Sat 27 Oct 2018
There was definitely a touch of winter in the air as DK travelled to Malvern for the first time in several years for a league fixture. For those who do not know the Spring Lane pitch, it has a slope from the clubhouse corner diagonally across the pitch, and the wind was blowing straight down the pitch from the clubhouse end.
DK started the first half with the elements in their favour, though the opening quarter showed that Malvern were up for the fight, they were able to edge the territory game and were awarded two kickable penalties one of which recorded their opening points 3-0 to Malvern. The referee Mr McMahon was very diligent on the off-side lines and high tackles, and this lead to Arran Hudson being given a Yellow card for the number of off-sides, DK had conceded in the first quarter.
DK started the first half with the elements in their favour, though the opening quarter showed that Malvern were up for the fight, they were able to edge the territory game and were awarded two kickable penalties one of which recorded their opening points 3-0 to Malvern. The referee Mr McMahon was very diligent on the off-side lines and high tackles, and this lead to Arran Hudson being given a Yellow card for the number of off-sides, DK had conceded in the first quarter.
DK took stock and started to come back into the game, their backs were able to make ground when periods of phase play were put together, Malvern’s defensive line was being shortened and DK were able to exploit the wide channels. On one such attack Sam Vaughan was injured following a tackle which would have had a TMO looking at it, Sam received a Shoulder injury and went to Hospital as a precaution, this led to some more reorganisation for DK with Mitch Grealey moving into the centre for the rest of the game.
With time running out in the first half, and the conditions would soon be favouring Malvern, DK struck first a penalty was sent into the corner, the line out won and a snipe around the back by number 8 Pete Griffiths, who dented the Malvern fringe defence, and second row Matt Perks came on a strong line on Pete’s inside the slip pass put Matt through a gap in the defensive line, and he opened DK’s scoring with a try, with Sam off the field, Nick Adams added the extras, DK 7-3 to the good.
With time running out in the first half, and the conditions would soon be favouring Malvern, DK struck first a penalty was sent into the corner, the line out won and a snipe around the back by number 8 Pete Griffiths, who dented the Malvern fringe defence, and second row Matt Perks came on a strong line on Pete’s inside the slip pass put Matt through a gap in the defensive line, and he opened DK’s scoring with a try, with Sam off the field, Nick Adams added the extras, DK 7-3 to the good.
Moments later, DK were awarded a penalty on the Malvern 22, Jordan Brookes took it quickly and had the retreating defence in all sorts of trouble, he then saw James Fildes taking a cut back line which saw him through the defence and under the posts, plus two more from Nick 14-3 to DK.
Half time and the words of wisdom from the coaches certainly worked by full time but not before a slight hiccup.
The second half started with Malvern pressing hard but their attacks were not having any measure of success against the DK defence, then the hiccup, a Malvern attack had been thwarted on the DK right and then Nick Adams threw an inside pass for a clearing kick, but there was nobody there a grateful Malvern player touched down and a conversion made it 14-10 to DK, and the game very much up for grabs.
Half time and the words of wisdom from the coaches certainly worked by full time but not before a slight hiccup.
The second half started with Malvern pressing hard but their attacks were not having any measure of success against the DK defence, then the hiccup, a Malvern attack had been thwarted on the DK right and then Nick Adams threw an inside pass for a clearing kick, but there was nobody there a grateful Malvern player touched down and a conversion made it 14-10 to DK, and the game very much up for grabs.
It was DK that took the game by the scruff of the neck and posed Malvern questions all over the field. Firstly, it must be noted from this point onwards the DK defence stepped up a notch or two, tackles were made and ball turned over.
It was DK who scored a long range try next, the ball had been kicked into the DK 22, and the team had reorganised and were then able to release the backs and interplay between Stef Shillingford and Jordan Brookes saw the stand off into to open space in the Malvern half and in for an excellent try, and Nick did the business with the conversion, 21-10 to DK.
Almost, the next DK attack saw the same combination of Shillingford and Brookes through the line, but they were stopped and at the following ruck the Malvern 7 was Yellow carded for preventing release at the ruck.
The ensuing penalty was kicked into the right-hand corner for a 5 metre line-out; the line out drill worked well, catch and drive then out pops Matt Squires for his second try, 26-10 to DK.
It was DK who scored a long range try next, the ball had been kicked into the DK 22, and the team had reorganised and were then able to release the backs and interplay between Stef Shillingford and Jordan Brookes saw the stand off into to open space in the Malvern half and in for an excellent try, and Nick did the business with the conversion, 21-10 to DK.
Almost, the next DK attack saw the same combination of Shillingford and Brookes through the line, but they were stopped and at the following ruck the Malvern 7 was Yellow carded for preventing release at the ruck.
The ensuing penalty was kicked into the right-hand corner for a 5 metre line-out; the line out drill worked well, catch and drive then out pops Matt Squires for his second try, 26-10 to DK.
Malvern were still endeavouring to get back in the game and they did force Mitch Grealey to put in a tackle following a quick penalty before the runner had gone far enough, which earnt him a yellow card.
It was the DK forwards that had the next say in the game, once again a line-out in the Malvern 22 almost the same spot, this time a ball caught in the middle, a back peel which the forwards controlled well turning it into a maul, then a drive over the line, last man up was the try scorer Dan Marsh, 31-10 to DK.
Into the final minutes and Nick Adams went some way to rectifying his earlier error, there was a ruck on half way, Nick came through the ruck and was able to pick the ball up and he found a clear run to the line under the posts and he converted his own try.
DK are in third place and have a home game against Moseley Oak next week.
It was the DK forwards that had the next say in the game, once again a line-out in the Malvern 22 almost the same spot, this time a ball caught in the middle, a back peel which the forwards controlled well turning it into a maul, then a drive over the line, last man up was the try scorer Dan Marsh, 31-10 to DK.
Into the final minutes and Nick Adams went some way to rectifying his earlier error, there was a ruck on half way, Nick came through the ruck and was able to pick the ball up and he found a clear run to the line under the posts and he converted his own try.
DK are in third place and have a home game against Moseley Oak next week.
