The 2nd game of the season for Dover Rugby 1st Team
Dover 24 V Sidcup 20
Crabble basked in the sunshine, great for the large crowd but not for the players. This was Dover's first home game of the new season was always going to be a tough one against a competitive Sidcup side. The Dover squad had been strengthened following last week's performance, new signings Logan Chandler and Jamie Farris added to the back row for their debuts and Pat Sykes and Ben Sedgwick added to the centres. Dover won the toss and opted to play up the slope for the first half in the energy sapping heat.
Sidcup got the game underway, the kick was not taken charge of by a Dover player and the ball bobbled around dangerously in the Dover 22, Eldridge at full-back cleared up the danger setting a ruck for Phillips to clear 30 metres towards halfway. Dover started to settle and turned over possession at the breakdown, a rolling maul and then a scrum set up a good field position but their first chance to attack saw the back line too flat which created slow ball. Dover did manage to recycle the ball, a Sedgwick chip over the top there was a glimmer of an opening when he almost retrieved the ball with a brilliant inside flick to Halls but Sedgwick had put a foot in touch. Sidcup breathed a sigh of relief and kicked the ball clear, Dover scrambled in defence but conceded a penalty to give Sidcup a lineout 5 metres out. Dover managed to steal the ball and clear to 20 metres but Sidcup attacked again another penalty and another 5 metre lineout. This time they caught and drove to open the scoring with a converted try. Phillips restarted play and Sidcup knocked the ball on for a Dover scrum. Sidcup wheeled the scrum through 90 degrees and used the hand over to again apply the pressure. Initially the Dover defence was solid Sykes and Chandler putting in some huge bone crunching tackles. The pressure grew and as Dover started to scramble they were penalised at the ruck 20 metres out. Sidcup added the three points to lead 10 - 0 after 21 minutes. Dover were trying to play their style of rugby but at the crucial time a pass didn't go to hand, this only mounted the pressure on Dover again Sidcup found themselves in the bottom corner. Dover conceded penalties for infringements at the ruck and Ed Blowers being sent to the sin bin for an infringement at the lineout. Sidcup used there extra man to score another try again converted Dover now trailed 17 - 0 with 3 minutes of the half remaining. Unlike last week Dover's heads didn't drop and again secured possession at the restart. A lineout then a scrum saw them 10 metres from the Sidcup line. At last Dover fired young Charlie Halls moving from the wing to take a pass and power through the centre as he drew the defenders Richard Eldridge was in support to scamper over in the corner, the conversion missed Dover had points on the board half time 17 - 5 to Sidcup.
Dover had the advantage of the slope for the second half and were soon in the ascendency. They dominated the breakdown and were awarded a penalty. Phillips took play into the 22 but Dover's lineout failed and Sidcup cleared the danger. Dover worked hard to regain possession. Sedgwick seized the ball and broke through the centres Halls again cut in off the wing to take up possession to power to 5 metres out, Jon Foster was in support to score the try which Phillips converted for Dover to trail by 17 - 12. Dover now believed, when they played their style of rugby they were unstoppable. Again the dominated at the ruck and the set piece was starting to bear fruit. Dave Sluman back from injury replaced skipper Dale Tonks in the second row. Dover continued to press, it was Sidcup who were making the mistakes and as the pressure mounted their No.8 was sent to the sin bin for a tip tackle. The penalty awarded Phillips kicked to the corner for a 5 metre lineout. Blowers secured the ball and Dover set the driving maul powering over the line for Sluman to touch down, the conversion slipped just wide but Dover had drawn level at 17 - 17 with 20 minutes to go. Frustratingly Dover were penalised from the restart and Sidcup took the opportunity to add 3 points to their tally and hold a slender lead. It was not long before Dover moved into the lead for the first time. Chandler broke from the back of a ruck to make good yards again Halls moved off his wing to join the line Sykes feeding him the ball to then set Sedgwick free to go over to score in the corner. Phillips added the conversion for Dover to lead 24 - 20 with 15 minutes to go. Inexplicably Dover started to relax and Sidcup much to their credit put Dover under extreme pressure. Brilliant defence saw Dover thwart the danger as Sidcup tried to turn the screw continuously for the remainder of the game. Dover in fact didn't clear the ball over half way until a minute to go when they broke out of defence and where stopped 10 metres out, the referee called last play and Dover kicked to touch. Dover 24 - Sidcup 20 final score. This was a great confidence builder for Dover a bonus point win over one of the leagues stronger sides. There were many good performances on the day but young Charlie Halls stood out as man of the match playing a huge part in three of Dover's four tries. Next week Dover travel to Hove kick off 3pm.
Team
COOPER, SAVAGE, LUCAS, D TONKS (Capt.), BLOWERS, FOSTER, FARRIS, CHANDLER, CRAWFORD, PHILLIPS, HALLS, SYKES, SEDGWICK, TOWNLEY, ELDRIDGE, SLUMAN, ROBINSON & ANNAKIE
Scorers:
TRIES: Richard Eldridge, Jon Foster, Dave Sluman, Ben Sedgwick
CONV: Greg Phillips x 2