Sat 6 Apr 2019, 15:00
A trip to Stourton is always has that extra edge for DK with proximity of the two clubs, and with both with an eye on the league table for slightly different reasons, it was all set up for a competitive match; the weather was set fair but a chill in the air compared with the previous week, the 4G pitch would guarantee a good fast surface to play on.
The opening period of play set something of a template of what was to come, with DK playing there ball retention game and looking to move the ball laterally, but powering through chinks in the Stour defence, the first such move saw Callum Nicholls pounce on a Stour knock on and power through a gap before linking with Charlie Baffour, who had worked across the field from his right wing, and the ball was taken into the Stour 22 before the move came to an end.
The opening period of play set something of a template of what was to come, with DK playing there ball retention game and looking to move the ball laterally, but powering through chinks in the Stour defence, the first such move saw Callum Nicholls pounce on a Stour knock on and power through a gap before linking with Charlie Baffour, who had worked across the field from his right wing, and the ball was taken into the Stour 22 before the move came to an end.
Another move saw DK press the Stour Defence in their half in the centre of the field with hooker James Fildes making two good carries before a knock-on ended the move. Charlie Baffour was freed on his right wing only to be forced to put a foot into touch, following a move started by a quick Connah Jones tap penalty.
Then DK took the lead with a typical move when the ball was carried several times and recycled and the constant moving of the point of attack led to an overloading of the defence and gave Connah Jones the chance to cross the Stour line under their posts, which was converted by Sam Vaughan 7-0 to DK.
The next five minutes, were not a surprise to the seasoned DK supporter, DK pinned back in their own half, and only desperate defence and last ditch tackle by full back Sam Vaughan put the Stour left wing into touch when he was on the way to the try line. Stour won the ensuing line out and their backs put together a passage of play which saw the ball move the full width of the field and then a cutback from one of their outside backs saw the DK defence beaten and Stour in for the try, but DK still in the lead due to a missed conversion 7-5.
Throughout the game the quality of the kicking from hand by DK kept them dictating field position, and that was shown by a long Sam Vaughan kick from the DK 22 which was rolling into the Stour 22, a great kick chase by Tommy Walker, forced the Stour full back to side foot the ball into touch. So a DK line out deep in the Stour 22, a catch and drive by the DK forwards then out to the backs, but only as far as Jordan Brookes who took the ball to the line and a sublime dummy saw him through the line and over for DK’s second try, with Sam on target 14-5 to DK.
That saw the end of the scoring in the first half, both sides were still in the game so the coaches words at half would be important, and the use of the benches would be vital during the second half.
Then DK took the lead with a typical move when the ball was carried several times and recycled and the constant moving of the point of attack led to an overloading of the defence and gave Connah Jones the chance to cross the Stour line under their posts, which was converted by Sam Vaughan 7-0 to DK.
The next five minutes, were not a surprise to the seasoned DK supporter, DK pinned back in their own half, and only desperate defence and last ditch tackle by full back Sam Vaughan put the Stour left wing into touch when he was on the way to the try line. Stour won the ensuing line out and their backs put together a passage of play which saw the ball move the full width of the field and then a cutback from one of their outside backs saw the DK defence beaten and Stour in for the try, but DK still in the lead due to a missed conversion 7-5.
Throughout the game the quality of the kicking from hand by DK kept them dictating field position, and that was shown by a long Sam Vaughan kick from the DK 22 which was rolling into the Stour 22, a great kick chase by Tommy Walker, forced the Stour full back to side foot the ball into touch. So a DK line out deep in the Stour 22, a catch and drive by the DK forwards then out to the backs, but only as far as Jordan Brookes who took the ball to the line and a sublime dummy saw him through the line and over for DK’s second try, with Sam on target 14-5 to DK.
That saw the end of the scoring in the first half, both sides were still in the game so the coaches words at half would be important, and the use of the benches would be vital during the second half.
Though, it was DK who opened the scoring in the second half it came as a result of a penalty being kicking into touch on the Stour 22, and it was very much DK of last season from here, Won by Josh Brown at the front, then a drive to commit the Stour Forwards, then hooker James Fildes around the on what used to be called a front peel, James was eating up the ground, but the defenders got to him, he offloaded to Dan Marsh, who made the final 10 metres to the line, and skilfully touched down, as a tackler tried to dislodge the ball, 19-5 to DK.
DK were starting to stress the Stour defence but were unable to build pressure due to a number of penalty decisions, but despite this DK were still maintaining field position and were retaining the ball.
It was from one such period of play that the intense DK attacking system retained the ball for numerous phases with Charlie Baffour linking with Sam Vaughan, then the move was carried in the Stour 22 following good carries by James Fildes and Stef Shillingford, before play was stopped for foul play by Stour in their 22, DK opted for a scrummage and this was won and a backs move saw centre Will Hancox over the line for a DK bonus point try, converted by Sam 26-5 to DK.
It was from one such period of play that the intense DK attacking system retained the ball for numerous phases with Charlie Baffour linking with Sam Vaughan, then the move was carried in the Stour 22 following good carries by James Fildes and Stef Shillingford, before play was stopped for foul play by Stour in their 22, DK opted for a scrummage and this was won and a backs move saw centre Will Hancox over the line for a DK bonus point try, converted by Sam 26-5 to DK.
Into the third quarter of the game with DK playing some good attractive attacking rugby, when the two centres combined to put Stef Shillingford through a hole and a clear run to the line, plus two from Sam 33-5 to DK.
The final ten minutes belonged to Stour they started to attack from almost everywhere and a high tackle by Charlie Baffour saw him into the bin for the last ten minutes, Stour gained some field position and were able to reduce DK’s lead by scoring two late tries to make the score 33-19.
It was job done by DK a 5 point win that sees them in pole position for a play-off spot, but a 5 pointer against Sutton Coldfield is still the order of the day next Saturday at Heathbrook, so see you there.
The final ten minutes belonged to Stour they started to attack from almost everywhere and a high tackle by Charlie Baffour saw him into the bin for the last ten minutes, Stour gained some field position and were able to reduce DK’s lead by scoring two late tries to make the score 33-19.
It was job done by DK a 5 point win that sees them in pole position for a play-off spot, but a 5 pointer against Sutton Coldfield is still the order of the day next Saturday at Heathbrook, so see you there.
