DOVER 12 V East Grinstead 44
After last week's heavy defeat Dover entertained high flying East Grinstead at Crabble on Saturday. This could have easily been another whitewash but Dover led by captain Dale Tonks played with great pride and spirit in the face of adversity.
East Grinstead played down the slope for the first half, Dover secured possession and Charlie Halls took the contact and set the ruck the ball was not used quickly enough despite no command from the referee to use it Dover were penalised, East Grinstead awarded the scrum. The East Grinstead set piece they moved play from one side of the field to another, Dover's defence was initially solid but quick ball sent play back the other way and Dover were caught flat footed as East Grinstead went over to open the scoring with a converted try after just 3 minutes. Phillips restarted play and East Grinstead kicked to touch for a Dover lineout. The lineout not straight, possession was handed back to the visitors. Logan Chandler and Josh Erskine managed to win the ball back and Dover looked to their forwards to control possession slowly they edged forward but were penalised for an accidental offside. East Grinstead looked to attack again out wide Sam McNamara with a bone crunching tackle to again win Dover possession. Again the forwards looked to dominate their more sizeable opponents, Dale Tonks an inspiration as Dover's pack began to turn the screw and took play to within 25 metres of the East Grinstead line. Unfortunately East Grinstead's defence was like a brick wall, the pack continued to batter away and Dover were awarded a penalty for offside. The penalty slipped wide of the post and Dover had to build again from halfway. Again the forwards kept the ball tight and made good progress again Dover were in the danger zone, again East Grinstead deliberately infringed and Dover were awarded a penalty. Phillips opted to kick for touch and Dover won the lineout, again the pack was met by a brick wall although they knocked the ball forward for a Dover scrum 15 metres out. Dover lost the scrum and East Grinstead moved the ball quickly, Dover tackled shadows as they speedily shipped the ball wide to again cross Dover's line for their second converted try, 14-0. Dover lost a little belief and were soon reeling again as East Grinstead ran in a third. Words of encouragement from the skipper behind the posts instilled some belief.
Dover reverted to the forward tactic again keeping it tight as they played through eight or nine phases of play. Again Dover were within striking distance, again East Grinstead were penalised, once too often for the referee who brandished his yellow card and sent the offender to the sin bin. Phillips kicked to touch for a lineout 5 metres out. The lineout won the Dover pack again battered away quick ball from the ruck was sent to the backs; Charlie Halls touching down for the try despite the attention of three defenders, Phillips added the conversion to reduce the deficit to 12 points. East Grinstead's restart was kicked long; Dover managed to clear their lines by kicking to touch just outside their 22. Dover had settled and stole possession at the lineout through Foster and play was quickly back to halfway. Dover recycled the ball but was caught offside and East Grinstead was awarded the penalty. East Grinstead opted for a quick tap, Dover did react and indeed seized possession back were penalised at the ruck, east Grinstead opted for posts to secure a 22-7 lead to halftime.
Charlie Halls ( He's in there somewhere )
Dover would need to use the slope to their advantage and their pack to keep the ball tight if they were going to cause an upset. It was important for Dover to score first as the second half was got under way by Phillips. Dover didn't start quickly enough and within a minute East Grinstead had scored another try out wide, 27-7. This was not as expected, again Dale Tonks rallied his troops and they came back guns blazing. They repelled all that East Grinstead threw at them and finally they had possession of the ball, a scrum on halfway. Dover's scrum was solid Logan Chandler picked up from the base and he passed wide to Halls on the wing, he sliced through the defence to offload to the supporting Sedgwick who had the momentum to cross the line despite the tackle. The conversion slipped wide, 27-12. Dover was soon back in the East Grinstead 22.
Ben Sedgwick
They battled away with the forwards asking East Grinstead some stern defensive questions. With no gap appearing the ball was sent to the backs to set again. Dover was again dominating through the forwards but they put pressure on themselves trying to quicken the play and East Grinstead stole possession. East Grinstead again moved the ball wide swiftly and were soon back in Dover's 22, the defence scrambled and made their tackles although one was before the player received the ball and Chandler was sin binned, East Grinstead slotted the penalty to take a 30-12 lead. Dover didn't give up and continued to try and attack, despite their best efforts they failed to add to their tally as East Grinstead added two late tries to take the final result to 44-12.
Dover may have lost but this was a truly valiant display, much better than the performances of recent weeks. The Dover pack was superb and captain Dale Tonks took the man of the match award for a true captain's display. Dover travel to Haywards Heath this Saturday a ground they haven't won at for three years but if they turn in this sort of performance they may overturn that form.
Team:
COOPER, AMBROSE, LUCAS, D TONKS (Capt.), BLOWERS, FOSTER, FARRIS, CHANDLER, ERSKINE, PHILLIPS, HALLS, L TONKS, ANNAKIE, McNAMARA, SEDGWICK, ROBINSON, SLUMAN, TOWNLEY
SCORERS:
TRIES: CHARLIE HALLS, BEN SEDGWICK
CONVERSION: GREG PHILLIPS