Gloom but not Doom for Old Boys at Stupple Field

Rising over the imposing Kingsferry Bridge and dropping down to the flat Elmley marshes, the faltering sunlight and biting crosswind gave notice of deteriorating weather conditions for this bottom of the table clash. While both sides started with commitment and purpose, it was Sheppey who gained the lion’s share of possession in the first period of play. Dunstonians, who continue to improve as a defensive unit, comfortably resisted successive Sheppey attacks with good tackling from an industrious back row and better organisational nous, but it was the home side who opened the scoring with a converted try created from tight, controlled phases dictated by the home pack.
This remained the pattern of the game which saw a strong Sheppey front five imposing itself in the set piece to deny a sharper OD backline the opportunity to play. The old boys showed exactly what they could do with decent ball, coming straight back with some neat inter passing following Mike Ubee’s line break which allowed Linval Antonio in for his first try. Sheppey capitalised on their dominance by scoring a second bulldozing try but happily the Beckenham forwards were beginning to get into their stride and make some strong yards with Jack Sanchez leading the charge. Then, OD’s completely turned the tables with two swashbuckling tries straight out of the Barbarian handbook. Firstly, some adventure from debutant James Sinclair running out of his own half to create the room for Antonio to weave more magic on the right flank and score his second try. Straight from the restart, prop Josh Ajiboye shimmied and swayed past a clutch of defenders to deliver a try scoring pass to Malachi Connolly. Unlikely though it at first seemed, the visiting side turned around 17-12 ahead at the break.
The visiting side seemed to hold the upper hand, however, scrummage and lineout problems soon re-emerged to frustrate players and supporters alike. Early in the second half, OD’s were rocked by two quick Sheppey tries, neither converted which would be significant. As the rain started to fall, blown in from the bleak river estuary, the visitors were in danger of capitulation as the forward exchanges seemed to favour the Sheppey eight but, against all odds, the Dunstonian pack summoned a final effort to get something out of the match. With the penalty count swinging very much in their favour, fly half Mike Ubee steered the OD forwards deep into opposition territory. The resulting lineout slightly misfired, but replacement JP Mills reacted quickly to get his hands on the ball and force his way over the line for a late equalising try and bonus point.
A conversion would have been harsh on the Sheppey XV who had grafted well but Ubee obliged with a miss in the fading light and the game ended in a draw with both teams able to take plenty of positives forward to a league campaign which every week is proving competitive and hard fought. Fine margins will determine success or failure by the time the clocks go back again and we can actually see what's happening.
Congratulations to James Sinclair for his debut 1st XV start.
Man of the Match: Linval Antonio