Like the planes taking off from Gatwick’s south terminal, Old Dunstonian piloting skills were fully tested as they played uphill into a gusting wind in the first half. It was not an auspicious start, as a lively Crawley pack showed its appetite for the contest that brought them a line out in the bottom corner, from which they rather too easily drove over the OD line. Fortunately, OD’s responded quickly with a replica effort at the other end of the pitch. Tom McNamara making the initial surge from a lineout maul to give No 8 Rhys Bozier the opportunity to crash over from close range. Unsurprisingly, neither try was converted and the game settled into an impasse in the middle third of the pitch, with neither side claiming the advantage.
Just as it looked as though Crawley would be unable to capitalise on the wind and slope, they initiated a flowing move from inside their own half to find yawning gaps in the OD defence on the short side. In fairness, Crawley’s passing and support lines showed skill and precision, enabling them to cross the line unopposed. A relatively easy conversion was missed which seemed to embolden the visitors. After keeping their seat belts fastened for the opening 25 minutes, they began to stretch their legs and play the conditions better to deny the Sussex hopefuls any further opportunity. Indeed, 10-5 at half time would have been an excellent return against the elements but OD’s managed even better with a late first half try from debutant Scott McManus. Once again, Mike Ubee was pulling the strings at fly half, continuously putting the ball in front of his forwards who were consequently building a good head of steam. A keen chase forced a Crawley knock on and the forwards returned the favour by delivering good ball from the resulting scrum 10 metres out. A quick feed from James Oddy to scrum half Andy Booth allowed the new centre, McManus, to pick an irresistible line and bludgeon over to score. Ubee’s conversion defied the thermal currents and Dunstonians justifiably, if unexpectedly, led 12-10 at the interval.
With the strong tailwind now behind them, the OD game plan looked simple enough, but, with the next score critical, the game wavered on a knife edge just after the break. However, with Bozier off the pitch, the combative Pete Colling led the charge as Crawley’s engines began to misfire. With kicking out of hand not really an option, the home side struggled to lift off from their own half. The OD rush defence was more than able to close down space and force an increasing error count from the hapless Sussex side, who’s woes were compounded with a yellow card in the 54th minute. In sharp contrast, with Tom Coombs replacing Booth in the cockpit, OD’s were able to continuously drive play deep into the Crawley half. They fully capitalised against 14 men with a try and a penalty which effectively secured the game given the old boys’ territorial dominance. Again, the scrum delivered good ball, with James Mann performing well at tight head having had to replace the fast improving Mat Traynor who sustained a fractured hand. With clean ball, Ubee was able to find Jamal Gobir with a long pass, allowing him to outflank his opposite number and score wide out. When Ubee landed a superb long distance penalty kick, the opposition was fully grounded and the final quarter belonged almost entirely to the OD’s, finishing with Mike Ubee converting his own try to claim the additional airmiles aka a valuable bonus point.