Dover U16s (31) v (0) Thanet U16s
Played on 13/01/2008
Dovers' u16 side returned to action almost a month after their last
match, winning in the final of the east Kent cup, and were spurred
on by enthusiastic support which included 1st XV coach Graham Tonks
who must be commended for braving the elements on a very windy morning.
The young sharks started brightly pushing the opposition back deep
into their own half with good strong drives from Hubbard, Bradbury
and Rix in particular. The sharpness and decision making were rusty
as a result of the long xmas lay off which is the only reason Dover
failed to score in the opening ten minutes. After a number of very
close efforts at their line the home team were sparked into life and
showed it was not going to be easy for Dover with there number 8 and
centres punching holes in Dover's defence. Indeed it was only thanks
to a thundering tackle from winger Ross Keane that prevented Canterbury
from opening the scoring. As the half wore on Dover started to assert
themselves, especially in the pack where rucks and mauls were dominated
providing the backs with a good platform to make inroads into the opposition.
The last ten minutes of the first half saw Dover camped in the Canterbury
22 launching wave after wave of attacks on the canterbury line, which
to their credit held out very well. Good work from Beresford and Phillips
sent Yarrow through a hole and he did well to side-step the fullback
and crash through the cover for what should have been the first try
but the referee was out of position and failed to see the grounding
of the ball. On the stroke of half time however, Dovers' effort was
rewarded when they crashed over wide out after a good rolling maul
by the forwards. Phillips narrowly missed the kick from the touch line.
Half time 5-0 Dover. Dover kicked off the second half and immediately
put canterbury on the back foot with an awesome display of rucking.
Canterbury had the ball but they were being driven back by the ferocity
of the Dover sides rucking for which the Annakie twins and Sam Ward
are worthy of particular mention. This led to the Canterbury no.10
to attempt a hurried clearance that ever impressive Open side Josh
Coughlan was able to charge down and he himself was quickest to the
loose ball for the score, to which phillips added the conversion 12-0.
After a quiet first half bulldozing fullback Jamie Capon introduced
himself to the opposition with 2 or 3 typically rampaging runs that
saw him run through 3 or 4 canterbury players each time, and it was
from his good work that flanker Ward was able to break down the blind
side and break 2 tackles himself to reach the line and score. phillips
again got the kick to make it 19-0. Dover then showed how good their
squad is with the introduction of the substitues who kept up the pressure
on a canterbury side finding it difficult to deal with Dovers domination
all over the park. When canterbury did threaten their attacks were
snuffed out by good tackling from Stott, Foggarty and especially Ben
Hewer who saw little ball due to the conditions, but who was solid
in defence making key tackles on three occasions. Dover's forwards
were now running the ball from all angles which is where they are at
their best and Hayden Annakie was next on the score sheet after a powerful
run saw him smash his way to the line. 24-0.
The pressure was kept on after a team re-shuffle that saw Rix move
from No.8 to Centre and Yarrow return to the fray on the wing, but
it was the forwards who stole the show with a series of pick and goes
and a driving maul resulting in prop Nick Keen touching down to cap
a great spell by the forwards, Phillips added the extras to finish
the scoring for the day. 31-0 at full time. Man of the match this week
goes to Nathan Annakie who was tremendous all round the park but who
was particullarly dominant in the lineout. This was a good solid start
to the second half of the season by the lads who have still only conceded
7 points all season, well done boys!!
Team: Hubbard, Stott, Bradbury, Annakie x2, Merrit, Rix, Coughlan,
Beresford, Phillips, Wheeler, Norris, Foggarty, Clarke, Capon. Subs:
Yarrow, Ward, Ross, Hewer.
Reported by Daniel Gill
