Aylesford
3rds 5 v Dover Dev Squad (3rds) 13
Conditions were humid on a bright but slightly overcast day when a confident development squad took the field after a very comfortable win over Snowdown the previous week. Play throughout was littered with penalties against the home team for basic mistakes in rucks and open play, which Dover managed to capitalise on, Stevenson converting six points for Dover.
A further two opportunities for Dover to extend their lead from scrappy loose ball, were foiled at the last minute by heavy defence and pressure from the Aylesford backs, resulting in the Sharks being unable to move the ball to the overlapping players.
With Aylesford being surprised by their young and enthusiastic opponents, they finally woke to the task ahead of them by chipping over the line of defence and scoring an unconverted try.
Things seemed to be going the way of the home team when a penalty kick to open ground was made, but this was overturned by a titanic effort by Luke Meredith, shipping the ball to Danny Russell and eventually to man of the match, Matt Burr who ran in the try through three Aylesford players. The try was duly converted by Stevenson to put Dover into the lead by 8 points.
After half time, Aylesford stepped up a gear and The Sharks were pressurised into playing most of the half near their try line. Staunch defence and fearless tackling by the likes of Grayson and Aaron. , the harassing of the opposition scrum half by Mcpherson, who had come on for Mercer at half time, and the kicking tactics of the ever youthful Price kept Dover in the lead until the end of the gruelling match. Thanks must be given to the likes of Mr Warner, who kept the drinks bottles full of water all match, and kept the squad fully functional.
Report by
Conditions were humid on a bright but slightly overcast day when a confident development squad took the field after a very comfortable win over Snowdown the previous week. Play throughout was littered with penalties against the home team for basic mistakes in rucks and open play, which Dover managed to capitalise on, Stevenson converting six points for Dover.
A further two opportunities for Dover to extend their lead from scrappy loose ball, were foiled at the last minute by heavy defence and pressure from the Aylesford backs, resulting in the Sharks being unable to move the ball to the overlapping players.
With Aylesford being surprised by their young and enthusiastic opponents, they finally woke to the task ahead of them by chipping over the line of defence and scoring an unconverted try.
Things seemed to be going the way of the home team when a penalty kick to open ground was made, but this was overturned by a titanic effort by Luke Meredith, shipping the ball to Danny Russell and eventually to man of the match, Matt Burr who ran in the try through three Aylesford players. The try was duly converted by Stevenson to put Dover into the lead by 8 points.
After half time, Aylesford stepped up a gear and The Sharks were pressurised into playing most of the half near their try line. Staunch defence and fearless tackling by the likes of Grayson and Aaron. , the harassing of the opposition scrum half by Mcpherson, who had come on for Mercer at half time, and the kicking tactics of the ever youthful Price kept Dover in the lead until the end of the gruelling match. Thanks must be given to the likes of Mr Warner, who kept the drinks bottles full of water all match, and kept the squad fully functional.
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Reported by Sam Fields
