For DK’s older supporters a trip to Newbold on Avon, brought back memories of the pre-league days when this fixture was always the game on the opening Saturday of the season and it was always a tough encounter, but it was the fundamental to the club game at that time.

Back to the present, the pitch at NoA is similar to those at Hereford and Malvern in that it dips towards one corner, though the surface was in prime condition and offered no excuse, to either side. The weather conditions were ideal for rugby, but the feel on winter was there especially in the areas of shadow were the lack of temperature was noticeable, the wind was not going to be an influence being very light.

The game was matching first v third, so it promised to be a compelling game to watch, with a contrast in playing styles, with NoA playing a more forward orientated game combined with tactical kicking and DK much more of a phase play game and the running threat, from all areas of the field.

The game started with both teams settling into the game and the referee establishing the off-side lines and there were a number of penalties early on for that offence and it was from one that DK opened the scoring, Jordan Brookes took a quick tap which surprised the NoA defence and he was able to get into their 22 and was able to off-load to number 8 Pete Griffiths who was able to reach the line 5-0 to DK.

Almost immediately after the resulting kick off NoA were awarded a penalty in front of the DK posts and took the points to make the score 5-3 to DK.

DK were soon back on the scoreboard, with what turned out to be a magnificent effort, from unlikely beginnings, DK were forced to relieve a period of NoA pressure with a clearing kick which found touch just inside the NoA half, the subsequent throw found its way to Pete Griffiths at the back of the line, who carried the ball forward, and DK were able to win clean ball and set the backs going and a combination of Brookes and Hancox made a large hole for Stef Shillingford to power through, then with the NoA cover converging on him, he had spotted the DK hooker James Fildes unmarked back near the touch line on the side that the line out had been then a superb cross kick, left James with the task on collecting the ball and touching it down for DK’s second try, this time Jordan Brookes added the extras, so 12-3 to DK.

In the middle part of the first half NoA tried to establish field position with a series of long kicks, but DK countered this tactic with a willingness to run the ball back and they were in turn able to stress the NoA kick chase and able to negate the NoA tactic, James Jefferson, Stef Shillingford and Leo Davies all made telling runs out of defence.

Though, NoA persisted in this from of attack and were able later in the half to build a period of pressure near the DK line and defended manfully, until the referee adjudged that an offence at a ruck was worthy of a penalty try so it was 12-10 to DK.

DK were soon extending their lead this time it was down to the backs to finish it, a solid DK scrum on the NoA 10 metre line saw the ball quickly moved to the outside centre Stef Shillingford who made a breach in the line, an off-load back inside to his centre partner Will Hancox, who held his ground and fed the ball back to left wing Leo Davies who came on a cleverly angled run through the gap that Stef had made and he was able to reach the line for another try, with Jordan converting 19-10 to DK.

In the remaining few minutes of the half NoA kicked a goal to reduce the lead to 19-13, whereas when DK were awarded a penalty moments later it was into the corner for the line out, but NoA held out to half time with the score at 19-13 to DK.

The half time team talks would have interesting to eaves drop, with the game still very much in the balance.

The second half could be split into three sections the first was a period of about 10 to 15 minutes where both teams played in the centre of the field and it yielded no points.

Though, NoA then had their purple patch and scored three tries and took the lead 30-19, the first was a disappointment for DK, following a scrummage NoA moved the ball to the right and when it got to the wing there was a 2 on 1 which made the initial breach in the DK defence, though the DK cover was making ground to tackle the winger but he was able to stay in play and make the line 19-18 to DK.

The next NoA try was down to the slope allowing NoA to gain field possession following a line out. Though, the following period of play lasted what seemed like an age With the NoA attack retaining the ball for numerous phases and the DK defence making the required tackles, then the chance, DK ran out of defenders and NoA were in under the posts 25-19 to NoA.

NoA then scored again to make in a 2 score game, a scrummage on the left going into the bottom corner saw a number 8 pickup down the blindside cause the defence to bite in and the NoA left wing was given the chance down the wing which he took, but the turned out to be a vital conversion was missed, 30-19.

The pendulum of momentum swung back in DK’s favour during the rest of the game, DK started to regain possession of the ball and gained field position, while NoA seemed happy to see the game out.

Into the last ten minutes and DK were piling on the pressure, and they launched an attack from right to left, across the full length of the pitch. With the cover streaming across the field James Jefferson stepped back and beat his tackler and the cover defence was also over committed and could not halt the full back, so in went Speedy out wide the score now 30-24 to NoA.

With NoA desperate to dictate the game, it was DK that were back on the attack and Will Hancox and Callum Nicholls were gaining ground on the DK right, and the industrious hooker James Fildes was in support again and was willed to the line by the combined DK support, more importantly he was under the posts 30-29 to NoA.

Jordan Brookes lined up the kick, not the best of contacts onto the left hand upright and over 31-30 to DK.

Then perhaps the defining period of play, DK caught the kick off and retained the ball for numerous phases continually asking the referee how much time left until they ran the clock down and the ball into touch for the win.