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DMPRFC  50  v  BLACKHEATH RFC  10

DMPRFC 50 v BLACKHEATH RFC 10

Lewis Johnston22 Nov 2014 - 17:12
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Today’s match sponsors Lloyds Agriculture presents the Man of the Match award to DMPRFC's Zylon McGaffin. (Match report to follow)

In a performance that has been coming for a while, DMPRFC blew away Blackheath RFC, outscoring their visitors by 7 tries to one, belying their respective league positions and in doing so enabling the home side to put some distance between themselves and the bottom three clubs.

An unusually subdued Blackheath RFC had no answer to the power and pace of their hosts, citing key injuries to their squad.

Nevertheless, this performance from DMPRFC had been threatened for some time and although not firing on all cylinders, were too much for their visitors.

As the game kicked off, an eerie freezing fog descended on the Northern Echo Arena.

Forward dominance was established early doors, when from a powerful maul emanating from a catch and drive lineout, Blackheath were forced to collapse when 5 metres out,. When the official blew, quick thinking home scrum half Zylon McGAFFIN took the tap and burst over the line for the opener (5 - 0). The conversion from fly half Tom HODGSON was good from wide out (7 - 0).

Blackheath instigated a response and after initially missing a simple penalty, the visiting fly half made up for it when DMPRFC were deemed offside at a ruck, dissecting the posts for their opening points (7 - 3).

From then on, Blackheath were not in the game at all, as DMPRFC ran in a further 6 tries, as the freezing fog descended in the Northern Echo Arena.

Full back Henry ROBINSON was next to score, profiting from some clever hands in midfield, allowing him to cut a line through the defence for the score (12 - 3). Again Tom HODGSON converted, this time from the opposite side of the pitch (14 - 3).

As DMPRFC stepped up the pace, winger Joe NELLANY seemed to dive in for the try, but as he was about to cross the line, a visiting defender punched the ball forward and out of play. The scrum was set 5 metres out and with ascendancy in this area, the home pack shunted their opponents over the line for No. 8 Guy van den DRIES to touch down (19 - 3).

Just prior to oranges, the home skipper Cameron MITCHELL joined in the scoring, touching down, when an overlap was created by his midfield colleagues, allowing him to find the gap (24 - 3). HODGSON converting (26 - 3).

As oranges arrived, the try bonus point had been achieved, but as we all know, the game had not been won.

Any possibility of a second half Blackheath resurgence did not materialise, as DMPRFC picked up where they left off.

Fly half Tom HODGSON broke the deadlock after the break with a sweetly struck penalty, as the visitors strayed offside onouside their 22 metre line (29 - 3).

DMPRFC resumed try scoring, when Blackheath found themselves under pressure at a 5 metre defensive scrum, The ball squirted out the back as they were shunted backwards and quick thinking Zylon McGAFFIN was again on hand to capitalise, diving on the ball in the in zone (34 - 3) and with Tom HODGSON converting (36 - 3), things were looking ominous for the visitors.

Blackheath were unable to gain any decent possession with which to attack the home defence and even when replacements were introduced, this failed to assist.

DMPRFC replacement winger Chris McTURK got in on the action, when cutting a fine attacking line, which took him clear and under the posts for the score (41 - 3) as the Blackheath cause became worse, Again Tom HODGSON supplied the afters (43 - 3).

As the game entered the final quarter, DMPRFC added a further try from winger Jamie BARNARD, set up by a partnership of McGAFFIN and ROBINSON, allowing BARNARD to fend off the last defender for the score (48 - 3).

Tom HODGSON 's successful conversion brought up the half century (50 - 3).

As DMPRFC took their foot off the pedal, a proud Blackheath RFC side profited from a loose pass which was intercepted and ran back. When the run was stopped short, from the resulting lineout, Blackheath the skipper was on hand to score consolation try for the visitors at the death (50 - 8), converted by their fly half (50 - 10).

Next home fixture: Mowden v Loughborough: Sat 6th December : KO 3pm

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