Thanet Wanderers 1st XV (13) v (20) Dover 1st XV
Played 20th December 2008
Dover travelled to Thanet with the knowledge that the hosts would be hoping to overcome their recent run of drubbings in this local derby. They certainly responded in a positive manner and Dover left their best to the final 10 minutes of the game, which was disappointing in this nail-biting finish. However Dover will be pleased with the two points and the double over Thanet, which they have waited a good number of years for. Jack Tomlinson Dover’s new signing from Canterbury made his debut at hooker and he will be a superb addition to the squad joining his pal Mick O’Donnell, both having previously played at Deal Lions and Canterbury.
On the whole the contest wasn’t in any way an advert for the game and much of blame must lie at the hands of an official who lacked consistency in his decision making causing frustration both on and off the field and thus any real creativity from either team was diminished with numerous penalties from both sides stopping the flow of the game.
The first half saw the visitors playing up the slope and against the wind and Thanet immediately applied pressure with Dover having to dig deep to avert a score and Thanet looking the better in the early exchanges. The hosts took the lead from a penalty after 19 minutes, with Tomlinson being given 10 minutes in the bin. Dover’s response was superb with Thanet failing to capitalise on the absence and there were several brilliant clean breaks 
from Ricky Mackintosh and Martyn Beaumont in particular. The visitors were finally rewarded with a try when Blair Charge kicked wide and Jon Foster grounded the ball with the full back hopelessly lost. 
Beaumont added the extras. Dover again moved forward and were awarded a penalty which Beaumont slotted. Dover then lost Ricky Stanley for 10 minutes for retaliating in the final few minutes of the half and the penalty was kicked by Thanet to reduce the deficit.
The second half should have been dominated by Dover but the foundation to set the ball was a problem and with Thanet’s spoiling tactics and tactical kicking they in fact had the better of the third quarter. Their left wing scored a great try moving from left to right and waltzing through a number of challenges with Beaumont seething that he had been held and was unable to make his tackle. The conversion was added. Thanet kicked well to the corners and the visitors were clearly rattled. The vocal partisan supporters were cheering and gloating at the error strewn display of Dover, who were making untold basic errors. Dover battled hard and in the last 10 minutes a sustained period of pressure was placed upon the Wanderers. Numerous infringements from Thanet went with a warning and on the 77th minute a front row forward was eventually binned when the red mist descended. Ben Murray took a quick tap catching Thanet on the hop and run some 55 metres before being stopped. 
Dover’s back row were in support and the ball was fed through the backs for 
Beaumont to score a cracking try and kick the conversion to effectively ruin the home fans day and dashing their high hopes. Dover’s last score was from a penalty on the left flank by the club house which was hammered home and the final whistle was blown with the visiting supporters jubilant. This was a hard fought contest and Dover should consider themselves somewhat fortunate notwithstanding this was an excellent win in difficult circumstances. Dover now has a well earned break with their next game at Crabble on the 10th January.
Dover 1st XV would like to wish their team and individual sponsors and their ever present supporters a happy and peaceful festive season.
Team; Lucas, Tomlinson (Savage), Stanley, Sluman (Surendorff), Robinson, Collins, Foster, Tonks D, Murray, Charge, Tonks L, Beaumont, Coughlan, Mackintosh, Townley, Bowditch.
Report by: Richard Collins
Pictures By: Ian Shilson
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