Bulls corralled by a high octane D’s performance

After a lunch for nearly 80, expertly organised and marshalled by Burnsy, the expectant crowd took to the touchlines and were treated to a performance of skill and commitment as D’s overwhelmed their visitors with a high tempo game, the pace of which was maintained for the full 80 minutes.

The key performance of the day was produced by the returning Phil Dale, who from the scrum half berth added some game management to the old boys performance. He also kicked 14 points and added a direction and solidity that the team has lacked on occasions. The forwards, despite being given a going over in the tight, played an intense offloading game, and with the half backs distributing well and involving a dangerous back three, the crowd rather wondered what the old boys were doing with just Thanet below then in the standings.

Kicking up the slope, D’s were settled by an early score from Jayden Dallalana. Dale added a couple of penalties before the try of the day as Dallalana and Antonio combined to send the winger in for a well worked score. With Aylesfords only reply being a penalty, the old boys turned round 13 points to the good.

The second half opened with the old boys keeping up the pace, squeezing Aylesford into conceding a penalty in front of the posts, duly converted by Dale. When Trippier nipped in between a pair of dithering Bulls to nab the bouncing ball and dot down under the post for a futher converted try the contest was effectively over and the only question was would the 4 try bonus be obtained. That the fourth try didn’t materialise was the only dampener on a highly encouraging performance and credit to coach Smith for revitalising a squad that was looking a little dishevelled a few short weeks ago.

The referee managed to deal out a total of 6 yellows and a red (after the final whistle) which seemed excessive for a clean, well contested match. If some of his more draconian interpretations had been consistently applied the card count would have been higher still.

After two successive wins, OD’s now await the visit of Medway this Saturday. Having beaten D’s comfortably twice this season this will be a tough assignment for the old boys, but if they can replicate the form shown here not one that’s beyond them