Dover Seconds
Fight Back Again!
Dover
2nd XV (30) v (21) Tonbridge Juddians 2 XV
Played 13th September 2008
Despite the week's wet weather Crabble provided basking sunshine and
warm climes for the Dover 2nd XV's first foray into the Invicta league.
Dover sent out a strong team with a full bench - the latter being warmed
by skipper Matcham. Following the sluggish start to last weeks match,
Dover set out to go full steam from the outset. After a promising start,
which saw Denning denied a try to a dubious refereeing decision, Dover
relaxed and TJ's opened the scoring. A strong passage of play saw them
spin the ball wide to take advantage of an overlap for the first try.
An uncharacteristic Coughlin error let TJ's in for their second try,
and Dover found themselves underneath the posts two scores down -
for the second week running.
However Dover had fought from this position before, and knew just what to do. A big speech from captain Matcham sparked the team at half time and Dover started to dominate. A quick penalty flung wide provided Mercer with an opportunity and he scored to put Dover on the scoreboard. TJ's looked weak out wide, and Dover looked to exploit this. Loitering on the left wing, Matcham was next to score as he scooted into the corner. Dover were back to within a point.
At this crucial moment madness and indecision took grip of the Blues,
and a miss pass was intercepted by the TJ flyhalf who ran to score.
Dover were now 11 points down with 15 minutes to go.
Dover's pack rumbled downfield, Chris Cherrington to the fore.
Dan Gill smashed his way over from 10 yards out for a try to
pull 5 points
back, Holdsworth added the conversion.
One more score was needed, and Dover found it. Again the forwards
laid the foundations with great driving work, Williamson spread
the ball
wide and winger Mercer raced down the touchline to dot down
in the corner for his second try. Dover took the lead with 2 minutes
to
go and even scored one more try. Denning supporting Gaughran
and planting
the ball for his own five-pointer.
Dover 2's: Coughlin, Morton (Westfield), Meredith, Holdsworth,
Mercer, Williamson, Denning, Cattermole, Gaughran, Jamriska
(Landman), Gill,
Cherrington, Chambers (Matcham), May, Heywood.
Report by: Charlie Denning
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