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Sat 07 Oct 2017 · London 3 South East
1st XVOld Williamsonians
Tries: R Palmer, D Raleigh, M Connolly (2), J GobirConversions: M Ubee (4)Penalties: M Ubee
36
17
Tries: null (3)Conversions: null
Old Boys turn the screw to secure home win
Colin Sinclair10 Oct 2017 - 18:14
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Stubborn resistance from league newcomers seen off in the second half
Dunstonians quickly took the initiative with an opening score in the first minutes of a game that had assumed high importance for a couple of sides who have struggled to get going in the first month of the league season. The home side backs looked sharp as firstly centre Rory Palmer took advantage of some accurate passing to round his man and score wide out, allowing Mike Ubee to convert with an excellent long range kick. This was quickly followed by another well-made try as the free running backs created an opening for pacey full back, Diarmuid Raleigh, to cut through a Williamsonian defence that hadn’t quite adjusted to the opening tempo. So far so good, as OD’s seemed to be dominating territory and possession with a mix of robust forward play and intelligent kicking which denied the visitors time on the ball. However, momentum was to change soon enough as OD’s lapsed into old habits at the breakdown to give away penalties and failing to really establish any advantage in the set piece.
Having seen their advantage clearly demonstrated in the wider channels, the home side somehow got sucked in to a stodgy forward confrontation, for the rest of the half, in which they, definitely, came off second best. A rugged Williamsonian pack played to their strengths to keep the ball tight and take turns to run into the opposition. This limited but effective game plan, orchestrated by a no 9 who played in very similar vein, saw them keep the OD’s firmly on the back foot and score two tries from close range, one of which was converted. With their penalty opportunities, Williamsonians could easily have been leading at the break, but missed kicks and a Ubee penalty, kept Dunstonian noses in front 15-12 at half time.
Fortunately, right from the restart, the Langley Park side stepped up a gear to change the game, finally exploiting their speed and handling superiority that had been lost in the mirky first half encounter. James Oddy caught the kick off and set off on a scything run which carried the home team deep into the Williamsonian half. Great combined play saw debutant scrumhalf Mat Payne hoist a sumptuous box kick and then spin the retrieved ball left to winger Mal Connolly, who had too much speed and strength for the cover defence to finish off an excellent team effort. Ubee converted to take the score to 22-12. The contest still hung in the balance for a while as the two sides took turns to exert pressure. With the next score critical, Dunstonians missed a penalty and failed to convert some promising field positions into points. Strong running from their more mobile forwards too often fizzled out when the try line beckoned. Inevitably, they found themselves back in their own half again with nothing to show for their significant second half efforts. Last season this might well have seen them surrender the initiative entirely but patience and organisation is now a much stronger component in the old boys’ armoury and, eventually, the rush defence created a sizzling interception and 50 metre run by Connolly which finally took the game beyond the lively Rochester side.
From this point, the Old Dunstonians took control in the final quarter to consolidate a convincing win with a fifth try. Replacement Pete Colling, who made a telling contribution in defence and attack, broke through to provide right wing Jamal Gobir with his first serious scoring chance of the game. The elusive winger outstripped the weary cover tackling to score under the posts and seal victory. OD’s continued to press right up to the final whistle and could even have added another score but had done more than enough to announce their serious credentials for the new league campaign. Williamsonians, too, did enough to deter future opponents from taking them too lightly.
If the individual try scoring was a highlight of the game, so too was Dunstonians’ general game management and continuity in the second half which allowed their genuine 15 man game to break down the dogged Kentish nine man effort
Try Scorers: Palmer, Raleigh, Connolly (2), Gobir
Conversions: Ubee (4)
Penalties: Ubee (1)
Man of the Match: Nick Keppe, getting back to his rampaging best as well as showing an improved all-round game. Ferocious tackling was a highlight.
Having seen their advantage clearly demonstrated in the wider channels, the home side somehow got sucked in to a stodgy forward confrontation, for the rest of the half, in which they, definitely, came off second best. A rugged Williamsonian pack played to their strengths to keep the ball tight and take turns to run into the opposition. This limited but effective game plan, orchestrated by a no 9 who played in very similar vein, saw them keep the OD’s firmly on the back foot and score two tries from close range, one of which was converted. With their penalty opportunities, Williamsonians could easily have been leading at the break, but missed kicks and a Ubee penalty, kept Dunstonian noses in front 15-12 at half time.
Fortunately, right from the restart, the Langley Park side stepped up a gear to change the game, finally exploiting their speed and handling superiority that had been lost in the mirky first half encounter. James Oddy caught the kick off and set off on a scything run which carried the home team deep into the Williamsonian half. Great combined play saw debutant scrumhalf Mat Payne hoist a sumptuous box kick and then spin the retrieved ball left to winger Mal Connolly, who had too much speed and strength for the cover defence to finish off an excellent team effort. Ubee converted to take the score to 22-12. The contest still hung in the balance for a while as the two sides took turns to exert pressure. With the next score critical, Dunstonians missed a penalty and failed to convert some promising field positions into points. Strong running from their more mobile forwards too often fizzled out when the try line beckoned. Inevitably, they found themselves back in their own half again with nothing to show for their significant second half efforts. Last season this might well have seen them surrender the initiative entirely but patience and organisation is now a much stronger component in the old boys’ armoury and, eventually, the rush defence created a sizzling interception and 50 metre run by Connolly which finally took the game beyond the lively Rochester side.
From this point, the Old Dunstonians took control in the final quarter to consolidate a convincing win with a fifth try. Replacement Pete Colling, who made a telling contribution in defence and attack, broke through to provide right wing Jamal Gobir with his first serious scoring chance of the game. The elusive winger outstripped the weary cover tackling to score under the posts and seal victory. OD’s continued to press right up to the final whistle and could even have added another score but had done more than enough to announce their serious credentials for the new league campaign. Williamsonians, too, did enough to deter future opponents from taking them too lightly.
If the individual try scoring was a highlight of the game, so too was Dunstonians’ general game management and continuity in the second half which allowed their genuine 15 man game to break down the dogged Kentish nine man effort
Try Scorers: Palmer, Raleigh, Connolly (2), Gobir
Conversions: Ubee (4)
Penalties: Ubee (1)
Man of the Match: Nick Keppe, getting back to his rampaging best as well as showing an improved all-round game. Ferocious tackling was a highlight.
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