Old Dunstonian 19 - Sevenoaks 16

The pre match lunch reunited an collection of old coots from far and wide (Bermuda, France, Lincoln, Petts Wood) and as their numbers swelled on the touchline they were treated to a couple of sharply taken Jayden Dallanana tries and an outstanding performance from scrum half Cody Mackie. Unfortunately for the faithful, a second half of thud and blunder featured a spirited Sevenoaks recovery before Mills pinched the result at the death.

The game started with Sevenoaks probing the old boys defence without offering much threat out wide. This was in stark contrast to the old boys, who showed the Sevenoaks three quarters a clean pair of heals as first Dallanana outpaced the wide cover with an arcing run under the posts before the same player was the beneficiary of Connolly’s excellent inside pass for another converted score. Sevenoaks were not without threat and two penalities kept them in touch as the half closed.

The second half was a disappointing affair from OD’s point of view, as they lost their sense of urgency and rather let Oaks dictate terms. Luke Smart was again excellent in defence and attack and on a number of occasions showed poise as he held up the ball waiting for support having been in danger of being turned over. The defence was solid but eventually Oaks pressure prevailed and the old boys defence was breached as a forward drive produced a try by the posts. The successful conversion took Oaks to within a point and when the old boys conceded a penalty out wide on the 30 metre line, the Oaks kickers excellent effort took the visitors in front for the first time in the match.

With only a copious amount of injury time remaining (courtesy of perhaps a dozen injury stoppages, which the ref prevented OD’s fully addressing, insisting 3 substitutions had been made to a bemused Mark McKillop, the unused third sub), Mackie rallied the troops in the gathering gloom and set about marshalling a final drive. After probing the Sevenoaks defence and being fimly repelled on the 20 metre line, play was switched to the right where the ball ended up in the hands of J P Mills. He still had much to do but hauled himself over the line somehow to ground the ball for a three point advantage. When a moment later Keith Boyd marked a kick, his subsequent clearance marked the end of the game.

A game where the old boys outscored the visitors by three tries to one shouldn’t have been as close as it was. In the end the win was a little unlikely and Sevenoaks will feel their losing bonus was the very least their efforts merited. On the bright side, when fly half Bryant Hall was unleashing Scott, Connolly and Dallanana the threat was obvious.

Next week sees a clear weekend to rest a few knocks prior to visit of Lewes in a fortnight.