Sat 23 Mar 2019, 15:00
DK went into the weekend knowing that to guarantee second place in M1W they needed to win their remaining four games with a try bonus point. The first was a local derby against Old Halesonians at Wassell Grove, DK had lost the corresponding fixture at Heathbrook, so this was potentially a stumbling block.
The Conditions that met the teams were near perfect and there was little wind to contend with, so the large crowd settled down to support their chosen team.
The game opened with both sides probing for an early break through but both defences were resolute early in the game and in looking as if it was a game that would be close early on and open up later.
Though, on 10 minutes DK opened the scoring, it started with a flowing move in midfield where the DK Backs moved the ball across the ball from right to left and sent two runners at the defensive line in the 15 metre channel on the left wing, this did not bring reward so the ball was swung back across the field to Nick Adams who was operating on the right wing, after a probe down the flank, he turned inside and was making ground, when he was stopped the referee’s whistle went in favour of DK. Into the Corner. Then, that fortune that helps, a poor throw was somehow collected by the peeling Matt Perks who drove for the line, from this drive good ball was achieved by the DK forwards and the ball was out amongst the DK backs, Jordan Brookes then fed Matt Squires with an inside pass and the flanker was hauled down under the posts just short of the line, once again the DK forwards gave quick ball to the backs and it was sped across them into the hands of Charlie Baffour who crossed the line in the corner, and 5 became 7 when Sam Vaughan kicked the conversion from the touchline.
The next period of play was the unwelcome period for DK supporters and they had seen it many occasions this season, a period of play where the DK defence is confined in their own 22 and the opposition forwards grind their way over the line, normally with the help of penalties for offside, this is what happened and it was loose head prop, Tom Dempsey who came up with the try, it went unconverted, so 7-5 to DK.
The DK defence tightened up and were able to negate a period of Hales territorial pressure. This led to DK relieving pressure with a long kick from their 22 almost to the Hales 22, the fullback collected the ball, but DK were rewarded for a good kick chase when the fullback was forced to pass to his wing who knocked on. From the scrum DK were able to start a series of attacks and were rewarded by a midfield run by Jordan Brookes led to a pass to Dan Marsh who started one of his open field runs he was tackled but it led to a DK penalty, into the corner.
From the ensuing lineout DK were able to mount a series of attacks and the Old Hales line cracked when the industrious Charlie Baffour came off his wing and looked for work in midfield, he was able to make a breach in the Hales defensive line, and support was on hand in the shape of hooker James Fildes who powered for the posts, but was not going to make it but James had seen Will Hancox flood up in support, so he put in an accurate little grubber kick that invited Will to touch down for DK’s second try, and Sam hit the extras 14-5 to DK.
DK were in charge of the game coming into the final minutes of the first half, they were testing the resolve of the Hales defensive line with varied attacks, the final try came from one of these attacks, a right hand side scrummage saw the ball moved swiftly out the Charlie Baffour on the left wing then the ball was recycled back into midfield and then Stef Shillingford got outside his defender and started to run back towards the right hand corner, when the defence got across to him an offload back inside went to Connah Jones but was fumbled backwards but the DK forwards arrived in the shape of Matt Perks to score the try, again Sam hit the money from out wide, 21-5 to DK and Half time.
Half time, over to the coaches, their messages to the teams will be important.
Old Hales lifted their intensity in the opening minutes of the second half and tried to knock DK off their stride, and the opening period of the half was summarised by a brawl in front of the main stand. The situation was dealt with calmly by Referee Swart, who took his time and defused the situation and Yellow carded one player from each side.
The resulting penalty went to Hales and this saw a period similar to the one at the start of the first half with DK defending, and constantly being adjudged offside, and another penalty allowing Hales to build pressure, but this time DK were able to keep their try line intact.
The second half was mirroring the first half, and it was now DK’s turn to apply the pressure and they certainly did that with their next attack, a multi-phase passage saw them stress the Hales defence and a deliberate knock on was spotted, but the ball ran into the path of Matt Perks who drove for the line, but was stopped short, and no second chance for Hales the Referee was off under the posts for a Penalty Try due to the deliberate knock on earlier in the move, 28-5 to DK. The knowledgeable DK support gave out a sigh of relief with the fourth try securing the all-important bonus point.
The DK bench came on and all three were able to use their freshness to advantage against a tiring Hales team.
DK should have had a further try when following another period of multi-phase attacking there was an opportunity for Charlie Baffour out wide, but instead of going through the hands of the outside backs a long miss pass was thrown and it somewhat yorkered Charlie and the try was left out there.
Hales were still fighting hard and won a scrummage on the DK 22, the moved the ball towards their left wing and the ball was intercepted by Nick Adams and he was off, only to put a foot in touch on half way.
By this stage DK were in control of the game and I must report, that during the next DK attack replacement prop Jake Thompson was put through a gap in midfield an then beat the next would-be tackler with a sublime dummy, one for the DK front row union.
The final DK try followed a series of DK scrummages leading to the Hales 22, where the backs line up for a run to the left, leaving a big blindside, following the replacements Josh Brown was operating at number 8, he picked up and went blind, Joe Dunn looped around him and a Josh offload and a well-timed pass by Joe saw Nick Adams with a free run downs his wing, Sam missed from the right touch line so that was the final score 33-5 to DK.
The first of our final 4 games out of the way with the bonus point victory, we are still on track for the play-off place. We need to stay one point in front because of RFU Regulation 13.2.5; basically Newbold on Avon and Whitchurch would go above us with their greater number of wins, if we were level on points.
So we need your support at Heathbrook next weekend when we play Stoke on Trent at 15:00.
The Conditions that met the teams were near perfect and there was little wind to contend with, so the large crowd settled down to support their chosen team.
The game opened with both sides probing for an early break through but both defences were resolute early in the game and in looking as if it was a game that would be close early on and open up later.
Though, on 10 minutes DK opened the scoring, it started with a flowing move in midfield where the DK Backs moved the ball across the ball from right to left and sent two runners at the defensive line in the 15 metre channel on the left wing, this did not bring reward so the ball was swung back across the field to Nick Adams who was operating on the right wing, after a probe down the flank, he turned inside and was making ground, when he was stopped the referee’s whistle went in favour of DK. Into the Corner. Then, that fortune that helps, a poor throw was somehow collected by the peeling Matt Perks who drove for the line, from this drive good ball was achieved by the DK forwards and the ball was out amongst the DK backs, Jordan Brookes then fed Matt Squires with an inside pass and the flanker was hauled down under the posts just short of the line, once again the DK forwards gave quick ball to the backs and it was sped across them into the hands of Charlie Baffour who crossed the line in the corner, and 5 became 7 when Sam Vaughan kicked the conversion from the touchline.
The next period of play was the unwelcome period for DK supporters and they had seen it many occasions this season, a period of play where the DK defence is confined in their own 22 and the opposition forwards grind their way over the line, normally with the help of penalties for offside, this is what happened and it was loose head prop, Tom Dempsey who came up with the try, it went unconverted, so 7-5 to DK.
The DK defence tightened up and were able to negate a period of Hales territorial pressure. This led to DK relieving pressure with a long kick from their 22 almost to the Hales 22, the fullback collected the ball, but DK were rewarded for a good kick chase when the fullback was forced to pass to his wing who knocked on. From the scrum DK were able to start a series of attacks and were rewarded by a midfield run by Jordan Brookes led to a pass to Dan Marsh who started one of his open field runs he was tackled but it led to a DK penalty, into the corner.
From the ensuing lineout DK were able to mount a series of attacks and the Old Hales line cracked when the industrious Charlie Baffour came off his wing and looked for work in midfield, he was able to make a breach in the Hales defensive line, and support was on hand in the shape of hooker James Fildes who powered for the posts, but was not going to make it but James had seen Will Hancox flood up in support, so he put in an accurate little grubber kick that invited Will to touch down for DK’s second try, and Sam hit the extras 14-5 to DK.
DK were in charge of the game coming into the final minutes of the first half, they were testing the resolve of the Hales defensive line with varied attacks, the final try came from one of these attacks, a right hand side scrummage saw the ball moved swiftly out the Charlie Baffour on the left wing then the ball was recycled back into midfield and then Stef Shillingford got outside his defender and started to run back towards the right hand corner, when the defence got across to him an offload back inside went to Connah Jones but was fumbled backwards but the DK forwards arrived in the shape of Matt Perks to score the try, again Sam hit the money from out wide, 21-5 to DK and Half time.
Half time, over to the coaches, their messages to the teams will be important.
Old Hales lifted their intensity in the opening minutes of the second half and tried to knock DK off their stride, and the opening period of the half was summarised by a brawl in front of the main stand. The situation was dealt with calmly by Referee Swart, who took his time and defused the situation and Yellow carded one player from each side.
The resulting penalty went to Hales and this saw a period similar to the one at the start of the first half with DK defending, and constantly being adjudged offside, and another penalty allowing Hales to build pressure, but this time DK were able to keep their try line intact.
The second half was mirroring the first half, and it was now DK’s turn to apply the pressure and they certainly did that with their next attack, a multi-phase passage saw them stress the Hales defence and a deliberate knock on was spotted, but the ball ran into the path of Matt Perks who drove for the line, but was stopped short, and no second chance for Hales the Referee was off under the posts for a Penalty Try due to the deliberate knock on earlier in the move, 28-5 to DK. The knowledgeable DK support gave out a sigh of relief with the fourth try securing the all-important bonus point.
The DK bench came on and all three were able to use their freshness to advantage against a tiring Hales team.
DK should have had a further try when following another period of multi-phase attacking there was an opportunity for Charlie Baffour out wide, but instead of going through the hands of the outside backs a long miss pass was thrown and it somewhat yorkered Charlie and the try was left out there.
Hales were still fighting hard and won a scrummage on the DK 22, the moved the ball towards their left wing and the ball was intercepted by Nick Adams and he was off, only to put a foot in touch on half way.
By this stage DK were in control of the game and I must report, that during the next DK attack replacement prop Jake Thompson was put through a gap in midfield an then beat the next would-be tackler with a sublime dummy, one for the DK front row union.
The final DK try followed a series of DK scrummages leading to the Hales 22, where the backs line up for a run to the left, leaving a big blindside, following the replacements Josh Brown was operating at number 8, he picked up and went blind, Joe Dunn looped around him and a Josh offload and a well-timed pass by Joe saw Nick Adams with a free run downs his wing, Sam missed from the right touch line so that was the final score 33-5 to DK.
The first of our final 4 games out of the way with the bonus point victory, we are still on track for the play-off place. We need to stay one point in front because of RFU Regulation 13.2.5; basically Newbold on Avon and Whitchurch would go above us with their greater number of wins, if we were level on points.
So we need your support at Heathbrook next weekend when we play Stoke on Trent at 15:00.
