Canterbury U16s (7) v (33) Dover U16s
Played on 30/03/2008
Dover travelled the short distance to Canterbury, buoyed by their
recent cup win and boosted by the return from long term injuries of
Chris Jones and Nathan Critcher. Dover's start was explosive, centre
Dan Norris feilded the canterbury kick off and beat four defenders
to touch down after no more than 15 or 20 seconds for a 5-0 lead and
the best possible start. Dovers' young pack were in commanding mood
and rucked and mauled well all day. There running off the backline
was also impressive at times, and this is how the next score came about.
Phillips picked Prop Hubbard out in the midfeild and he duly drove
himself the ten metres to the line for a converted try bringing the
score to 12-0. Dovers' defence was as usuall, solid and at times brutal,
with Yarrow and Norris turning over lots of ball with their outstanding
blitz defence. The backs looked slick with ball in hand and their pace
was causing canterbury all kinds of problems, but to their credit canterburys'
defence was doing well to keep dover out. Dover then broke blind from
a scrum deep in there own half through Rix, who with support from Captain
merrit and Coughlan did well to set up quick ball for beresford to
release the backs. fullback wheeler joined the line to create the overlap
and winger clarke was put in space, he then did well to wrong foot
the fullback for a well worked converted try. Canterbury then had there
best spell of possesion and did well to score a try under the posts
after a defensive mix up in the dover ranks led to an easy run in for
a converted canterbury try. Half time score 19-7. Dover started the
second half brightly, the forwards especially were showing there skills
with neat off loads and great pick up and drives spearheaded by man
of the match Nathan Critcher on his return to action. Despite clearly
being on top, sometimes wrong decisions prevented further scores as
to often good work went unrewarded. Canterbury were also playing commendably
and it was clear they were not going to lie down. The next score was
the best of the game. Norris fielded the ball deep in his own half
and looked to run the ball back. he beat tackler after tackler as he
ran 3/4 of the pitch before he fell trying to side step the fullback.
this allowed the canterbury defense to catch up but good work from
phillips, yarrow and beresford helped put fullback capon over in the
corner for a well converted try and a 26-7 lead. Canterbury again tried
hard to get back into the game but dovers' defence was unwavering and
rebuffed everything. The final score of the day brought the biggest
cheer of the day as capons botched cross kick was collected by wing
Chris Jones who duly out paced his opposite man and the fullback to
cap a welcome return to action after 6 months out with an ankle injury.
Phillips converted from the touch line to bring the final score to
Dover 33-7 Canterbury. Dover currently have no fixture for next weekend
as the boys look forward to tour in around 3 weeks time.
Team; Hubbard, Stott, trevor, Ward, Critcher, Merrit (capt), Coughlan,
Rix, Beresford, Phillips, Wheeler, Norris, Yarrow, Jones, Clarke, Annakie,
Bradbury, Keane, Capon, Annakie.
Reported by Daniel Gill
