Dover 2nds 35 v 13 Faversham
Dover took to the field for their first league match this Saturday
at Crabble against a strong, physical Faversham side.
Dover started well from the kick off showing some early flair from
the backs of Marsh, Phillips and O’ Dell. Faversham responded
well to this through their big forward pack and forced an early penalty.
The kicker missed the kick but this seemed to give Dover an early wake
up call. With this the team began to play as they had done all of last
season in a professional, composed manner, with Denning bossing things
from scrum half. Dover applied the pressure with quick ruck ball which
caused Faversham to put hands in the ruck to try and slow things down
which was penalised. Marsh stepped up to convert the resultant penalty.
This followed twice more with Marsh slotting the extras twice to put
Dover up 9 – 0 early on.
Dover maintained the level of performance especially through the forwards.
This led to Dover’s first try from Howard. The referee awarded
a scrum to Dover 8 meters out after a very good kick from Marsh put
pressure on Faversham’s winger and a good chase from Blair led
him to knock on. The scrum was set and the ball hooked back to Howard
at 8. The Dover pack began to turn the screw ad drive towards the line.
Howard controlling well at the back of the scrum saw his opportunity
to attack with the opposition back row on the back foot and drove through
two to touch down for a well deserved try.
This was converted by Marsh, to take the score to 16 – 0.
Just before the end of the half Faversham forced a penalty which they
converted to make the score at half time 16 – 3.
Dover began the half as they finished the first, firmly in control.
Early on the half Dover scored their second try through our flying
winger Holland. After good clean ball from the forwards, Denning passed
down the line to Phillips who but a beautiful looping pass over to
Holland who stepped in and out of three defenders to score a well worked
backs try. Marsh again converted to make the score 23 – 3.
Faversham responded to this and followed up with a try which was gifted
to them through tackling errors in midfield. They converted to pull
the score back to 23 – 10.
Dover with the slope in their favour played a clever kicking game and
pinned Faversham in the bottom corner. This led to the third try from
Howard. With Dover parked on the Faversham 5 m line the ball was swung
out by Denning to a charging Howard who cut a great line to go over
the line shrugging off 2 defenders in the process. Marsh added the
extras to restore Dover’s lead to 20 points.
Faversham managed to break away from the kick off and reach the Dover
22 where some in-discipline led to a penalty which the fly-half kicked
to reduce the deficit to 17 points.
The home side spent the next 15 minutes of the game parked on the Faversham
try line but some handling errors meant no more points were added.
Faversham breathed a sigh of relief when they managed to clear the
ball out to touch. The resultant lineout was won well by Landman from
the throw of stand –in captain Chambers. This was driven well
by the back and then passed to the backs. The ball was moved down the
line well and some quick hands put Holland into space. He still had
a lot to do however; he weaved in and out of 4 Faversham defenders
and outpaced the last to score a good solo effort.
Marsh failed to add the extra points and the match ended 35 – 13.
His was an exceptional first game performance from Dover and will give
them lots of confidence going into next week’s home fixture with
Folkestone.
Dover 2nds – Bowditch, Chambers, Cattermole, Gill, Cherrington,
May, Landman, Howard, Denning, Marsh, Blair, Phillips, O’Dell,
Holland, Kamara, Porter, Hayward, Williamson, Walmsly.
Reported by Paul Cairns
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