DOVER 41 V Old Colfeians 3
After last week's battling display away to Hove the Sharks were back at Crabble hoping to continue their winning run. The team led out by skipper Dale Tonks adorned in the new strip supplied by local business DH Empire Motors to entertain the large crowd to a six try feast.
Old Colfeians kicked off playing down the Crabble slope and started the game better than Dover. The OC's pack was their main strength and it put Dover under pressure early on from the lineout using the catch and drive tactic and although Dover's pack was combative in defence the referee penalised them for offside. The early shot at goal was pushed wide by the OC's fly half but Dover again were soon under the cosh. Dover tried to take play into the opposition half but penalised again they had to defend a 5 metre lineout. Fortunately for Dover OC's lineout failed and Foster came up with the ball. Phillips tactical kicking was superb and Dover at last could set a platform to attack. Phase after phase they advanced up the pitch, Ben Sedgwick at scrum half orchestrating the pack until the backs could be released. Dover created the overlap and should have gone in at the corner but the ball was knocked forward and they would have to build again. OC's had cleared the ball back to halfway but slick lineout ball and the back row trio of Foster, Farris and Chandler combined to advance play 30 metres quick ball at the ruck and OC's defence was scrambling, they were penalised 10 metres out in front of the post, Greg Phillips duly obliged to give Dover a 3-0 lead after 20mins. The OC's restart was again deep, Foster secured the ball and Phillips found touch with his trusty boot to take play 30 metres from the Dover line. OC's won the lineout and again tried to use their forwards to push Dover back, Dover's defence was again solid but OC's had set the ruck and their fly half had the space to slot a drop goal from 25 metres 3-3. OC's seemed to gain some inspiration for this and for the next 10 minutes Dover were on the back foot although as in recent weeks their defensive line was solid and they held the visitors at bay. It was then Dover's turn to cut loose firstly stealing the ball at the lineout through Chandler and the back row again combining to take play into the 22. Three, four, five phases Dover pushed on until Ben Sedgwick spotted the gap at the side of the ruck to score the try, the conversion slipped wide but Dover were back in front. Charlie Halls was again performing well and it was he that managed to turn over possession in OC's 22 following another fine territorial kick by Phillips. Dover should have scored again but a loose ball was knocked on with the try line begging. This was the first time this season Dover had reached half time with a lead and with them having the advantage of the slope it was time for the floodgates to open.
Dover didn't start the second half as desired and OC's pinned them back with the boot, indecision was putting Dover under pressure and they were fortunate to win a penalty to relieve the pressure and take play back to halfway. Dover won the lineout and pressed forward in the backs but again spilt the ball forward. OC's won the resultant scrum but quick thinking from Lee Tonks saw him intercept a pass at inside centre to run clear supported by his centre partner of Nathan Annakie who went in to score under the posts , Phillips added the extras and Dover had moved to a 15-3 lead with 3 minutes of the second half gone. Dover were now totally dominating all areas of the game but seemed to take their foot off the pedal, OC's to their credit threw everything at Dover but the home sides defence was a brick wall.
Pat Sykes replaced Annakie in the centre to fire Dover back into life, it didn't take long. Dover won a scrum on half way, Sedgwick set the backs away and Sykes powered through the centres supported by L Tonks who fed No.8 Chandler to score the try, Phillips again added the extras as Dover advanced to a 22-3 lead. Dave Sluman replaced D Tonks in the second row and Dover looked to go again. Dover were now playing in perfect Harmony and OC's had no answer as seven players combined this time Foster the beneficiary as he went over to score Dover's fourth try to secure the bonus point, Phillips added the conversion and Dover were now 29-3 ahead. Points difference is always important in the league and Dover needed to take the opportunity to keep the scoreboard ticking over as well as shutting the visitors out. This was made a little harder when L Tonks was shown a Yellow card for being caught offside in the red zone but as in recent weeks when Dover had a man in the sin bin everyone else raised their game. A succession of 5 metre lineouts for OC's were again defended brilliantly and Dover scrambled the ball clear through Phillips. Dover stole the ball again at the lineout but over extravagance again saw the ball knocked forward. Dover's scrum had been solid all afternoon and Foster stole the ball to feed Sykes who powered his way down the pitch to score a try out wide, the conversion missed Dover led 34 -3. All credit to OC's they continued to try and attack but Dover pounced on any mistakes. The ball loose on the floor it was Sluman who was first to the ball and managed to hack it forward, again first to the ball he hacked forward again and Farris following up gleefully pounced on the bobbling ball to go over for Dover's sixth try under the posts, Phillips added the extras for a 41-3 lead.
Robinson replaced Farris and Townley by Annakie for the final minutes. Dover should of scored again Eldridge breaking through the line with only the full back to beat but his pass to Annakie didn't go to hand. The referee blew the final whistle Dover had advanced up the league to joint 3rd after this six try feast. There were once again many outstanding performances on the day but Ben Sedgwick was selected as man of the match by match ball sponsor PSL Freight for orchestrating the backs and forwards in perfect harmony. Next week Dover face another tough away trip at Havant who last season were in the national league.
Team:
COOPER, SAVAGE, LUCAS, D TONKS (Capt.), BLOWERS, FOSTER, FARRIS, CHANDLER, SEDGWICK, PHILLIPS, HALLS, L TONKS, N ANNAKIE, TOWNLEY, ELDRIDGE, ROBINSON, SLUMAN, SYKES
Scorers:
TRIES: BEN SEDGWICK, NATHAN ANNAKIE, LOGAN CHANDLER, JON FOSTER, PAT SYKES, JAMIE FARRIS
CONVERSIONS: PHILLIPS x 4
PENALTIES: PHILLIPS x 1
