Cobham 19 V DOVER 15
After last week's rest Dover travelled to Cobham at the weekend to resume league duty. Buoyed by their last result Dover took to the field with high expectation knowing that a similar performance should end in victory.
Conditions were ideal for kick off with Dover playing up the slope as Cobham got the game underway. Dover were straight out of the blocks, Jon Foster receiving the kick and the Dover pack setting the ball enabling Phillips to kick for territory. Cobham cleared the kick straight into the arms of winger Ben Sedgwick who ran the ball chipping over the defensive line he should have collected the ball and opened the scoring but a knock on 5 metres out gave Cobham the scrum. This was a bright start for the Sharks and buoyed by field position they turned over possession securing their own scrum. The pack set the solid platform Josh Erskine at scrum half sent his backs away, quick ball and Dover had the numbers out wide but with the try line looming the ball didn't go to hand another chance wasted. Cobham kicked the ball to touch and Dover would have to build again from halfway. Unlike recent weeks the Dover lineout ball was turned over and Cobham tried to move the ball wide. Dover were caught offside, Cobham chose to kick to touch just inside the Dover 22. Dover's early energy seemed to evaporate as Cobham won the lineout and attacked spinning the ball wide; disorganisation in defence Cobham found the gaps and opened the scoring out wide with a converted try. Greg Phillips restart was good giving his forwards a 50/50 chance of possession but Dover weren't committed and stood off the challenge. Cobham were being given too much time on the ball a simple kick up field was run into touch by Logan Chandler to hand the home side a lineout just 30 metres out. Fortunately the lineout was not straight and Dover had the chance to keep possession with a scrum. The scrum was won but slow work at the back and Dover conceded the penalty. Expecting a kick at goal Dover turned their backs; Cobham took a quick tap only Walker and Foster reacting to the danger Cobham had a 3 man overlap to again score in the corner. The conversion missed Dover now trailed 12-0 despite having the majority of possession. Phillips restart was again good, this time the forwards did react and won a penalty 35 metres out. Phillips kick to goal put Dover on the board 12-3. Cobham's restart failed to travel the 10 metres and Dover were again in possession with a scrum on halfway. This time the scrum was solid and as Dover started to move forward Cobham were again penalised. Phillips opted for goal again but the kick from 45 metres out just drifted wide. Ed Blowers secured the 22 drop out and Dover looked to attack.Prop John Walker-Smith smashed his way 20 metres towards the try line stopped just short. Dover retained the ball and played through 4 phases before the ball found its way into the hands of skipper Dale Tonks who crossed the line for the try. The conversion missed Dover now trailed 12-8.
Dale Tonks.
Dover was now in the ascendancy Jon Foster as ever an influence, he found the gap to penetrate the defence with Townley in support, he in turn found Erskine 2 metres out but was held up. Dover's scrum was now dominant and was twice awarded a penalty 5 metres out, on both occasions Dover opted for the scrum with the Cobham captain sent to the sin bin. Dover couldn't take the opportunity mistakes leading to a loss of possession and Cobham scrambled the ball clear. Dover were then also reduced to 14 with Ambrose sent to the sin bin for an incident at the ruck. Cobham kicked the penalty to touch just inside the Dover half. They won the lineout; again Foster was the first to react as he turned over possession. Dover again attacked through the mid field, young Jack Ayling powering through the defence, again Dover failed to capitalise. Ayling left the field with a head injury with Nathan Annakie replacing him. Cobham again cleared the ball to halfway and Cooper replaced Chandler in the pack. Dover did have one last chance to add to their tally another penalty from 45 metres, Phillips opted again for goal, again the ball drifted wide the halftime whistle blew with Dover trailing 12-8. With the exception of about 10 minutes Dover had been totally dominant their own mistakes being their downfall.
John Walker-Smith
Dover had the advantage of the slope for the second half and despite the first half errors the scent of victory was in the air. Phillips got the second half underway, Jon Foster showed his passion with a bone crunching tackle on the catcher. Cobham kick the ball to touch and Dover looked to build from halfway. Dover kept pressing but at the vital time lacked composure allowing Cobham to relieve the pressure. Dover made a further change, Ambrose back on for Walker-Smith. Dover at last started to play some rugby and camped in the Cobham 22. Their defence initially held firm but Dover had composed themselves, eventually the gap appeared with Greg Phillips throwing the dummy and going over to score, and converting his try, and at last Dover had taken the lead 12-15 with 25 minutes to play. The next 20 minutes of play were error strewn with both sides making countless mistakes. Dover had made more changes with Walker-Smith on for Chris Lucas and David Sluman replacing the injured captain Dale Tonks. The Cobham open side Flanker was shown his second yellow of the afternoon converted to a red.
Greg Phillips
With 5 minutes to play Dover had possession and was in the Cobham half but they were penalised at the ruck, as in the first half the Dover players switched off, a quick tap penalty and Cobham were soon inside the Dover 22. Once back and organised the defence held firm, 4 minutes of pressure snuffed out although Lee Tonks was sent to the sin bin for infringing at the ruck. Cobham tried to run the penalty but the sharks held firm, Dover being awarded a scrum 5 metres from their line. A minute to go and Dover in possession victory should have been Dover's. The scrum won all that was needed was to retain possession until the referee called last play. Three phases would have been enough but the ball was sent to Phillips after just one. His clearance kick failed to find touch and Cobham ran the ball back into the danger zone. They were stopped just short in the left hand corner but recycled the ball quickly to score wide on the right, the try converted Dover had thrown away victory. On the day Dover had probably left 20 points on the pitch through their own mistakes and can only look at themselves for the solutions. Dover's Man of the Match was an easy choice, Jon Foster was superb at flanker in both attack and defence and if others had followed his example Dover would have won by a country mile.
This Saturday Dover return to Crabble to host Gosport and Fareham promoted last season from London 2 South. Kick off will be 2.30.
Team:
LUCAS, AMBROSE, WALKER-SMITH, D TONKS (Capt.), BLOWERS, FOSTER, FARRIS, CHANDLER, ERSKINE, PHILLIPS, SEDGWICK, AYLING, L TONKS, TOWNLEY, ELDRIDGE, COOPER, SLUMAN & N ANNAKIE
Scorers:
TRIES: D TONKS, G PHILLIPS
Conv: Phillips x1
Pens: Phillipsx1