Sat 7 Sep 2019, 15:00
A beautiful afternoon to be playing or watching rugby, but the afternoon started on a respectful note with a minutes silence for Errol Mason, a stalwart of Dudley Kingswinford ever since his playing days back in the 1950’s his legacy is everywhere, the stand and he was Club President when DK played at Twickenham in the NPI Cup Final, farewell old friend.
The pitch was looking a picture and it was tremendous to see John Griffiths at the match “Biffo” is the ground supremo, and he has been in Hospital recently, we all wish a speedy and full recovery following an operation.
DK and Whitchurch were both heavily involved in the race for the play-off spot at the end of last season, so an entertaining match was on the cards, with both teams looking to put down an early marker. The opening moments of the game saw some midfield jostling with DK shading the possession ad position, reward was an early penalty Harry Bayliss kicked it into the corner and DK won the lineout and several surges for the line were repulsed by the red line of defence. Though, DK were awarded a penalty in front of the right hand upright but strong defence from Whitchurch forced a penalty, and the pressure was relieved.
DK turned the screw again and Charlie Baffour was set free down the DK left wing, and was only stopped by a stumble, though DK were presented with a close range line out, which was won by Dan Marsh in the middle and a driving maul was set up and it was moved infield and hooker James Ryan had joined and the ball was worked back to him a slight wheel infield saw the short side opened up and the hooker broke off to cross the line and head towards the posts, 7-0 to DK.
The pitch was looking a picture and it was tremendous to see John Griffiths at the match “Biffo” is the ground supremo, and he has been in Hospital recently, we all wish a speedy and full recovery following an operation.
DK and Whitchurch were both heavily involved in the race for the play-off spot at the end of last season, so an entertaining match was on the cards, with both teams looking to put down an early marker. The opening moments of the game saw some midfield jostling with DK shading the possession ad position, reward was an early penalty Harry Bayliss kicked it into the corner and DK won the lineout and several surges for the line were repulsed by the red line of defence. Though, DK were awarded a penalty in front of the right hand upright but strong defence from Whitchurch forced a penalty, and the pressure was relieved.
DK turned the screw again and Charlie Baffour was set free down the DK left wing, and was only stopped by a stumble, though DK were presented with a close range line out, which was won by Dan Marsh in the middle and a driving maul was set up and it was moved infield and hooker James Ryan had joined and the ball was worked back to him a slight wheel infield saw the short side opened up and the hooker broke off to cross the line and head towards the posts, 7-0 to DK.
Whitchurch came back into the game, when DK had a period of inaccuracy at the breakdown, Whitchurch were able to gain field possession and penalty in front of the DK posts was calmly slotted to make the score 7-3 to DK.
Though, DK were soon increasing their lead from the kick off, Tommy Walker was up quickly to contest the kick and the Whitchurch defence was forced back into their 22, and a clearing kick was charged down by Stef Shillingford, and DK regained the ball and immediately were on the attack, only to be stopped in the centre of the field but they were awarded a penalty, the scrum option was taken and a Pete Griffiths pick and drive was halted short of the line, and Kieron Williams was the next to take a pod into contact, from that drive there was another feed this time to Joe Tighe who was able to exploit a small gap in the defence and in for the try, DK 12-3 ahead.
DK were unable during this period of the game to impose their defence onto Whitchurch and it was there back row who made and took their second try reducing the lead to 12-10.
It was DK’s turn to counter punch, following the kick off Whitchurch looked fine with their defensive shift, but the clearing kick when straight into the hands of left wing Charlie Baffour, who ran cross field and was looking for a gap in the defensive line, he was straight through it and the ball was moved just before contact and was moved swiftly into the hands of Tommy Walker on the DK right wing who was in space and moments later he was under the posts touching down and Sam added the extras so 19-10 to DK.
Once again, Whitchurch were unable to create pressure for long enough to cause problems for DK, and made poor decisions that kept tipping the balance in DK’s favour. Following the kick off, a penalty saw Harry Bayliss look to punish Whitchurch with a monster penalty kick down the stand side touchline, but it missed and Whitchurch ran the ball make and had a line formed, but a floated pass was intercepted by Stef Shillingford, who had Josh Melvin on his inside and in the clear and a pass saw the stand-off under the posts, plus two from Sam 26-10 to DK.
Next, came a passage of play where both sides seemed to have lost some discipline and were compounding errors by playing the speculative pass rather than taking the option to set up a situation from which the whole team could reset. When Whitchurch were awarded a scrummage in front of the DK posts, a Whitchurch back row move saw their scrum half in for a try, but the DK defenders will not be happy about it one little bit, and the coaches will have clocked it, so 26-17 to DK.
DK finished the half on the attack, so 26-17 with a bonus point already in the bag. The messages at half time would have interesting, because the game was far from settled, and DK had been unable to apply the control they would have liked to exert.
Though, DK were soon increasing their lead from the kick off, Tommy Walker was up quickly to contest the kick and the Whitchurch defence was forced back into their 22, and a clearing kick was charged down by Stef Shillingford, and DK regained the ball and immediately were on the attack, only to be stopped in the centre of the field but they were awarded a penalty, the scrum option was taken and a Pete Griffiths pick and drive was halted short of the line, and Kieron Williams was the next to take a pod into contact, from that drive there was another feed this time to Joe Tighe who was able to exploit a small gap in the defence and in for the try, DK 12-3 ahead.
DK were unable during this period of the game to impose their defence onto Whitchurch and it was there back row who made and took their second try reducing the lead to 12-10.
It was DK’s turn to counter punch, following the kick off Whitchurch looked fine with their defensive shift, but the clearing kick when straight into the hands of left wing Charlie Baffour, who ran cross field and was looking for a gap in the defensive line, he was straight through it and the ball was moved just before contact and was moved swiftly into the hands of Tommy Walker on the DK right wing who was in space and moments later he was under the posts touching down and Sam added the extras so 19-10 to DK.
Once again, Whitchurch were unable to create pressure for long enough to cause problems for DK, and made poor decisions that kept tipping the balance in DK’s favour. Following the kick off, a penalty saw Harry Bayliss look to punish Whitchurch with a monster penalty kick down the stand side touchline, but it missed and Whitchurch ran the ball make and had a line formed, but a floated pass was intercepted by Stef Shillingford, who had Josh Melvin on his inside and in the clear and a pass saw the stand-off under the posts, plus two from Sam 26-10 to DK.
Next, came a passage of play where both sides seemed to have lost some discipline and were compounding errors by playing the speculative pass rather than taking the option to set up a situation from which the whole team could reset. When Whitchurch were awarded a scrummage in front of the DK posts, a Whitchurch back row move saw their scrum half in for a try, but the DK defenders will not be happy about it one little bit, and the coaches will have clocked it, so 26-17 to DK.
DK finished the half on the attack, so 26-17 with a bonus point already in the bag. The messages at half time would have interesting, because the game was far from settled, and DK had been unable to apply the control they would have liked to exert.
The opening skirmishes of the second half started to suggest that there was more control from both sides and the half would be a close run affair, but that was broken when DK started to run foul of the referee for a period, and a half way line tackle saw a lineout in the DK 22 to Whitchurch and they were able to run their forwards off it and then run their backs and their third try came, but once again DK won’t be happy with their defending, 26-24 to DK.
From this point onward DK were able to exert that level of control that they would have liked to have had earlier in the game. The next try was a team effort, a sweeping move to right saw the DK back three in unison and they made inroads into the Whitchurch, before the ball was swept back to the left were some more direct running into contact saw Pete Griffiths take advantage in front of the clubhouse to score, plus two from Sam 33-24 to DK.
The Whitchurch kick off was the starting point for the try with the ball being secured by DK and a couple of carries drew in the defence and the ball was presented well and DK moved it to the right where hooker James Ryan and wing Tommy Walker were waiting on the DK 22, with what was essentially a 2 on 1 in front of them James took the ball to just over half way timed his pass well and Tommy Walker was under the posts, with two more from Sam it was now 40-24 to DK.
From this point onward DK were able to exert that level of control that they would have liked to have had earlier in the game. The next try was a team effort, a sweeping move to right saw the DK back three in unison and they made inroads into the Whitchurch, before the ball was swept back to the left were some more direct running into contact saw Pete Griffiths take advantage in front of the clubhouse to score, plus two from Sam 33-24 to DK.
The Whitchurch kick off was the starting point for the try with the ball being secured by DK and a couple of carries drew in the defence and the ball was presented well and DK moved it to the right where hooker James Ryan and wing Tommy Walker were waiting on the DK 22, with what was essentially a 2 on 1 in front of them James took the ball to just over half way timed his pass well and Tommy Walker was under the posts, with two more from Sam it was now 40-24 to DK.
Matt Williams was now on for Josh Melvin and was showing well with some good tackling and wide passing, but on this occasion it was his tactical kicking that turned the screw a long left to right punt found touch; from that kick Whitchurch were corralled in their 22, and a long relieving kick saw the ball coming back at them in the form of Charlie Baffour, over to the forwards who set up a quick ruck then back to the left. Stef Shillingford in space running to the 22, with support on either side, he chose to use Harry Bayliss, and he was able to get under the posts for a try and two more from Sam, 47-24 to DK.
DK brought their half century of points with a try that summed up their second half performance, the ball run at Whitchurch then into phase play manipulating the defence to create an overload on one edge, attack away from the overload preventing the defence from reorganising, then the ball back to the area where the overload is the ball to Sam Vaughan who then put Tommy Walker in for his hat-trick try with a well-timed pass, but he could not add extras so 52-24 to DK.
DK brought their half century of points with a try that summed up their second half performance, the ball run at Whitchurch then into phase play manipulating the defence to create an overload on one edge, attack away from the overload preventing the defence from reorganising, then the ball back to the area where the overload is the ball to Sam Vaughan who then put Tommy Walker in for his hat-trick try with a well-timed pass, but he could not add extras so 52-24 to DK.
