Fri 3 Jan 2020, 19:45
Back to league action at Heathbrook, on a clear crisp night, with the pitch looking good under the lights. A good crowd for the first league game of 2020, with the correct number of layers it was a fine night for watching.
The seasoned watcher of DK could almost write a script for the clashes between these two teams, and this game fitted into that template. Worcester out of the blocks well, and challenging the DK defence without moving the scoreboard, though in the opening encounters they did miss two penalties from a fairly long range.
Then, came the DK counter punch, good defence led to a turnover, and Charlie Baffour running the ball out of defence, and linking with support, and the ball was moved to Tommy Walker on the right wing, and another strong run, and nudge ahead saw DK in the Worcester 22, with a line out. The ball was won, and into a series of pick and goes, towards the line, when Callum Nicholls was able to burst a tackle and make the line, Sam Vaughan added the extras, 7-0 DK.
DK’s try threat is found in shirts 4 & 5, it was the other second row, Dan Marsh who crossed for the second try, following a back row move of a scrummage Danny Hawkins made ground linked with support from the backs to his right and the ball was passed back to the on rushing Dan Marsh, who burst through the remaining defenders to score a try, Sam Vaughan was on target again 12-0 to DK.
DK added a third try which was straight off the training pitch, it followed an attacking line out in scoreboard corner, James Fildes found Callum Nichols in the middle of the line out and the ball was quickly in the hands of scrum half Joe Dunn, and equally quickly into the hands off Harry Bayliss at 10, then the training pitch choreography which saw Charlie Baffour in from the left wing and over the line for the third try and the fast growing competition between the second row and wingers in the scoring charts taking another turn, plus two more from the ever accurate Sam, 21-0 to DK.
Tommy Walker posed the next threat with a kick ahead following a DK scrummage, but Worcester were able to stop that particular attack. Though, Worcester were able to come into the attack in the closing minutes of the half, DK tight head Rich Kelley was yellow carded for some illegal work in a ruck, and that penalty and a further one quickly awarded to Worcester after the first saw them march down into the clubhouse corner.
From the ensuing line out and a subsequent scrummage to Worcester they made their man advantage count, and scored with the final play of the half and made it 7 with the conversion, so 21-7 at half time.
The seasoned watcher of DK could almost write a script for the clashes between these two teams, and this game fitted into that template. Worcester out of the blocks well, and challenging the DK defence without moving the scoreboard, though in the opening encounters they did miss two penalties from a fairly long range.
Then, came the DK counter punch, good defence led to a turnover, and Charlie Baffour running the ball out of defence, and linking with support, and the ball was moved to Tommy Walker on the right wing, and another strong run, and nudge ahead saw DK in the Worcester 22, with a line out. The ball was won, and into a series of pick and goes, towards the line, when Callum Nicholls was able to burst a tackle and make the line, Sam Vaughan added the extras, 7-0 DK.
DK’s try threat is found in shirts 4 & 5, it was the other second row, Dan Marsh who crossed for the second try, following a back row move of a scrummage Danny Hawkins made ground linked with support from the backs to his right and the ball was passed back to the on rushing Dan Marsh, who burst through the remaining defenders to score a try, Sam Vaughan was on target again 12-0 to DK.
DK added a third try which was straight off the training pitch, it followed an attacking line out in scoreboard corner, James Fildes found Callum Nichols in the middle of the line out and the ball was quickly in the hands of scrum half Joe Dunn, and equally quickly into the hands off Harry Bayliss at 10, then the training pitch choreography which saw Charlie Baffour in from the left wing and over the line for the third try and the fast growing competition between the second row and wingers in the scoring charts taking another turn, plus two more from the ever accurate Sam, 21-0 to DK.
Tommy Walker posed the next threat with a kick ahead following a DK scrummage, but Worcester were able to stop that particular attack. Though, Worcester were able to come into the attack in the closing minutes of the half, DK tight head Rich Kelley was yellow carded for some illegal work in a ruck, and that penalty and a further one quickly awarded to Worcester after the first saw them march down into the clubhouse corner.
From the ensuing line out and a subsequent scrummage to Worcester they made their man advantage count, and scored with the final play of the half and made it 7 with the conversion, so 21-7 at half time.
It seemed that both sets of coaches had emphasised the importance of field position in the second half and there was an increase of kicking from hand, during the second period.
The half started with Worcester on the attack and a turnover saw Tommy Walker, gain ground with an elusive run out of the DK 22 and an offload to Stef Shillingford saw DK into midfield. This was so followed by a penalty to DK which was fired into the pavilion corner by Harry Bayliss, this time the Worcester defence weathered the storm and cleared the danger.
DK were turning the pressure screw and it caused the Worcester 7 to over commit in a ruck and his reward was a yellow card.
Moments later DK claimed their try bonus point, but it was in no small part due to Sam Vaughan unlocking the Worcester defence, DK were attacking down their right wing Sam had joined the line with Tommy Walker outside him, Sam looked like he was going to drive through his channel, and drew the defence onto him, then the magic, a one handed pass behind his own back straight to Tommy Walker, who need no second invitation and was off down the wing. To their credit the Worcester inside defence reacted well and forced DK into a passing move, which took the ball back across the pitch, and it was James Fildes who burst through a tackle to score the bonus point try, and to remind people that the DK hookers have score a few tries as well, no conversion this time, 26-7 to DK.
The fifth and final try, ended in pure DK attacking mode and it was finished by the back three, after a period of play a DK back line was running the ball towards the Worcester 22 on the DK right Charlie Baffour had the ball with Sam and Tommy outside him, the Worcester defence had numbered off, Charlie to Sam, a kick through and that perfect third bounce up, straight into the hands of the onrushing Tommy Walker, who collected the ball without breaking stride and was over the line and around under the posts, and Sam did the honours 33-7 to DK.
Briefly, 13 points in front before Saturday’s games, next Saturday it’s a trip to beside the River Wye and Hereford, please make the effort to get down there it should be a good game of hard fought rugby, your support could be the vital factor.
The half started with Worcester on the attack and a turnover saw Tommy Walker, gain ground with an elusive run out of the DK 22 and an offload to Stef Shillingford saw DK into midfield. This was so followed by a penalty to DK which was fired into the pavilion corner by Harry Bayliss, this time the Worcester defence weathered the storm and cleared the danger.
DK were turning the pressure screw and it caused the Worcester 7 to over commit in a ruck and his reward was a yellow card.
Moments later DK claimed their try bonus point, but it was in no small part due to Sam Vaughan unlocking the Worcester defence, DK were attacking down their right wing Sam had joined the line with Tommy Walker outside him, Sam looked like he was going to drive through his channel, and drew the defence onto him, then the magic, a one handed pass behind his own back straight to Tommy Walker, who need no second invitation and was off down the wing. To their credit the Worcester inside defence reacted well and forced DK into a passing move, which took the ball back across the pitch, and it was James Fildes who burst through a tackle to score the bonus point try, and to remind people that the DK hookers have score a few tries as well, no conversion this time, 26-7 to DK.
The fifth and final try, ended in pure DK attacking mode and it was finished by the back three, after a period of play a DK back line was running the ball towards the Worcester 22 on the DK right Charlie Baffour had the ball with Sam and Tommy outside him, the Worcester defence had numbered off, Charlie to Sam, a kick through and that perfect third bounce up, straight into the hands of the onrushing Tommy Walker, who collected the ball without breaking stride and was over the line and around under the posts, and Sam did the honours 33-7 to DK.
Briefly, 13 points in front before Saturday’s games, next Saturday it’s a trip to beside the River Wye and Hereford, please make the effort to get down there it should be a good game of hard fought rugby, your support could be the vital factor.
