Old Dunstonians (0) v (31) Dover 1st XV
Played 19th January 2008
Dover completed a season double over Old D’s with a comfortable
victory. The previous encounter was possibly the match of the season;
however this was not such an occasion. The opening ten minutes were
frantic. Centre Lee Tonks delivered a massive hit on his opposite number
and his counterpart Jamie Townley left the field for a blood injury.
Substitute Ben Murray was on the field for no more than a minute or
so and he was sin binned for a stamp in a ruck. With one man down Dover
didn’t panic and were immediately on the offensive. 
The D’s
blind side was lucky to remain on the pitch after a succession of blows
on a Dover player from a set position and with the referee’s
view obstructed he can think himself fortunate in staying on the pitch.
After 13 minutes D’s were awarded a 22 and D’s kicked the
ball directly into touch. From the resulting scrum, marshalled by Ben
Sedgwick, the forwards were causing all sorts of problems. A penalty
was awarded in their favour with a quick tap being taken and after
a number of phases of possession open side Jon Foster touched down
for the first score. Five minutes later Dover turned over the ball
which was spread swiftly from left to right with winger Ricky Mackintosh
scorching past his marker with relative ease and touching down close
to the posts. Martyn Beaumont converted. Dover were in control and
Gus Surendorff and Trigger Davison were dominating the lineouts taking
four against the head in the first half. Beaumont’s tactical
kicking was paying dividends clearing deep into D’s territory
to ease any concerns. As the game progressed the visitors focus and
discipline started to waiver owing to a number of frustrations setting
in regarding the management of the game and this unfortunately remained
until the conclusion of the match. D’s tried to respond with
a number of promising runs; however the defence was solid and ball
was regularly turned over. Kirk Savage and Buster Collins showed some
great aggression and Dan Robinson again worked tirelessly all game.
The front row was an issue for the referee all game and props Shane
Moore and Richard Stanley fared well in difficult circumstances. The
third score of the half originated from a horrendous forward pass from
a D’s player deep in the Dover half. Left winger Jamie Phillips
scooped the ball in mid air and ran some 65 metres leaving several
defenders in his wake as he ran the distance to score. His overall
performance was a major positive from this game and he gave his opposite
number no room to manoeuvre all afternoon.
The second half could not have started better. D’s kicked off
Surendorff took possession gave a little dummy before offloading to
Foster who broke on a superb line passing to Mackintosh who ran half
the field to touch down for a superb try. 
Beaumont converted. The game
was well and truly won at this point and the flood gates should have
opened further for Dover had they not allowed them selves to become
embroiled in the running of the game. This gave D’s an opportunity
to respond which they did and for a period of time they were camped
deep into the Dover half. Their efforts however were disrupted and
some excellent defending stopped the hosts from scoring. D’s
were unable to penetrate and credit must be given to Dover for their
composure and grit in keeping a clean sheet. Although D’s tactics
in slowing the free passage of play paid them some dividends in the
final score line it did not stop Dover’s backs in making numerous
runs which at times were breathtaking, to at least the away supporters.
Holes
were being opened all over the field with some explosive counter attacking.
Jamie Townley and Ed Close were finding space and two adjudged
forward passes prevented further scores. Skipper Beaumont was sin binned
for unnecessary dissent in respect of one of those decisions and yet
again Dover were again forced to play with a man down. Dover weathered
the D’s efforts who showed further creativity when their replacement
outside half took to the field. Dover’s determination remained
intact and they scored their final try with 10 minutes remaining on
the clock.
Beaumont managed to drag himself over the line to touch
down following another assault in the D’s half, with the conversion
to follow.
A golden opportunity for a further try was missed at the
end which was another lack of judgement. Nearing the final whistle
replacement flanker Jim Byrne was shown a red card for striking an
opponent following an incident in which Dover had in fact been awarded
a rare penalty decision in their favour.
Dover had at times played some scintillating rugby and should have
capitalised further; however that did not happen and the team as a
whole need to seriously reflect on this game before moving on to the
difficult tasks that lie ahead.
Dover host league leaders Gravesend at Crabble on Saturday for their
biggest game of the season and the club would urge a bumper crowd to
cheer these home grown boys on.
On the following week at Crabble Dover host Essex side Rochford Hundred
in the 6th round of the EDF Cup, which will again be a huge game as
Dover strive to reach the quarter finals in this national competition.
Team; Moore, Savage, Stanley, Robinson, Davison, Collins, Foster,
Surendorff, Sedgwick, Beaumont, Tonks, Townley, Mackintosh, Phillips,
Close, Bowditch, Byrne, Murray.
Report by: Richard Collins
pictures by Ian Shilson
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