The substitutes had the desired effect
and it wasn't long before Hubbard had crashed over for his second of
the day taking the score to 38-0. Dover kept the pressure on with some
impressive tactical kicking from No.10 Greg, and it was he who put
the finishing touch to arguably the best move of the day in which nearly
every dover player had a hand. the forwards chased Greg's long kick
and did well to turn the ball over through Coughlan. the forwards battered
the blindside with 3 quick phases before Liam released the backs. Norris
and Yarrow moved the ball quickly to winger Foggarty who beat two men
before making a neat pass to Greg for the final score of the game and
a 45-0 win. The whole team deserve a great deal of credit for this
performance and for scoring 130 points in their first three games of
the season whilst conceding 0. Dover travel to local rivals Deal/Betteshanger
next week for what will be their toughest test so far.
Reported by Daniel Gill
