Hove 12 V DOVER 13
After last week's stunning victory against Sidcup Dover faced the away trip to Hove at the weekend. This is never an easy game indeed Dover have failed to win there for the last 3 seasons but fortunately all 18 players played with the pride and passion which epitomises this team and Dover came away with the spoils.
Hove kicked off the first half with Dover playing into the sun, the kick was deep Phillips gathered the ball and kicked to touch 40 metres from the Dover line. Dover were penalised at the lineout and Hove took play to within 15 metres with the kick. Dover had started slower than desired and were soon on the back foot, a succession of pick and go's at the ruck from Hove applied the pressure and although the defence looked solid Dover were caught offside and Hove took full advantage kicking for goal from the penalty to take an early 3 point lead. This seemed to wake Dover up, a good kick chase at the restart saw Dover steal possession through Farris, Dover pressed forward but the ball went forward in the offload as they attempted to sneak through a gap. Dover's set piece had improved week on week and indeed this week the forwards had started to dominate their opponents from early on. Dover had soon taken play into the Hove 22 and with solid quick lineout ball won by Blowers it was time for the Dover backs to get into the game but the danger was soon snuffed out with them too flat to put any real pressure on the Hove backline and the home side scrambled the ball clear. It was obvious that the Hove backs were the main danger indeed when their forwards could win them the ball they moved it wide quickly to attack the Dover fringes but Dover's back 3 of Halls, Jaggar and Eldridge were more than equal to the task forcing them into touch. Hove looked to attack again through the centre again they hit the Dover brick wall but Dover were penalised again at the ruck to concede a penalty in front of the posts. Hove opted for goal and were again successful taking a 6 - 0 lead after 20 minutes. Dover again looked to steal the restart and were awarded the penalty for a trip, Phillips kicked to within 15 metres for a Dover lineout. Dover played through a couple of phases before releasing the backs and this time they attacked with pace only a high tackle stopping Eldridge at full flow. Hove again managed to scramble the ball clear and attacked from deep using their pace in the backs. Dover again defended valiantly but were penalised at the breakdown once more and Hove added another 3 points to their total to lead 9-0. Eldridge had to leave the field through injury and Sykes replaced him at full back. The remainder of the half saw no further scores. Dover trailed 9-0 despite all the hard work of their forwards, the Dover backs needed to show what they had in attack if Dover were going to turn things round.
Dover started the second half with fire in their bellies after the usual encouragement from Head Coach Tonks at half time. Phillips got the second half underway another good kick chase saw the Dover forwards win possession. Lucas and Cooper carried the ball forward and Dover was soon awarded a penalty as Hove scrambled in defence. Greg Phillips put Dover on the scoreboard 9-3 with a successful kick at goal. A solid start but Hove came straight back and Dover were reduced to 14 players when Halls was sin binned at the breakdown, unfortunately for the player it was a team yellow for persistent offending at the ruck. Hove's attempt at goal was missed but Dover didn't learn their lesson and conceded another penalty shortly afterwards, this time successful they again trailed by 9 points. Dave Sluman replaced skipper Dale Tonks at 2nd row. Dover played with composure for the 10 minutes until Halls retook his place on the pitch. Dover were now totally dominating the lineout with Sluman and Blowers stealing opposition ball and taking all of their own. Jamie Farris injured in the tackle was replaced by Danny Robinson and his passion inspired the Dover scrum.
Dover turned over a Hove scrum, awarded their own Dover looked to strike, Chandler picked up from the base to take play in field Pat Sykes in support skittled through the Hove defence with Halls then Jaggar in support a superb Dover move was finished with Jon Foster scoring the try, the conversion slipped wide for Dover to trail by four points with 20 minutes to go.
Jon Foster
Dover could scent victory and it wasn't too long before Dover again crossed the line. Again a solid platform was set by the forwards and again Sykes was too hot to handle powering his way through the Hove backline to score, the conversion missed Dover had a slender one point lead.
Pat Sykes
Could this be 4th time lucky for Dover. Hove again showed why they are so hard to beat at Hove wave after wave of attack was met by a dogged defensive display. With minutes to go it looked as if they had breached the Dover line out wide but a brilliant covering tackle from Josh Erskine saved the day. Dover then kept possession in the forwards and slowly moved back into Hove territory until the referee called final play and Phillips kicked the ball dead. A momentus victory Dover's first in four attempts at Hove. After their first week's performance Dover have during the last two weeks shown their real mettle. There were some outstanding individual performances on the day but this victory at Hove was about the whole team. Pat Sykes was awarded man of the match for a dominant second half display although there could have been 18 of them in truth.
Next week Dover return to Crabble to play Old Colfeians a large home crowd support is expected for the 3 o'clock kick off.
Team:
COOPER, AMBROSE, LUCAS, D TONKS (Capt.), BLOWERS, FOSTER, FARRIS, CHANDLER, ERSKINE, PHILLIPS, HALLS, N ANNAKIE, CRAWFORD, JAGGAR, ELDRIDGE, ROBINSON, SLUMAN, SYKES
Scorers:
TRIES: Jon Foster, Pat Sykes
PENS: Greg Phillips x 1