Dorking 45 - Sevenoaks 7
Mar
Dorking returned to form after the Haywards Heath debacle with a
scintillescent performance reminiscent of the headier days in London 3 and
4. The fact that the defeat guaranteed Sevenoaks' relegation shows that
Dorking definitely have the ability to be in London 2 but also that
Sevenoaks probably only have the playing resources to survive in London 3.
The game started at breakneck speed with Skipper Armand Roux, fit again wing
forward Ben Lucas and, making his first start in place of the now
re-domiciled Ruan Couvelis, Greg Bateman making immediate and conspicuous
inroads into the visiting defence. With the sun shining but with a chill
breeze blowing directly across the pitch, the game was played almost
exclusively on the East touchline.
Another player making his first start at home, 17 year old Jason Roy, belied
his lack of years to play with a calm authority at fly half. His measured
passing and deft kicking along with the occasional berserker moment when he
would charge headlong into an opposing forward kept the Sevenoaks defence
constantly guessing. Through the space that Roy was able to conjure, the
Dorking players poured. Dorking could have scored several times in the
opening moments had they not go a little carried away with having the space
to play and slipped into 7's mode. Unfortunately, having not started 7's
training, the accuracy was not quite there to finish the promising breaks
off.
It was through far more prosaic means that Dorking opened the scoring. A
scrum after a well-chased kick from Roy deep in the Sevenoaks 22 was solid
and after a couple of phases of battering from the forwards and the setting
up of a rolling maul, another welcome returnee, Qin Wiseman was last to rise
with the ball to claim the score. Richard Kemp duly converted to take
Dorking out to a 7-0 lead.
Shortly afterwards, more good field position and a scrum against the head
presented Wiseman with the simplest of scores. As the ball squirted out the
side, Roux picked up, drew the fly half and popped to Wiseman who easily
held off the covering defence to score. Kicking across the wind proved
beyond Kemp and the conversion was missed.
With the lineout proving something of a lottery and neither side able to
gain supremacy in the scrums; it was through broken play where Dorking had
the advantage. The game had a loose feel perhaps because Sevenoaks were
resigned to their fate and Dorking took advantage. Scything breaks from
Simon Love and Ryan Lucas in the backs were neatly allied to some slick
handling in the forwards. Peculiarly though, Dorking's third try of the
half came again from straight-forward forward battering with leviathan Eric
Liebenberg showing his considerable strength to force his way over from
short range.
As the half drew to a close, Love again showed why he can be so dangerous
when he stepped past 4 players in succession and then injected surprising
pace to leave the defenders grasping at air as he cantered over under the
posts. Kemp popped his third successful kick over to take the Red and
Whites to a 26-0 lead at the break. Not much in the way of stern words were
required by the coaching panel but perhaps the advice was a trifle too
relaxed as Sevenoaks tore into Dorking at the start of the second period.
In spite of being coachless, the visitors were clearly more motivated at the
kick off. A horribly miscued kickoff worked in their favour as it dropped
over the 10 metre line with their replacement back row, apparently an
England youth player, making a clean catch and a strong surge to put Dorking
under immediate pressure.
So, within 2 minutes of the kick off, Dorking were on their own line and
perhaps still contemplating their post match refreshment. Sevenoaks took
advantage of this collective mind wandering to sneak over in the corner.
Several Dorking players contested the score after the game, claiming the
ball was the only part of the scorer not in touch but to their credit,
Dorking did not let this momentary lapse interfere with the flow of the game
as a whole.
The second half continued much as the first had with Sevenoaks defending as
best they could and Dorking breaking out almost at will. The introduction
of the clearly motivated Dom Elsbury and Rob Carloss upped the ante on the
physicality side of the game but Dorking were able to score another three
tries. Greg Bateman, marking his first start with a bullocking, trademark
tongue waggling run to score before a firm clump on the nose was to see the
end of his afternoon's work. Liebenberg returned and within moments had his
second score. The final score was taken with panache by the ever-talismanic
Roux who was shown the outside by the visiting fly half and took it before
vaulting over the line. Kemp was to prove successful with two of the three
conversion attempts to take Dorking out to a 45-7 lead - the eventual final
score.
The game was to end on a sad note when one of the visiting players suffered
a hideous compound fracture of the forearm. Many thought this would be a
good time to finish but the referee played on for a couple of minutes
although no-one had much interest by this point. Fortunately, a plethora of
medical assistance was available on the touchline with orthopaedic surgeons
and paramedics spectating and all hope for a speedy recover.
Dorking now find themselves in the position of needing one more win to
secure their place in London 2 for next season. Happily, the opportunity
comes with the trip to Guildford next week. Guildford defeated Dorking at
home at the start of the season and it is a result that has rankled for the
entire year. Dorking will be most keen to right this wrong and to secure
their future in the process. As previously reported, these are exciting
times at the Big Field. The ambitious redevelopment plans will need a
competitive side to do it justice and with the talent of the youthful
players coming through and the hard experience won in this tough season will
stand Dorking in good stead for a sustained assault on the league next year.
Dorking Squad: Liebenberg, Bateman, Kelly, Burgess, Kruis, Roux, Lucas B,
Wiseman, Shepherd, Roy, Failes, Kemp, Love, Keenan, Lucas R. Subs: Elsbury,
Carloss, Fee
