Sat 9 Mar 2019, 15:00
DK welcomed Newbold on Avon, to Heathbrook, for a “Must Win” game for both clubs, the first game between the clubs had seen a hard fought encounter with DK winning at Newbold 31-30, in a memorable game. So with the Heathbrook pitch bearing up well, despite the week’s rain it had endured things looked set fair for another close contest. Though, the wind got up during the afternoon, and was strong enough to add its mark unto the game.
The game was one of those old style confrontations that the league pyramid has somewhat killed off above level six. That being the contrast in styles brought about by the players available to each club. It was a case of the DK’s threats in their back division, versus the Newbold’s strength in the forwards, a scenario that was far more common before leagues were adopted. With both teams needing a win they were somewhat forced into the respective plan A’s no matter what developed.
DK started the game with the wind at their backs and enjoyed the early field position, and started to impose their game on Newbold, and the was an early penalty to DK, and the importance of the game was soon communicated to the DK faithful, because Sam Vaughan was called upon to kick at goal, rather than the corner. Sam’s form from the tee continued from the previous week as the ball sailed through the posts, DK 3-0 up.
DK soon increased their lead, it was all down to the front row, a strike against the head, and DK quickly got the ball into stand off Jordan Brookes’ hands on half way. It was one of those occasions that develop when a side is setup for attack and the ball is lost. Jordan, started to carry the ball and take the ground offered by the defence, being in their attacking positions, he was on a diagonal run and the Newbold outside backs came up, and were out of the game when instead of the pass Jordan kept the ball and in angled run took him clean through the line, the Newbold full back recovered to halt his diagonal progress. Causing Jordan to cut back to his left, then the realisation that there was no one in front of him only recovering players bearing down on him, he had the composure to stride out for the line, for a great individual try, converted by Sam for 10-0, but don’t forget the front row especially Matt Squire, for this one.
During the middle section of the first half, DK were gaining some control over the game and were certainly winning the tactical kicking game, in particular Nick Adams was putting in some monster kicks, and the Newbold full back on a couple of occasions strayed outside their 22 before kicking and found touch on the full, with the lineout being brought back.
From this field position DK were able to put Newbold under real pressure, one move saw DK move the ball from a set piece across the field from right to left with first Jordan Brookes and then Stef Shillingford attacking the line before releasing Charlie Baffour, who was stopped then the ball was returned to the right and all the way to Tommy Walker, who was denied a try by a forward pass.
Forward passes were to become a reoccurring theme in the remainder of the game, for both sides.
DK added a second try, from a line out on their left and swift ball transference saw Charlie Baffour into space, and that now familiar run down the touchline to score in front of the promenade deck, Sam maintained his good kicking form, so it was now 17-0 to DK.
In the final minutes of the half Newbold gain supremacy and started to gain field position and were forcing the DK defence to give away penalties, they were building up a head of steam and at one point looked to be going in for a try, when they were halted by a forward pass decision. Though on the stroke of half time they were rewarded with a try which was converted, so at half time it was 17-7.
The half time messages needed to be spot on for both teams, the game was far from decided and there was a need to stay on message during the second half.
DK started the second half well into the wind and had a period of ten minutes were they kept hold of the ball, and their third try came from this Callum Nicholls picked up the ball just inside the Newbold half and made a storming run through the heart of the Newbold defence, he was stopped on the 22 but his run had given the DK forwards a point of focus they arrived in numbers and quickly recycled the ball, the backs had also realigned to the right, and the ball was out to Stef Shillingford who straightened the line and made a breach and Jordan Brookes supporting on the inside was able to touch down for his second try, with Sam on target again it was 24-7 to DK.
Newbold started to find their way back into the game with the aid of the wind they were able to move the field position towards the DK half and were able to turn the defence with some subtle kicks, which pinned DK back. Newbold secured a 5 metre scrummage with their own put in and their back row was able to take full advantage, but the conversion was missed so it was now 24-12 to DK.
Into the final quarter of the game and the momentum was swinging towards Newbold, they were controlling the ball and playing the majority of the game in the DK half, but DK were still capable of posing threats and it was Tommy Walker who almost unlocked the Newbold defence with a clever kick through.
Though it was Newbold who made the final minutes of the game really intense when their half back put through a grubber kick which had to be played just in front of the posts, DK were adjudged to have taken the ball over the line, so it was a 5 metre scrummage to Newbold once again the back row picked up and grounded the ball against the base of the post. The kick was good so 24-19 to DK.
There had been an ebb and flow to the game, and Newbold seemed to lose their momentum in the final minutes and it was DK on the attack, into the dying minutes a penalty on the Newbold 22. Into the corner, for one last attack, lost the line out, still playing a scrummage for Newbold in front of their own posts, they win their own ball and it’s off the pitch for the final whistle 24-19 to DK.
The result puts DK into second place by one point from both Newbold and Whitchurch, with four games to go.
Next Friday night DK meet Bridgnorth in the Final of the North Midlands Cup, at Stourbridge.
The game was one of those old style confrontations that the league pyramid has somewhat killed off above level six. That being the contrast in styles brought about by the players available to each club. It was a case of the DK’s threats in their back division, versus the Newbold’s strength in the forwards, a scenario that was far more common before leagues were adopted. With both teams needing a win they were somewhat forced into the respective plan A’s no matter what developed.
DK started the game with the wind at their backs and enjoyed the early field position, and started to impose their game on Newbold, and the was an early penalty to DK, and the importance of the game was soon communicated to the DK faithful, because Sam Vaughan was called upon to kick at goal, rather than the corner. Sam’s form from the tee continued from the previous week as the ball sailed through the posts, DK 3-0 up.
DK soon increased their lead, it was all down to the front row, a strike against the head, and DK quickly got the ball into stand off Jordan Brookes’ hands on half way. It was one of those occasions that develop when a side is setup for attack and the ball is lost. Jordan, started to carry the ball and take the ground offered by the defence, being in their attacking positions, he was on a diagonal run and the Newbold outside backs came up, and were out of the game when instead of the pass Jordan kept the ball and in angled run took him clean through the line, the Newbold full back recovered to halt his diagonal progress. Causing Jordan to cut back to his left, then the realisation that there was no one in front of him only recovering players bearing down on him, he had the composure to stride out for the line, for a great individual try, converted by Sam for 10-0, but don’t forget the front row especially Matt Squire, for this one.
During the middle section of the first half, DK were gaining some control over the game and were certainly winning the tactical kicking game, in particular Nick Adams was putting in some monster kicks, and the Newbold full back on a couple of occasions strayed outside their 22 before kicking and found touch on the full, with the lineout being brought back.
From this field position DK were able to put Newbold under real pressure, one move saw DK move the ball from a set piece across the field from right to left with first Jordan Brookes and then Stef Shillingford attacking the line before releasing Charlie Baffour, who was stopped then the ball was returned to the right and all the way to Tommy Walker, who was denied a try by a forward pass.
Forward passes were to become a reoccurring theme in the remainder of the game, for both sides.
DK added a second try, from a line out on their left and swift ball transference saw Charlie Baffour into space, and that now familiar run down the touchline to score in front of the promenade deck, Sam maintained his good kicking form, so it was now 17-0 to DK.
In the final minutes of the half Newbold gain supremacy and started to gain field position and were forcing the DK defence to give away penalties, they were building up a head of steam and at one point looked to be going in for a try, when they were halted by a forward pass decision. Though on the stroke of half time they were rewarded with a try which was converted, so at half time it was 17-7.
The half time messages needed to be spot on for both teams, the game was far from decided and there was a need to stay on message during the second half.
DK started the second half well into the wind and had a period of ten minutes were they kept hold of the ball, and their third try came from this Callum Nicholls picked up the ball just inside the Newbold half and made a storming run through the heart of the Newbold defence, he was stopped on the 22 but his run had given the DK forwards a point of focus they arrived in numbers and quickly recycled the ball, the backs had also realigned to the right, and the ball was out to Stef Shillingford who straightened the line and made a breach and Jordan Brookes supporting on the inside was able to touch down for his second try, with Sam on target again it was 24-7 to DK.
Newbold started to find their way back into the game with the aid of the wind they were able to move the field position towards the DK half and were able to turn the defence with some subtle kicks, which pinned DK back. Newbold secured a 5 metre scrummage with their own put in and their back row was able to take full advantage, but the conversion was missed so it was now 24-12 to DK.
Into the final quarter of the game and the momentum was swinging towards Newbold, they were controlling the ball and playing the majority of the game in the DK half, but DK were still capable of posing threats and it was Tommy Walker who almost unlocked the Newbold defence with a clever kick through.
Though it was Newbold who made the final minutes of the game really intense when their half back put through a grubber kick which had to be played just in front of the posts, DK were adjudged to have taken the ball over the line, so it was a 5 metre scrummage to Newbold once again the back row picked up and grounded the ball against the base of the post. The kick was good so 24-19 to DK.
There had been an ebb and flow to the game, and Newbold seemed to lose their momentum in the final minutes and it was DK on the attack, into the dying minutes a penalty on the Newbold 22. Into the corner, for one last attack, lost the line out, still playing a scrummage for Newbold in front of their own posts, they win their own ball and it’s off the pitch for the final whistle 24-19 to DK.
The result puts DK into second place by one point from both Newbold and Whitchurch, with four games to go.
Next Friday night DK meet Bridgnorth in the Final of the North Midlands Cup, at Stourbridge.
