Dorking 13 - Wimbledon 10
Mar
Dorking secured another victory and amazingly with this being the third victory in a row, it was the first time this term that they have either won or lost more than two games in succession. This inconsistency has been the main problem for Dorking this season as exceptional wins such as Haywards Heath in September and the massive turn around vs Beckenham have been liberally interspersed with dire defeats.
A strong finish to the season is vital to give momentum into the off season and if Dorking can secure a couple more wins, along with a couple of other results going their way, fourth place could yet be theirs. That is the goal and befits the talent available to Director of Rugby Richie Andrews and his team of coaches. With several returning students and no one leaving or retiring, Dorking look well placed to build on the efforts thus far.
The game this past Saturday was almost the season in microcosm. In spite of the utterly atrocious conditions, Dorking managed some magnificent handling and running, yet at other times they allowed Wimbledon to dominate territory and possession for lengthy spells. It was apparent that although perhaps the visitor’s will to win was greater, their abilities did not quite match this will.
Dorking, by contract showed the flashes of ability throughout the team that can put the frighteners up any side in this league. A burst of speed from Eric Liebenberg, the giant loose-head prop, taking him past opposing three quarters; 12 stone winger Ryan Lucas taking on the visiting blind side wing forward and winning their boshing contest and Simon Love making a chump of his opposite man in the space of three strides with one of his very few touches of the ball. Another impressive aspect was the press-ganging of loose head prop Dominic Elsbury at hooker. Wiggum is the seventh hooker used in the first team this season and while he can claim no special talent in that department, only one scrum was lost against the head and when the mood took them, Dorking shunted Wimbledon around at scrum time.
However, most important for the result was Jason Roy adroitly chipping over the onrushing defense and re-gathering the wickedly bouncing ball to score under the posts. Roy once again showed touches of real class and a sound temperament, especially considering his youth and the continual sledging from his opponents.
The try was converted by full back Stuart Fee who also struck two penalties and remarkably only missed with one attempt at goal in the squalid weather while Wimbledon scored one try of their own after a slightly dubious forward pass and well taken conversion and an excellent penalty into the wind. The picking and driving of the South London side was impressive but literally all that was seen from them in attack until the game drew to a close and they threw caution to the wind and used their three quarters at last. Dorking managed to repel the final onslaught to secure the victory.
With another week off in the rather drawn out end of season rites, Dorking have plenty of time to prepare for the jaunt to Tunbridge Wells on the 12th April and the season’s denouement on the 19th April against Old Colfeians.
Dorking Squad: Liebenberg, Elsbury, Kelly, Carloss (Burgess 65), Kruis, Roux (Capt) Lucas B, Geldenhuys, Cummings, Roy, Gardner, Kemp, Love, Lucas R, Fee. Not used: O’Brien, Newcastle
