Sat 13 Apr 2019
Since losing to Bromsgrove on 5th January, 2019 when DK were in fourth place in the league, there were 11 games left. DK had gone through a bad spell in the later weeks of 2018. The Mathematics were simple win the rest of our games with a try bonus point and see were that takes us. Well if DK had reached that goal they would have got to 104 points, well a look at the final table shows DK on 103 points. Both Newbold on Avon and Whitchurch dropped points, so it is the play offs for DK, and a trip to Paviours on the 27th April.
Saturday’s game saw Sutton Coldfield arrive at Heathbrook, with the final round of matches being the reverse of the first round back in September, 2018, DK had won the first clash 26-22. With DK needing a five point win by securing a try bonus point, to guarantee the play-off spot, there was an air of apprehension around Heathbrook and traditionally, DK v Sutton has been a tight affair.
There was a minute’s silence for Cliff Davey, a stalwart of DK, who passed earlier this week.
The pressure was mounting on DK; the weather was not going to be a problem a strong breeze at times from the opposite direction to normal, though there was a chill in the air which may have caught some of the crowd out.
It took DK 4 minutes to settle the nerves with their opening try, both wingers Charlie Baffour and Tommy Walker had been given runs and both had made ground, before Charlie was released down the left, and linking inside found Jordan Brookes who made a dent in the defence before offloading to second row Dan Marsh, who with his long striding style made it under the posts to give Sam Vaughan a straightforward conversion attempt, 7-0 to DK.
Some nerves settled in the crowd, but the regular watchers of DK could have forecast that it would be Sutton who crossed next, following a kick into Wanderers corner, a move off the line out saw Sutton bring the score back to 7-5 in favour of DK.
Early in the game the DK forwards were forcing penalties at the ruck and maul, and from one of these Sam Vaughan kicked to the corner, DK won their own ball cleanly and moved the ball into midfield were Sam Vaughan committed the defence and from the ensuing ruck it was hooker James Fildes who was put into a gap in the Sutton defence and made the line, with Sam making it 14-5 to DK.
Saturday’s game saw Sutton Coldfield arrive at Heathbrook, with the final round of matches being the reverse of the first round back in September, 2018, DK had won the first clash 26-22. With DK needing a five point win by securing a try bonus point, to guarantee the play-off spot, there was an air of apprehension around Heathbrook and traditionally, DK v Sutton has been a tight affair.
There was a minute’s silence for Cliff Davey, a stalwart of DK, who passed earlier this week.
The pressure was mounting on DK; the weather was not going to be a problem a strong breeze at times from the opposite direction to normal, though there was a chill in the air which may have caught some of the crowd out.
It took DK 4 minutes to settle the nerves with their opening try, both wingers Charlie Baffour and Tommy Walker had been given runs and both had made ground, before Charlie was released down the left, and linking inside found Jordan Brookes who made a dent in the defence before offloading to second row Dan Marsh, who with his long striding style made it under the posts to give Sam Vaughan a straightforward conversion attempt, 7-0 to DK.
Some nerves settled in the crowd, but the regular watchers of DK could have forecast that it would be Sutton who crossed next, following a kick into Wanderers corner, a move off the line out saw Sutton bring the score back to 7-5 in favour of DK.
Early in the game the DK forwards were forcing penalties at the ruck and maul, and from one of these Sam Vaughan kicked to the corner, DK won their own ball cleanly and moved the ball into midfield were Sam Vaughan committed the defence and from the ensuing ruck it was hooker James Fildes who was put into a gap in the Sutton defence and made the line, with Sam making it 14-5 to DK.
On 12 minutes DK added a third try, this again came from a line out, but a variation in the backs saw full back Sam Vaughan at first receiver and Jordan Brookes was then given more room to challenge the defence and Stef Shillingford was given a running channel to exploit, but he was tackled and on his shoulder was tight head Jake Thompson, who showed off some moves and found himself in the clear and made the line, 19-5 to DK.
Then, on the 15 minutes DK struck again to record their bonus point try, it came from a scrummage, 20 metres in from the right touch line, number 8 Pete Griffiths picked up and made ground, Connah Jones had looped around him from scrum half and took the ball on, Tommy Walker was hugging the touch line and occupying his winger, a pass back to Pete Griffiths saw him make more ground before setting up a ruck which was quickly won, and Connah Jones fed the ball to Stef Shillingford who added pace to the move and a well-timed pass to Jordan Brookes saw the stand-off under the posts and the extras from Sam 26-5 to DK.
DK were in the middle of a purple patch, and added another try following another telling run from James Fildes down the centre of the pitch, he then linked with Stef Shillingford who had scanned the options and a well-placed grubber kick, took the Sutton right wing out of the game and meant that Charlie Baffour had a straightforward run to the line, 31-5 to DK.
DK and another try this time from Tommy Walker if followed a scrummage, which DK moved to their left and the inside backs put Charlie Baffour into space, he made ground down the wing and then fed the ball back inside and ball was quickly moved back to right wing Tommy Walker who finished off the move, and two more from Sam 38-5 to DK.
Sutton were finding it difficult to deal with the DK runners, this time it was second row Matt Perks who made the decisive break before passing to the supporting Will Hancox who touched down for a try, and Sam with the extras 45-5 to DK.
Then, on the 15 minutes DK struck again to record their bonus point try, it came from a scrummage, 20 metres in from the right touch line, number 8 Pete Griffiths picked up and made ground, Connah Jones had looped around him from scrum half and took the ball on, Tommy Walker was hugging the touch line and occupying his winger, a pass back to Pete Griffiths saw him make more ground before setting up a ruck which was quickly won, and Connah Jones fed the ball to Stef Shillingford who added pace to the move and a well-timed pass to Jordan Brookes saw the stand-off under the posts and the extras from Sam 26-5 to DK.
DK were in the middle of a purple patch, and added another try following another telling run from James Fildes down the centre of the pitch, he then linked with Stef Shillingford who had scanned the options and a well-placed grubber kick, took the Sutton right wing out of the game and meant that Charlie Baffour had a straightforward run to the line, 31-5 to DK.
DK and another try this time from Tommy Walker if followed a scrummage, which DK moved to their left and the inside backs put Charlie Baffour into space, he made ground down the wing and then fed the ball back inside and ball was quickly moved back to right wing Tommy Walker who finished off the move, and two more from Sam 38-5 to DK.
Sutton were finding it difficult to deal with the DK runners, this time it was second row Matt Perks who made the decisive break before passing to the supporting Will Hancox who touched down for a try, and Sam with the extras 45-5 to DK.
Next, Tommy Walker almost finished off a following team move with a run down the right wing, but was adjudged to have made a second movement, when tackled just short of the line.
The Sutton Penalty was quickly taken and failed to make touch and moments later saw Sam Vaughan on the end of a move back down the right wing and in for a try, out wide and he missed the conversion, DK 50-5.
Charlie Baffour added the next try when following a line out on his wing, he worked across field and entered the line inside Tommy Walker and took full advantage of the gap and was over for the try that made it 55-5 to DK.
It was Sutton who finished the scoring in the first half with their left wing in for a try, which was converted to make it 55-12 to DK at half time.
The half time chats and DK changes saw the game restart.
The Sutton Penalty was quickly taken and failed to make touch and moments later saw Sam Vaughan on the end of a move back down the right wing and in for a try, out wide and he missed the conversion, DK 50-5.
Charlie Baffour added the next try when following a line out on his wing, he worked across field and entered the line inside Tommy Walker and took full advantage of the gap and was over for the try that made it 55-5 to DK.
It was Sutton who finished the scoring in the first half with their left wing in for a try, which was converted to make it 55-12 to DK at half time.
The half time chats and DK changes saw the game restart.
It was Sutton who dominated the opening exchanges of the second half with some indiscipline from DK, in fact the first 8 minutes were almost entirely in the DK 22, but then a dropped ball, and the memorable sight of Dan Marsh, striding 60 metres to the line, a fine try by the second row, who realised late on the only support he was going to get was vocal, so the score was 62-12.
DK were back on track and a line out in the Wanderers corner, saw James Ryan power around the back towards the Sutton posts, he was pulled up just short and this led to a scrummage to DK, a Pete Griffiths pick up and drive saw scrum half Joe Dunn benefit when he took the offload and was able to dive over for a try, Sam on target, 69-12 to DK.
DK were back on track and a line out in the Wanderers corner, saw James Ryan power around the back towards the Sutton posts, he was pulled up just short and this led to a scrummage to DK, a Pete Griffiths pick up and drive saw scrum half Joe Dunn benefit when he took the offload and was able to dive over for a try, Sam on target, 69-12 to DK.
DK added another try when Charlie Baffour, once again made a decisive run from wide out into midfield and then putting Stef Shillingford through a hole in the defence, 76-12 to DK.
Matt Perks added a try following good work by Pete Griffiths and Connah Jones and some decisive running by Tommy Walker, 83-12 to DK.
At this point in the game Sutton hit back with two converted tries the first was from a line out which was carried hard around the back and the ball recycled quickly to allow the try scoring opportunity. The second quickly followed and was as a result of some good phase play this period brought Sutton back to 83-26 and gave Sutton a try bonus point which could have been vital under different circumstances.
Though, it was DK who finished the game strongly, after a counter attack from Sam Vaughan had wrestled the momentum back for DK.
Matt Perks added a try following good work by Pete Griffiths and Connah Jones and some decisive running by Tommy Walker, 83-12 to DK.
At this point in the game Sutton hit back with two converted tries the first was from a line out which was carried hard around the back and the ball recycled quickly to allow the try scoring opportunity. The second quickly followed and was as a result of some good phase play this period brought Sutton back to 83-26 and gave Sutton a try bonus point which could have been vital under different circumstances.
Though, it was DK who finished the game strongly, after a counter attack from Sam Vaughan had wrestled the momentum back for DK.
It was perhaps apt that the final two tries were scored by two of DK’s most influential players during this season, first, Matt Perks powered over after a line out, which had first been driven by Pete Griffiths, and the conversion was nailed by Sam for 90-26.
The last DK try came after another James Fildes run has split the defence and Stef Shillingford was on hand to score the try, plus Sam again with the extras, and a final score of 97-26.
The last DK try came after another James Fildes run has split the defence and Stef Shillingford was on hand to score the try, plus Sam again with the extras, and a final score of 97-26.
The size of the DK win was unexpected, but it shows that the team is set fair for the play-off game, after a weekend off for Easter. The play-off is at Paviours on 27th April, 2018. Watch out for further information on that fixture, anyway see you all there.
