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Due to me moving house one weekend and getting a cracked windscreen on the morning of another there are no photos for the following 2 reports.
BECKENHAM 18 V DOVER 17
As the results suggests this was a close encounter in which either side could of snatched victory bur home advantage seemed to spur Beckenham on and ultimately over the winning line. Dover's away form had been struggling of late, midweek training had been full of energy and as skipper Dale Tonks led his men on to the field of play it was hoped a change of away form would prevail.
The conditions were ideal as Dover's Greg Phillips got the game underway. For the first 5 minutes Dover soaked up the Beckenham pressure, strong tackling and a good defensive line forced the knock on, Dover with possession at the scrum. Dover were awarded a free kick for an early engagement and Ben Crawford fed Ryan Davison to drive in field ably supported by Jon Foster and Dale Tonks. The battle up front was fierce with big hits going in, this slowed Dover's progress and as they tried to play a more expansive game the ball was knocked forward, possession lost. Beckenham's attempts to attack wide were thwarted by Annakie and Eldridge tackling the winger into touch for Dover's first lineout, but the ball was not thrown in straight and Beckenham were back on the offensive. They chipped over the top and Dover scrambled in defence but conceded the penalty 30 metres out, kicked for goal the home side led 3-0 after 15 minutes. Phillips restarted play the high kick putting Beckenham under pressure. For once Dover dominated the breakdown and was awarded the penalty as Beckenham infringed at the ruck. Phillips opted for posts but unlike his opposite number didn't have his kicking boots on, the kick drifting wide. Beckenham's 22 drop out was kicked long and Dover were forced into touch on halfway. This time the Beckenham ball was not straight and Dover were back in possession from the scrum. Dover's scrum was more solid than the last quick ball to the midfield Jack Ayling tried to find the gap. The back row of Foster, Chandler and Davison arrived together to secure possession, Beckenham were caught off side and Dover awarded the penalty. Phillips kicked to touch 30 metres out for a Dover lineout. Tonks set the platform the initial drive thwarted Dover recycled the ball, the forwards kept it tight frustrating the opposition into conceding another penalty. Again kicked for touch this time 15 metres out, two more penalties followed each time Dover taking the lineout option. Sluman secured the ball at the front and Dover set the drive, Lucas carried driven forward by the remaining pack, it stalled a metre out but Dover reset, Walker-Smith took possession of the ball and was driven over to score a superb forwards try. Phillips conversion sailed through the posts; Dover led 7-3 after 25 minutes. From the restart Dover attacked again slick hands and quick ball enabling them to attack wide through Eldridge, Dover rest the ball, and attacked in the midfield, Beckenham conceded a further penalty 30 metres out but the referee reversed his decision for a little bit of afters after the whistle. This put the home side back in the ascendancy the penalty to touch, a lineout caught and driven Dover were under the cosh. Beckenham were soon within 5 metres of the Dover line, the defence tightened and managed to steal the ball which was kicked to touch just outside the Dover 22. Beckenham came again from the lineout; Dover stopped the drive 15 metres out, Beckenham set the ruck. The Beckenham No.9 used a sublime piece of skill to carve his way through the line a grubber with the outside of the boot caught Dover flat footed and he touched down unopposed. The conversion missed Dover trailed 8-7 after 33 minutes. Encouraged by the hostile crowd Beckenham attacked immediately from the restart. Their forward initially keeping the ball tight until they had crossed halfway and then with a blink of an eye two missed tackles they had breached Dover's line to score under the posts. The try converted Dover now trailed by 8 points. Dover woke up for the last 5 minutes of the half and controlled possession but they lacked momentum in attack and failed to add to their tally.
Head Coach Graham Tonks made 3 half-time changes, skipper Dale Tonks was a forced change replaced by Ed Blowers, Jamie Farris replaced Chandler in the back row and Cooper replaced Lucas in the front row. It was important that Dover scored the first points of the half if they were going to stand a chance of victory. Beckenham got the game back underway and were soon in the ascendency. Dover penalised on their own ball and Beckenham kicked to touch within 15 metres. For the next 10 minutes Beckenham were relentless, Dover's defence was superb and held them at bay. They seemed to turnover possession but the referee had spotted an infringement and awarded a kickable penalty. Fortunately the kick drifter wide and Dover could regroup for the 22 dropout. Slowly Dover awoke and got into the game the forwards building the phases as Dover pressed. Finally the breakthrough the forwards hard work had sucked in enough defenders. The ball through four pairs of hands found its way to Eldridge to score in the corner. The conversion from the touchline was painfully close but wide so Dover still trailed 15 - 12. Beckenham started to feel the pressure, their restart straight into touch. Dover pushed and pressed but couldn't find the gap. Beckenham conceded a penalty 40 metres out Ayling took up the mantle but again the ball failed to dissect the posts. Beckenham kicked the dropout long and Dover continued to press. Wave after wave of attack, momentum often slowed by a Beckenham player being going down injured. This did spoil Dover's flow but they did score the try. A delicate chip from Phillips looked to be simple enough for the full back to gather but, the vagaries of the bounce of the rugby ball were in Dover's favour and Annakie gathered the ball to score, again the conversion missed Dover had a slender 17-15 lead with 3 minutes to go. Unfortunately for Dover the ball was knocked on at the restart and Beckenham would have a scrum 40 metres out. Dover's pack put them under pressure but were penalised for breaking the bind and yes you guessed it the penalty made its way over from 40 metres. 18-17 with 90 seconds to play had Dover another chance. Indeed they did Dover flooded the restart and won their own penalty within 40 metres of goal. It was now down to Phillips but once more his usual accuracy eluded him, the chance gone Dover defeated.
On a positive note Dover did receive a losing bonus point to maintain their league position but their away form remains a concern. This Saturday Dover must again travel up the M20 this time to Sidcup who lie a couple of places above Dover in the standings. The game will be under floodlights with a 3pm kick off.
Team:
LUCAS, SAVAGE, WALKER-SMITH, D TONKS ( Capt.), SLUMAN, CHANDLER, FOSTER, DAVISON, CRAWFORD, PHILLIPS, SEDGWICK, AYLING, L TONKS, ANNAKIE, ELDRIDGE, FARRIS, COOPER, BLOWERS.
Scorers:
Tries: WALKER-SMITH, ELDRIDGE, ANNAKIE
Conv. PHILLIPS x 1