Fri 1 Mar 2019, 19:45
A 42-7 win at Moseley Oak was certainly job done, 5 league points and the pressure put unto both Newbold on Avon, and Whitchurch in their games. The performance was an improvement on recent weeks, but there are still areas of the game, in which DK can become more clinical.
The conditions at Billesley Common, were excellent a firm pitch, a clear night and little of no wind to contend with, and a temperature a few degrees above what you would expect on the 1st March, DK took full advantage of the weather and got off to a storming start, with two early tries. The first was from a line out in the Oak 22 following a Sam Vaughan penalty into the corner on the DK right. The line out produced quick ball and Connah Jones fed the backs, out to Jordan Brookes who gave the ball to Stef Shillingford on the scissors, Stef made some ground then passed back to Jordan Brookes who had run a supporting line and was clean through the defence and under the posts, Sam Vaughan added the extras 7-0 to DK.
Moments later it was Stef Shillingford over the try line; another lineout on the right hand side this time the forwards set up a driving maul and made ground before releasing the backs this time it was straight out across the DK line to Charlie Baffour, who started a determined run down the wing but, the defence was well aware of the threat he posed and overcommitted to him and an inside pass saw Stef Shillingford in support and a run to the line, with Sam on target it was 14-0 to DK.
During the middle part of the first half DK were able to stretch the Oak defence and the back three was to the forefront with runs down both wings, though the Oak defence was stressed it did manage to stop these attacks with hard work and a level of inaccuracy from DK.
Often within rugby matches the momentum switches, and towards the end of the half, the Oak side started to build back into the game and they started to get on the front foot, and were mounting some attacks which were testing the DK defence, which remained firm but was finding it hard to reverse the Oak possession at this point. Oak were rewarded with a try following their period of pressure, the score was now 14-7 to DK.
The Oak try seemed to release their pressure and DK came back into the game in the final minutes of the first half, and it was the ever impressive Matt Perks who crossed the Oak line to score the try and 5 became 7 thanks to Sam Vaughan, 21-7 to DK and into half time.
DK started the second half well and were soon attacking well and keeping Oak pinned back, but once again it was their own mistakes that kept them from adding to their lead and Oak took advantage and started to move the game into the DK half and build some pressure of their own following a couple of DK infringements in quick succession, Oak were streaming down their right wing and the move was only brought to an end by Nick Adams hanging on to the ball, and taking a Yellow card for the team.
DK then rebooted their defence for the period of 14 men and kept out Oak with some excellent defensive play, strong tackling and no indiscipline, kept Oak at bay, and saw DK move the game away from their line.
Back to 15 DK were starting to press for their fourth try, and it came following a scrum on the DK left the back row drove the ball from the base drawing in the close defenders and then the ball was out to Jordan Brookes who fed Stef Shillingford who crashed the ball into the Oak defence, but returned the ball to Jordan just before contact the stand-off, then checked the defence and gave the ball back to Stef who was then able to make the line for the bonus point try, over to Sam and it was 28-7 to DK.
DK were suddenly in full attack mode and running excellent lines and stretching the Oak defence from side to side, but to their credit they were giving ground but not breaking. One such attack, almost unlocked the Oak defence when Jordan Brookes tried a flip behind him but it took the supporting player by surprise and hit the ground, though an advantage was being played and from the subsequent penalty a kick to the corner saw the DK forwards drive the ball infield and threaten the line only to lose the ball a couple of meters short under the posts.
Oak recovered from the spell of DK attacks and mounted their own, only to have the ball intercepted on the DK 22, and Stef Shillingford sprinting under the posts for his third try plus the two from Sam 35-7 to DK.
DK were not quite done, and the final try came from a concerned attack, with the Oak defence committing players in the centre of the field, Jordan Brookes kicked the ball to Charlie Baffour on the left wing, he took it on the run and went for the line, but a tackle came in, but on his inside was Connah Jones, who took the pass and carried two defenders over the line with him, Sam added the extras to make the final score 42-7 to DK.
It was good to see Sam Vaughan back to his best from the tee with six out of six; it makes such a difference to the scoreboard.
This result adds pressure to Newbold on Avon, and Whitchurch, who now know they have to get five pointers on Saturday afternoon. It also means that next week’s Home game with Newbold on Avon is vital, so we need everyone at Heathbrook to cheer the lads on.
The conditions at Billesley Common, were excellent a firm pitch, a clear night and little of no wind to contend with, and a temperature a few degrees above what you would expect on the 1st March, DK took full advantage of the weather and got off to a storming start, with two early tries. The first was from a line out in the Oak 22 following a Sam Vaughan penalty into the corner on the DK right. The line out produced quick ball and Connah Jones fed the backs, out to Jordan Brookes who gave the ball to Stef Shillingford on the scissors, Stef made some ground then passed back to Jordan Brookes who had run a supporting line and was clean through the defence and under the posts, Sam Vaughan added the extras 7-0 to DK.
Moments later it was Stef Shillingford over the try line; another lineout on the right hand side this time the forwards set up a driving maul and made ground before releasing the backs this time it was straight out across the DK line to Charlie Baffour, who started a determined run down the wing but, the defence was well aware of the threat he posed and overcommitted to him and an inside pass saw Stef Shillingford in support and a run to the line, with Sam on target it was 14-0 to DK.
During the middle part of the first half DK were able to stretch the Oak defence and the back three was to the forefront with runs down both wings, though the Oak defence was stressed it did manage to stop these attacks with hard work and a level of inaccuracy from DK.
Often within rugby matches the momentum switches, and towards the end of the half, the Oak side started to build back into the game and they started to get on the front foot, and were mounting some attacks which were testing the DK defence, which remained firm but was finding it hard to reverse the Oak possession at this point. Oak were rewarded with a try following their period of pressure, the score was now 14-7 to DK.
The Oak try seemed to release their pressure and DK came back into the game in the final minutes of the first half, and it was the ever impressive Matt Perks who crossed the Oak line to score the try and 5 became 7 thanks to Sam Vaughan, 21-7 to DK and into half time.
DK started the second half well and were soon attacking well and keeping Oak pinned back, but once again it was their own mistakes that kept them from adding to their lead and Oak took advantage and started to move the game into the DK half and build some pressure of their own following a couple of DK infringements in quick succession, Oak were streaming down their right wing and the move was only brought to an end by Nick Adams hanging on to the ball, and taking a Yellow card for the team.
DK then rebooted their defence for the period of 14 men and kept out Oak with some excellent defensive play, strong tackling and no indiscipline, kept Oak at bay, and saw DK move the game away from their line.
Back to 15 DK were starting to press for their fourth try, and it came following a scrum on the DK left the back row drove the ball from the base drawing in the close defenders and then the ball was out to Jordan Brookes who fed Stef Shillingford who crashed the ball into the Oak defence, but returned the ball to Jordan just before contact the stand-off, then checked the defence and gave the ball back to Stef who was then able to make the line for the bonus point try, over to Sam and it was 28-7 to DK.
DK were suddenly in full attack mode and running excellent lines and stretching the Oak defence from side to side, but to their credit they were giving ground but not breaking. One such attack, almost unlocked the Oak defence when Jordan Brookes tried a flip behind him but it took the supporting player by surprise and hit the ground, though an advantage was being played and from the subsequent penalty a kick to the corner saw the DK forwards drive the ball infield and threaten the line only to lose the ball a couple of meters short under the posts.
Oak recovered from the spell of DK attacks and mounted their own, only to have the ball intercepted on the DK 22, and Stef Shillingford sprinting under the posts for his third try plus the two from Sam 35-7 to DK.
DK were not quite done, and the final try came from a concerned attack, with the Oak defence committing players in the centre of the field, Jordan Brookes kicked the ball to Charlie Baffour on the left wing, he took it on the run and went for the line, but a tackle came in, but on his inside was Connah Jones, who took the pass and carried two defenders over the line with him, Sam added the extras to make the final score 42-7 to DK.
It was good to see Sam Vaughan back to his best from the tee with six out of six; it makes such a difference to the scoreboard.
This result adds pressure to Newbold on Avon, and Whitchurch, who now know they have to get five pointers on Saturday afternoon. It also means that next week’s Home game with Newbold on Avon is vital, so we need everyone at Heathbrook to cheer the lads on.
