Sat 12 Oct 2019
A dry autumnal day, on a firm good looking Heathbrook surface boded well for a good game of entertaining rugby with the Midlands 1West clash between DK and Kidderminster. The game started with DK having the majority of the early possession and field position. The DK attack was starting to stress the Kidderminster defence, when following a penalty into Wanderer’s corner, the DK forwards peeled around the back of the ensuing line out, Will Hancox had moved into a position to support the backs and he was able to take a short ball off Harry Bayliss, and powered through the Kidderminster tacklers, his offload was just off the mark and Stef Shillingford could not hold on, to what would have been a try under the posts.
At this point the attacking was all down to DK and the next attack was started by two big runs from the second row pairing first Callum Nicholls and then onto Dan Marsh, the move was stopped illegally and this led to another DK penalty. Back into the Wanderer’s corner, this time the ball was flashed across the DK line to give Charlie a run down the left wing. Moments later the ball was carried down the 10 metre channel on the left by Harry Bayliss and Will Hancox, before the ball was slipped to Charlie Baffour on the left wing, who converted the chance into a try, 5-0 to DK with no conversion.
DK were at it again down the left wing with Charlie turning provider this time to Ryan Smitheman, who was on the outside but the attack was forced into touch. Yet again, DK probed down their left flank and were awarded a scrummage. From the scrummage DK hit the ball up in the centre through Stef Shillingford, and hooker James Ryan had made his way from the scrummage to carry the move on the ball was recycled and this time it was right wing Tommy Walker who was released to run a try in, this time Sam added the extras so 12-0 to DK.
DK were once again on the attack when the half time whistle went. The team talks would have been interesting to listen to both sides would have been satisfied with parts of their first half performances, and there were areas to work on. The response of the coaching teams to their team’s position would have been enlightening.
At this point the attacking was all down to DK and the next attack was started by two big runs from the second row pairing first Callum Nicholls and then onto Dan Marsh, the move was stopped illegally and this led to another DK penalty. Back into the Wanderer’s corner, this time the ball was flashed across the DK line to give Charlie a run down the left wing. Moments later the ball was carried down the 10 metre channel on the left by Harry Bayliss and Will Hancox, before the ball was slipped to Charlie Baffour on the left wing, who converted the chance into a try, 5-0 to DK with no conversion.
DK were at it again down the left wing with Charlie turning provider this time to Ryan Smitheman, who was on the outside but the attack was forced into touch. Yet again, DK probed down their left flank and were awarded a scrummage. From the scrummage DK hit the ball up in the centre through Stef Shillingford, and hooker James Ryan had made his way from the scrummage to carry the move on the ball was recycled and this time it was right wing Tommy Walker who was released to run a try in, this time Sam added the extras so 12-0 to DK.
DK were once again on the attack when the half time whistle went. The team talks would have been interesting to listen to both sides would have been satisfied with parts of their first half performances, and there were areas to work on. The response of the coaching teams to their team’s position would have been enlightening.
The second half started with Kidderminster kicking off, and the kick was a little long and straight to Josh Brown, the blindside ran the ball back and made ground through the Kidderminster forwards the ball was recycled to the DK backs, but there was an offside and when the referee deemed the advantage was not sufficient, a booming penalty from Harry Bayliss. Meant, that DK had marched down the pitch, the error was doubled when another penalty came for offside and DK were in the 22 with their throw to the line out, this time it was given to Will Hancox in midfield to make the break he did so then pulled it back to a supporting player who was able to put James Ryan through a gap and he was able to score, and run the ball towards the uprights, the score moved on to 19-0 when Sam added the extras.
DK added the bonus point try with another good team try, the ball was secured on the DK left and moved into midfield where the Kidderminster defence was tested and held the ball was recycled and passed out to Tommy Walker on the right wing, who was heading for the line when his progress was stopped by the Kidderminster cover, but the DK forwards had also been working hard to get to Tommy and they then were able to get to Josh Brown who was able to cross the line for a try after running a good support line, plus the extras from Sam 26-0 to DK and the Try Bonus point.
DK were having a good period during the game and soon added their fifth try, DK pressure again led to a penalty into the Pavilion corner, and a crash ball move in the centre saw Stef Shillingford over for a try under the posts, with Sam on target 33-0 to DK.
Then a period of DK indiscipline and lack of concentration in defence saw Kidderminster come back into the game, with the concession of penalties Kidderminster were able to progress down the touchline towards the scoreboard and were able force their way over the DK line, a process that was not made easy by some good DK defence, but Kidderminster were on the scoreboard 33-7.
DK quickly applied the pressure once again inspired by a Ryan Smitheman tackle, which turned defence into attack. Then from a line out the DK backs moved the ball and pass and run around from Josh Melvin opened up a gap for Sam Vaughan to run through but his chance to feed Ryan Smitheman on the outside disappeared.
The resurgence of Kidderminster was ended when DK added their sixth try, this one was all about support, the ball started on the DK left and was passed along the three quarter line to Tommy Walker who made ground down the right an inside pass saw first Pete Griffiths make inroads and inside again to Josh Brown, still going forward on his inside Dan Marsh on again, Joe Dunn was there to carry the move on, a quick ruck and the ball back the way it had come to Callum Nicholls who burst through the first tackler and made the line, 38-7 to DK.
Moments later, the ball ran loose in the DK half Harry Bayliss pounced and powered into the Kidderminster half with their defenders struggling to get back, it was number eight Pete Griffiths who was on hand to take the off load and in turn Pete was able to feed Sam Vaughan who went over for a try which he did convert 45-7 to DK.
Kidderminster’s day was not over yet into stoppage time, Callum Nichols made a telling run from a ruck from within DK’s 22, suddenly the DK back line spotted the space and a quick transference across the backline saw Stef Shillingford into space, and his next task was to put the ball down under the Kidderminster posts, with the extras, that made the score 52-7.
The coaches will be happy with the league table at the end of the match, but they are fast filling up their notebooks with things to address, this was a performance that could have been better.
Next week, sees DK travel to fifth place Lichfield, and the results so far from both suggest a high scoring game.
DK added the bonus point try with another good team try, the ball was secured on the DK left and moved into midfield where the Kidderminster defence was tested and held the ball was recycled and passed out to Tommy Walker on the right wing, who was heading for the line when his progress was stopped by the Kidderminster cover, but the DK forwards had also been working hard to get to Tommy and they then were able to get to Josh Brown who was able to cross the line for a try after running a good support line, plus the extras from Sam 26-0 to DK and the Try Bonus point.
DK were having a good period during the game and soon added their fifth try, DK pressure again led to a penalty into the Pavilion corner, and a crash ball move in the centre saw Stef Shillingford over for a try under the posts, with Sam on target 33-0 to DK.
Then a period of DK indiscipline and lack of concentration in defence saw Kidderminster come back into the game, with the concession of penalties Kidderminster were able to progress down the touchline towards the scoreboard and were able force their way over the DK line, a process that was not made easy by some good DK defence, but Kidderminster were on the scoreboard 33-7.
DK quickly applied the pressure once again inspired by a Ryan Smitheman tackle, which turned defence into attack. Then from a line out the DK backs moved the ball and pass and run around from Josh Melvin opened up a gap for Sam Vaughan to run through but his chance to feed Ryan Smitheman on the outside disappeared.
The resurgence of Kidderminster was ended when DK added their sixth try, this one was all about support, the ball started on the DK left and was passed along the three quarter line to Tommy Walker who made ground down the right an inside pass saw first Pete Griffiths make inroads and inside again to Josh Brown, still going forward on his inside Dan Marsh on again, Joe Dunn was there to carry the move on, a quick ruck and the ball back the way it had come to Callum Nicholls who burst through the first tackler and made the line, 38-7 to DK.
Moments later, the ball ran loose in the DK half Harry Bayliss pounced and powered into the Kidderminster half with their defenders struggling to get back, it was number eight Pete Griffiths who was on hand to take the off load and in turn Pete was able to feed Sam Vaughan who went over for a try which he did convert 45-7 to DK.
Kidderminster’s day was not over yet into stoppage time, Callum Nichols made a telling run from a ruck from within DK’s 22, suddenly the DK back line spotted the space and a quick transference across the backline saw Stef Shillingford into space, and his next task was to put the ball down under the Kidderminster posts, with the extras, that made the score 52-7.
The coaches will be happy with the league table at the end of the match, but they are fast filling up their notebooks with things to address, this was a performance that could have been better.
Next week, sees DK travel to fifth place Lichfield, and the results so far from both suggest a high scoring game.
