Sat 8 Sep 2018
DK v Whitchurch Match Report
Both teams came into the game with an opening day win, so the expectation in this early season game was high from both sides. The pre-match showers had cleared away, but the wind was starting to strengthen, though was it going to have a big influence on the game?
DK kicked towards the clubhouse in the first half enjoying the advantage of the wind behind them, the game started with a period of probing from both sides in the midfield with defences doing the job effectively. Though, it was DK who scored first on ten minutes, following a period of ball retention a ruck in the centre of the field allowed Jordan Brookes to exploit a lack of defence close to the ruck, and a fine run broke through the defensive line, Jordan was almost to the line when he was tackled by the Whitchurch’s last defender, Gareth Bown, Jordan’s half back partner was tracking the run and had a run in under the posts from the off load, Sam Vaughan made it 7-0 DK.
DK kicked towards the clubhouse in the first half enjoying the advantage of the wind behind them, the game started with a period of probing from both sides in the midfield with defences doing the job effectively. Though, it was DK who scored first on ten minutes, following a period of ball retention a ruck in the centre of the field allowed Jordan Brookes to exploit a lack of defence close to the ruck, and a fine run broke through the defensive line, Jordan was almost to the line when he was tackled by the Whitchurch’s last defender, Gareth Bown, Jordan’s half back partner was tracking the run and had a run in under the posts from the off load, Sam Vaughan made it 7-0 DK.
DK were in the ascendancy at this stage of the game and were applying pressure on the Whitchurch defence following a penalty kicked into the corner, the DK line out went to work a Matt Perks catch then the drive at the front of the line, which was temporarily halted but the DK forwards reset and rolled the maul back in field and drove the ball over the line, with Mitch Grealey taking the congratulations from the rest of the pack, no conversion so 12-0 to DK.
For the remainder of the half DK were applying the pressure, first there was a period of phase play and a Stef Shillingford break followed by a kick to the corner alas nothing came from the line out. DK were moving the ball right to left when Mitch Grealey surged through in the outside centre channel and interpassed with Leo Davies, the winger was forced into touch what could only be described as inches from the try line.
The last significant action of the half saw a DK counter attack stopped by a deliberate knock-on, which referee Sarah Toll correctly gave a yellow card, Sarah controlled the game with a calm authority, and personally I thought she had a very good game.
Half time DK 12-0 up, but the game was still to be won, and the wind was getting up.
DK started the second half well, and scored first, a DK scrummage around the Whitchurch 10metre line close to the touchline on the DK right, saw a very effective attack down the short side, first a pick up by Jordan Brookes and dart down the short side, putting Leo Davies into space the winger accelerated down the wing and was able to feed the ball into flanker Mitch Grealey who was able to keep the move going into the Whitchurch 22, then back to Jordan Brookes, who put in a cross field kick, with Nick Adams and Tommy Walker flooding into the space, Nick Adams collected the ball and was in in the corner, and Sam Vaughan added the extras from the touchline with an excellent kick 19-0 to DK.
The last significant action of the half saw a DK counter attack stopped by a deliberate knock-on, which referee Sarah Toll correctly gave a yellow card, Sarah controlled the game with a calm authority, and personally I thought she had a very good game.
Half time DK 12-0 up, but the game was still to be won, and the wind was getting up.
DK started the second half well, and scored first, a DK scrummage around the Whitchurch 10metre line close to the touchline on the DK right, saw a very effective attack down the short side, first a pick up by Jordan Brookes and dart down the short side, putting Leo Davies into space the winger accelerated down the wing and was able to feed the ball into flanker Mitch Grealey who was able to keep the move going into the Whitchurch 22, then back to Jordan Brookes, who put in a cross field kick, with Nick Adams and Tommy Walker flooding into the space, Nick Adams collected the ball and was in in the corner, and Sam Vaughan added the extras from the touchline with an excellent kick 19-0 to DK.
DK were back on the attack, when they had a period that could only be called a coach killer from a DK attacking to a Whitchurch try, multiple errors which meant, that the scramble defence was not able to stop the attack, and Whitchurch had 7 points from a converted try, 19-7 to DK.
Whitchurch to their credit seized the momentum and started to build pressure, but they were to release it when they were deep in the DK 22 and the DK full back Nick Adams intercepted a pass and went the length of the pitch to score the try which gave DK the try bonus point, Nick had left Sam with a kick under the posts, which he kicked for a 26-7 lead to DK.
Whitchurch to their credit seized the momentum and started to build pressure, but they were to release it when they were deep in the DK 22 and the DK full back Nick Adams intercepted a pass and went the length of the pitch to score the try which gave DK the try bonus point, Nick had left Sam with a kick under the posts, which he kicked for a 26-7 lead to DK.
Into the last quarter of the game, and Whitchurch had the elements behind them now and it was noticeable how much the wind had got up, and the momentum had swung in Whitchurch’s favour. Whitchurch took advantage and scored two tries converting them both so the lead was now only 26-21.
The more nervous DK spectators were starting to look anxiously at their watches and wonder how much added on time. When DK fought back and established some field position and it was Skipper Stef Shillingford who was put through a gap in the defence for DK’s fifth try, for a score line of 33-21.
Next week DK travel to Bromsgrove for a top of the table clash.
The more nervous DK spectators were starting to look anxiously at their watches and wonder how much added on time. When DK fought back and established some field position and it was Skipper Stef Shillingford who was put through a gap in the defence for DK’s fifth try, for a score line of 33-21.
Next week DK travel to Bromsgrove for a top of the table clash.
