Fri 20 Sep 2019, 19:30
Well what a start to the weekend, DK find Worcester a hard place to visit normally, but the lads did the business, 54-14 to the blue and blue, just a little extra pressure to the teams on Saturday, then.
There were three planks to the DK victory, first the DK D, there was a period in the second half when Worcester had got back to one score behind DK and they spend some time pounding away in the DK 22 but that blue line held and relief came from a Worcester knock on, a real statement made.
Secondly, fitness the DK boys were able to keep their levels up for the whole 80 minutes, and that certainly contributed to the performance in the last quarter of the game.
Thirdly, and probably the most important was the subtlety in attack which continually posed questions for the defenders.
For those of you unfamiliar with Worcester’s ground it does have a quite marked slope, and DK were down it in the first half, the opening moves saw DK edge onto the attack with Joe Dunn, Will Hancox, and Charlie Baffour prominent in an attack down the DK left. This led to a DK scrummage, from which DK were awarded a penalty and opted for another scrum in the shadow of the Worcester posts. The back row picked an went for the line through Pete Griffiths and Will Hancox, James Ryan joined in and the ball was back to the backs out along the line to the right, Sam Vaughan, went through a gap but was stopped, but Charlie Baffour had tracked across from his wing and was on hand when Sam slipped the ball to him and almost back under the posts, Sam was on target 7-0 to DK.
Moments later Charlie bagged his second when a good DK handling move put him into space, and he raced down the wing for his second try and two more from Sam, 14-0 to DK.
DK were on the attack again following a raking Joe Dunn kick into touch in the Worcester 22, a line out ball saw the ball swiftly move across the DK line again, Stef Shillingford put through a deft grubber kick with Charlie following up, but the ball beat the flying winger to the dead ball line.
It was not all about DK’s attacking prowess, one sublime moment in defence was a one handed pick-up at full speed from Tommy Walker, which allowed DK to clear their lines. Worcester had come back into the game in the closing minutes of the first half and scored a good try, when following a penalty Worcester had applied pressure and their fly half was able to kick to his right wing who gathered the ball and made across the line with the conversion it was 14-7 as the half time whistle went.
The game was far from settled at half time so it was important to come out firing at the start of the second half, well it certainly was the message that DK received almost straight form the kick off, Josh Melvin made a good run into the Worcester half, and the ball was put into touch in the Worcester 22, the line out worked well to Pete Griffiths at the front, James Ryan on the back peel, into the heart of the defence, an offload and Will Hancox under the posts, plus the extras from Sam 21-7.
The flow of the game swung totally in favour of Worcester at this point they scored a good try following a backs move which put their left wing over in the corner and a good conversion from the touchline saw the score to 21-14, and back to one score between the sides.
Then, the DK defence won the game, it looked for all the world that Worcester would level the scores, but that thin blue line held and DK slipped up a gear or two.
DK were back on the attack, and were awarded a penalty about 10 metres out from the Worcester line, on came the shove, the front row kept it straight, ever onward, shouts of encouragement from the backs and over the line with Pete Griffiths doing the honours, but if there was ever a forwards try that was it, Sam on target so 28-14 and the try bonus point.
The momentum was back with DK a midfield scrummage saw DK win slow ball and out to Stef Shillingford who was checked and switched sides of the scrum with an arcing run, an offload to Josh Brown, saw the blind side set up a quick ruck and the ball was back to the DK backs and transferred quickly to Charlie Baffour who was in for his hat trick try, that means both DK wings have a hat trick in the first three league games so 33-14 to DK.
Sam Vaughan was the next try scorer it was a move from deep in which the DK backs were able to put Tommy Walker in the clear on the right wing, Tommy sped for the line but the cover was getting across, though a well-timed inside pass saw Sam into space and over for a try which he converted, 40-14 to DK.
Then the DK forwards got back into the limelight, a scrum against the head, and I’m sure Rich Kelley let everyone know. Was exploited by Pete Griffiths with a strong carry then Will Hancox and on to Callum Nicholls to touch it down, plus the extras 47-14.
DK were starting to enjoy themselves and the next section of play was pure French handling of the 1970’s, you could almost hear the cries of “Allez DK” but the inevitable knock on came from Pete Griffiths with the line beckoning.
The game finished with some good quick thinking firstly by Charlie Baffour who took a quick penalty in the Worcester 22, he passed to Ryan Smitheman who kick passed to Tommy Walker who was in space on his wing he collected the ball and was round under the posts before half the Worcester team had realised what was happening, final score 54-14 to DK.
