Sat 29 Feb 2020
DK welcomed Newbold on Avon to Heathbrook for an important M1W fixture; the home side are very much in the scrap for the promotion places. The Heathbrook surface was in surprisingly good condition and the wind had done its job drying it, but by match time it was still the proverbial gale, and as normal straight down the pitch. Prior to kick off there was even a flurry of snow, but that was very short lived.
DK had first use of the wind, and within the first few minutes Harry Bayliss had kicked diagonally across the pitch from the DK 22 into the Newbold 22. This looked to be the blueprint for the half at that time.
Newbold were playing into the wind with a spirit and thwarting DK’s efforts to impose themselves on the game. They suffered an early setback when their loose head Duduza Ziba suffered a head injury while tackling DK’s Dan Marsh, he was taken from the field and the Newbold medical team had concerns for him and he was taken to Hospital as a precaution, hopefully he was OK.
DK opened the scoring when an attacking line out on the DK right, was won well and very efficiently turned into a driving maul, then a swift passage of the ball across the DK backs gave them an edge to exploit and Charlie Baffour took full advantage and was into the corner, 5-0 to DK, the conversion was probably Sam’s worst attempt of the season and missed.
The game then started to go into a holding pattern, DK attacking ball in hand but all too frequent handling errors and a good defensive effort by Newbold keeping their line intact and the clock moving onward towards half time, DK were starting to get on top mainly through Harry’s boot and a strong contest at ruck and maul, this pressure led to the Newbold 16 being shown a yellow card.
Then, DK upped the tempo and came close twice only for handling errors to call a halt to scoring opportunities, the first followed a period on ball retention and the ball was moved back into the centre of the field and Dan Marsh, broke through the line and was well inside the 22 in front of the posts, he was tackled, but James Fildes had picked a great supporting line and he would have been under the posts, but a knock on.
The second was a scrum on the DK right around the Newbold 22, they were still down to 14 men at the time, Pete Griffiths broke blind from number 8 and with Joe Dunn and Tommy Walker outside him a try looked on, but another knock on.
Then with hindsight perhaps Newbold’s chance following a period of play the ball was set out towards Charlie Baffour on the left wing, and what looked like a promising DK attack was turned around by an interception, and a foot race developed the DK cover defence swarmed in from everywhere and stopped the Newbold go forward on their own 22. Moments later a penalty to Newbold, the wind once again was an influence, a kick to the corner, DK survived the lineout and the whistle went for half time only 5-0 to DK.
DK had first use of the wind, and within the first few minutes Harry Bayliss had kicked diagonally across the pitch from the DK 22 into the Newbold 22. This looked to be the blueprint for the half at that time.
Newbold were playing into the wind with a spirit and thwarting DK’s efforts to impose themselves on the game. They suffered an early setback when their loose head Duduza Ziba suffered a head injury while tackling DK’s Dan Marsh, he was taken from the field and the Newbold medical team had concerns for him and he was taken to Hospital as a precaution, hopefully he was OK.
DK opened the scoring when an attacking line out on the DK right, was won well and very efficiently turned into a driving maul, then a swift passage of the ball across the DK backs gave them an edge to exploit and Charlie Baffour took full advantage and was into the corner, 5-0 to DK, the conversion was probably Sam’s worst attempt of the season and missed.
The game then started to go into a holding pattern, DK attacking ball in hand but all too frequent handling errors and a good defensive effort by Newbold keeping their line intact and the clock moving onward towards half time, DK were starting to get on top mainly through Harry’s boot and a strong contest at ruck and maul, this pressure led to the Newbold 16 being shown a yellow card.
Then, DK upped the tempo and came close twice only for handling errors to call a halt to scoring opportunities, the first followed a period on ball retention and the ball was moved back into the centre of the field and Dan Marsh, broke through the line and was well inside the 22 in front of the posts, he was tackled, but James Fildes had picked a great supporting line and he would have been under the posts, but a knock on.
The second was a scrum on the DK right around the Newbold 22, they were still down to 14 men at the time, Pete Griffiths broke blind from number 8 and with Joe Dunn and Tommy Walker outside him a try looked on, but another knock on.
Then with hindsight perhaps Newbold’s chance following a period of play the ball was set out towards Charlie Baffour on the left wing, and what looked like a promising DK attack was turned around by an interception, and a foot race developed the DK cover defence swarmed in from everywhere and stopped the Newbold go forward on their own 22. Moments later a penalty to Newbold, the wind once again was an influence, a kick to the corner, DK survived the lineout and the whistle went for half time only 5-0 to DK.
The DK team talk at half time had the volume turned up a notch or two from normal, but would it be enough?
There were conversations amongst the DK faithful, that shall we say wondered what the second half would bring.
There were conversations amongst the DK faithful, that shall we say wondered what the second half would bring.
The second half started with DK starting to impose themselves despite now playing into the strong wind, their handling improve and they were able to retain the ball for much longer periods and this allowed them to move the Newbold defence around and gain territory. Not long into the second this pressure bore fruit with a midfield break by Stef Shillingford, which was finished off by Will Hancox, who ran a great number 7’s supporting line, and under the posts, Sam got the conversion 12-0 to DK.
Nerves in the crowd were eased with that score, but there was more to come.
DK’s third try was on the back on good ball retention football, but this time the opportunity, was created on the edge and it was Sam Vaughan who finished it off in the Wanderers corner, Sam’s conversion was on target but the wind stopped it just short, 17-0 to DK.
DK emptied the bench, and James Ryan, Dilhan Akarca, and Jake Thompson, all showed well and ensured the fatigue was not a problem for DK.
The game continued with DK’s defence, keeping Newbold at arm’s length, but it was the DK attack that had slipped up through the gears. A further try was added when good DK play in the centre of the field gave the DK backs chance to release Charlie Baffour on the edge, and he was off for his second try, 22-0 to DK.
Next came that variation that causes defences problems, once again the ball was heading towards Charlie Baffour on the left hand touch line with the defence coming up fast, not a pass this time a grubber through by Harry Bayliss, and James Ryan and Stef Shillingford were on to it in a flash and with Charlie Baffour in space on the outside he was in for his hat trick try in front of the scoreboard, 27-0 to DK.
It was Dan Marsh who scored the fifth DK try of the half, he was up in support of Stef Shillingford, who had made yet another break, and then there was dive from Dan and a stretch for the line, and the try, 32-0 to DK.
Newbold did not leave totally empty handed, they scored a late try with a sweeping move that was finished off in the clubhouse corner, and was duly converted to make the final score 32-7.
One further mention goes to the referee today Matthew Gallagher from the London Society he had a very good game always in control, and from that the game flowed, thank you sir.
Next weekend it is off to Wassel Grove.
Nerves in the crowd were eased with that score, but there was more to come.
DK’s third try was on the back on good ball retention football, but this time the opportunity, was created on the edge and it was Sam Vaughan who finished it off in the Wanderers corner, Sam’s conversion was on target but the wind stopped it just short, 17-0 to DK.
DK emptied the bench, and James Ryan, Dilhan Akarca, and Jake Thompson, all showed well and ensured the fatigue was not a problem for DK.
The game continued with DK’s defence, keeping Newbold at arm’s length, but it was the DK attack that had slipped up through the gears. A further try was added when good DK play in the centre of the field gave the DK backs chance to release Charlie Baffour on the edge, and he was off for his second try, 22-0 to DK.
Next came that variation that causes defences problems, once again the ball was heading towards Charlie Baffour on the left hand touch line with the defence coming up fast, not a pass this time a grubber through by Harry Bayliss, and James Ryan and Stef Shillingford were on to it in a flash and with Charlie Baffour in space on the outside he was in for his hat trick try in front of the scoreboard, 27-0 to DK.
It was Dan Marsh who scored the fifth DK try of the half, he was up in support of Stef Shillingford, who had made yet another break, and then there was dive from Dan and a stretch for the line, and the try, 32-0 to DK.
Newbold did not leave totally empty handed, they scored a late try with a sweeping move that was finished off in the clubhouse corner, and was duly converted to make the final score 32-7.
One further mention goes to the referee today Matthew Gallagher from the London Society he had a very good game always in control, and from that the game flowed, thank you sir.
Next weekend it is off to Wassel Grove.
