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12 IN A ROW FOR DMPRFC

12 IN A ROW FOR DMPRFC

Robert Logan13 Feb 2016 - 17:05
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DMPRFC made it 12 in a row with an emphatic 36-27 win over second placed Hartpury College RFC (Match report attached)

In an entertaining game at the Northern Echo Arena, DMPRFC ran out deserved winners against the leagues second placed team Hartpury College RFC.

The game was closely fought, but DMPRFC recovered from a shakey start to dominate for 60 minutes of the game, scoring sufficient points during that time to always keep the Hartpury at bay and even a late surge from the visitors brought them only the losing bonus point.

Although Hartpury would seek to point to the players that were unavailable for the game for a variety of reasons, DMPRFC have no need to refer to their own player unavailability and anyway, 'you can only beat what's in front of you' and that's exactly what they did.

Things started badly for the home side, when within the space of seven minutes, they found themselves 0 - 10 down, as Hartpury started with a bang.

A poorly fielded kick-off put DMPRFC on the back foot from the off and when pinned down defending immediately, they conceded a try from a catch and drive lineout, as visiting prop Tim Brockett barged over (0 - 5).

The attempt at a conversion from top scorer and full back Gareth Thompson was poor, which would prove costly to Hartpury in the end, as he had a miserable day with the afters.

Hartpury were on their game at this stage and it wasn't long before they added another try, as five minutes later, they created an overlap and winger Mark Harrison squeezed into the corner (0 - 10).

Any suggestion that DMPRFC were favoured by the officiating of the 'man in the middle' is counteracted by the fact that count back will show, particularly in the first half, that it was Hartpury who benefited from the penalty count.

The scores silenced the crowd initially, however, the resolve and steely determination of the squad to prevail is much more powerful these days and as the home side slowly began to take a stranglehold on the game, the support was magnificent.

Strong runs by flankers Simon UZOKWE and Santiago SOCINO began to tie in Hartpury's players, particularly their excellent back row, where Gloucester RFC player Daniel Thomas was outstanding throughout.

As DMPRFC made progress, playing much of the next 20 minutes in the oppositions half, a catch and drive brought a deserved reward for the rampaging UZOKWE, as he latched on to the end, to touchdown as the game entered the second quarter (5 - 10).

DMPRFC fly half Warren SEALS converted the try (7 - 10) and went on to have an excellent game both with ball in hand and with the boot, eventually making the difference between the sides.

Winger Jake HENRY retired injured at this stage, to be replaced by Callum MACKENZIE, who introduced himself immediately and in no small measure was responsible for instilling a sense of physicality into the home sides game.

Seven minutes later, DMPRFC lost centre Chris AULD with a knock, scrum half Matt WALSH stepping into the fray.

DMPRFC stepped up the pressure and from a ruck, flanker Santiago SOCINO picked up and ran straight through the middle of it to score under the posts (12 - 10). SEALS converting (14 - 10).

By this stage, it was all DMPRFC and just prior to oranges, Hartpury were forced to hold on in the tackle, attracting the penalty near to the posts and SEALS made no mistake (17 - 10) as the interval arrived.

After oranges, although Hartpury introduced a flood of replacements, DMPRFC retained the impetus and it wasn't long before they had increased their lead.

Simon UZOKWE engineered access to the ball, kicked on and broke from 40 metres out to score under the posts (22 - 10). Again SEALS was successful (24 - 10).

Hartpury flanker Jake Polledri was yellow carded for a technical infringement and their lack of forwards was immediately exploited when home skipper Gareth NESBIT was next in on the act, as the hard working prop scored from a catch and drive (29 - 10), with SEALS 'on the money' again from wide out (31 - 10).

Just before the start of the final quarter, Hartpury scored a good try via replacement centre James FORRESTER (31 - 15), but again no conversion.

The best try of the game followed, from DMPRFC, when flanker Simon UZOKWE, now playing on the wing as the team were forced to re-shuffle, cut a dynamic line through the Hartpury defence, to feed centre Jacob WOODHOUSE, who ghosted around the visitors defence to score a great try (36 - 15). This time SEALS conversion missed the target.

As the game entered the final five minutes, Hartpury to their credit ran 'everything from everywhere', scoring two very late tries via replacement front rower Nathan Taylor (36 - 20) and powerful winger Jonas Mikalcius (36 - 25), with the latter converted by Thompson (36 - 27), but it was all 'too little to late'.

So from the second placed team in National League One, next week DMPRFC travel to the capital, to take on first placed Richmond RFC.

A big Thank You to our official Match Day sponsors
Match Day Sponsor: Cooper Durham BMW
Match Ball Sponsor: M Media & Design

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