Sat 11 Sep 2021
Into the last minutes of the game DK trailing 14-13 and it looked like being one of those days. When following a good defensive stint, DK were starting to gain ground and then a burst down the touch line by hooker Ben Rhodes saw DK into the 22 and Paviors managed to usher the ball into touch. A DK line out on the Paviors 22, a clean catch and a drive infield saw a maul set up and with DK pressing forward there was the blast of the Referee’s whistle. The arm was in DK’s favour, kickable but on the wrong side for Sam. A quick word with the ref and the clock was run down, the kick was up and through the posts, 16-14 to DK, and all importantly the blast of the whistle to end the game.
DK are now two from two and up to fifth with eight points, the DK faithful will be satisfied with that following promotion, with an air of realism, but with a splash of optimism.
DK are certainly building and integrating the new faces both on the playing staff and on the coaching team. Steve Redfern’s influence is permeating its way through the forwards, we have a collective purpose in the set piece and there is a clinical edge to the break down, which will no doubt increase in value during the season. The attack threatened to open up Paviors on several occasions but suspect handling let us down, so Tommy Huggins will be pleased with the intention but perhaps not the execution. Added to that a well conditioned team, things look bright.
It is important to note that Paviors is in Sherwood Forest and although the pitch was in excellent condition it undulates and these often produces extreme bounces of the ball, a definite advantage to the home kickers.
Thoughts turned to that play off game when in the first few minutes Paviors were awarded a penalty and a kick to the corner and a try of the lineout converted 7-0 to Paviors. Though, DK were being tested defensively but were up to the task and a fine early tackle from Kieron Williams, let Paviors know what they were in for. DK gradually pushed the playing area into the Paviors half and a change of emphasis materialised, a penalty, but not the kick for the corner but Sam to chip away at the lead which he successfully did, so 7-3 to Paviors.
DK were coming much more into the game and gaining territory, but were conceding penalties which compromised the hard won territorial gains. Though, DK were able to launch several multi phase attacks in the later stages of the first half.
Stef Shillingford made a break after the back line moved the ball and stressed the Paviors defence, but DK were penalised at the ruck. Moments later a DK line out on their right was the ball moved and Tommy Walker followed the ball across the field and joined the line almost through a their line but once again the shrill blast at the break down and a relieving penalty.
The a following move from left to right saw Tommy Walker heading for the corner but cut down by a good defensive cover tackle, the ball popped to Sam Vaughan, who passing inside and the ball flashed back the over way, only for it to be knocked on when the Paviors defence was stretched to the limit.
Rhys Harper came on for the injured Will Hancox, this saw Harry move to centre.
Tommy Walker made a bust down the middle of the field following a period of defence, off loaded to the rampaging Dan Marsh who made further ground, then Jake Thompson and Kieron Williams the two DK props were in support, and both made ground the move ended deep in the Paviors 22.
The pressure was starting to mount but no points to show. Then DK had their first league 50-22, a Harry Bayliss kick. From the ensuing lineout DK secured the ball and were able to set up an attacking maul from which Scott Lovell bulldozed his way to the line for a well deserved try, converted by Sam so 10-7 to DK.
That took the game into half time.
The second half continued on the from the end of the first half with DK winning the territory battle, then Ben Rhodes made a break down the DK right wing which led to a line out in the Paviors 22. Which led to a DK lineout win and suddenly DK were in full attack mode with the ball flashing across the line out to the left wing and back and a burst towards the posts, the Paviors defence was scrambling and a penalty to DK, the Paviors full back received a Yellow card, and Sam increased the lead to 13-7.
Paviors adopted their yellow card routine, of running the clock down and using the kick to touch to move the danger away from their line, but they won a line out and moved the ball from right to left against a DK defence that was strangely passive, and their left wing broke a tackle and finished off in front of their supporters, but wide out to make it 13-12 to DK. The DK travelling supporters were hoping, but the conversion sailed straight through the middle of the posts, Paviors back in the lead 14-13.
The game restarted at a pace with both teams realising that the final few minutes were going to be the vital part, keep playing ‘til the end, but that sting in the tale saw DK take the spoils.
Numbers 1,2,3 and 16 were very much at the heart of this win.
