Cobham 1st XV (39) V (18) Dover 1st XV
Played 11th October 2008
There can be no excuses for the visitors following their visit to Cobham. Dover met a well drilled and organised team who tested them throughout particularly up front in the scrum and in the breakdown areas of play. Dover always knew that the standard of rugby in this league would be a colossal step forward and the hosts certainly provided the reason why.
In glorious sunshine Dover started quite briskly and after being 3 points
down from a penalty Ben Murray broke from a scrum and put centre Jamie
Townley
into
space sprinting 50 metres before passing inside to full back Stuart Dean
to
touch down for a superb try. 
From hereon the hosts took control of the game
and Dover remained on the back foot for the remainder of the match. Cobham’s
full back slotted two further penalties before scoring their first try, which
in fact emanated from Dover’s lost set piece. The extras were added. 
Dover did respond and a piece of well worked play from a lineout saw the
ball spread wide and only some stout defence from the hosts stopped the try
with
a penalty being awarded and Martyn Beaumont easily slotting the kick. The
pressure from Cobham continued and the half ended with the home side scoring
their second
try from a penalty 5 metres out.
Dover had the advantage of the slope in the second half however Cobham’s
pressure up front starved Dover of possession and a further penalty was
added only minutes into the half. 
The visitors in part fought bravely and Beaumont
added another penalty but that was short lived when a further 3 points was
added by the hosts. This was a damage limitation exercise at this point and
frustration was setting in. 
Cobham
scored a further two tries to rub salt in the wound. The second came from
the centre’s pirouette outwitting even
his own players. Dover didn’t capitulate and they scored at the final
death with the conversion added to show a healthier score line. Dover had
failed to take any territorial advantage offered to them by the slope and
on the day
they were well beaten. Only a handful of players had performed to their
expectation, one of whom was seventeen year old winger Dale Mercer who
made his league
debut and he performed admirably in difficult circumstances. His defence
was solid
and he will be a useful addition to the squad for the campaign that lies
ahead. This is another learning curve for the team who will need to continue
to broaden
their knowledge and skills to compete at this level.
Dover faces Westcliffe from Southend at Crabble in the EDF trophy next Saturday
and an improved performance is expected.
Team; Lucas, Moore, Hewer, Robinson, Tonks D, McNamara, Foster, Collins, Murray, Beaumont, Tonks L, Townley, Mackintosh, Mercer, Dean, Gill, Charge, Lacey.
Report by: Richard Collins
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