DMPRFC 29 v LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS RFC 17

At the beginning of an important month for DMPRFC, they got December off to a good start with a bonus point win over Loughborough Students RFC, who themselves are viewing this month as pivotal.

The anticipated scrum dominance materialised, but with 4 yellow cards at key stages of the game, the victory although very welcome, was somewhat dampened and should have been by a wider margin.

That said, the Loughborough team played their part in an entertaining game at the Northern Echo Arena and were by no means a poor second, with plenty of purpose and fitness abound, they capitalised on the occasions DMPRFC were down to 13 men.

The game started industriously for the visitors with plenty of movement and possession, but when the DMPRFC pack took a stranglehold on the set pieces, there appeared to be no way back for Loughborough Students.

Home scrum half Adam NIXON underlined his preferment as the No.1 in that position,as he stole around the side of a catch and drive lineout to score in the corner after 4 minutes (5 - 0). Tom HODGSON kicked a good conversion from near to the touchline (7 - 0).

More of the same followed from a similar position, only this time, flanker Callum MACKENZIE detached himself from the catch and drive and forced his way passed the last defender for the try (12 - 0). Again Tom HODGSON converted (14 - 0).

DMPRFC were bolstered by the return of lock Talite VAIOLETI after a long injury lay-off and his added weight and experience was an addition factor in the scrum, which Loughborough gamely contested, but came second with regularity.

Forward power continued when prop Matty SHIELDS bulldozed over from short range (19 - 0), but the extras clattered the post and fell wide from Tom HODGSON.

So with 16 minutes gone, more of the same appeared inevitable, but what followed changed the game.

A brilliant flowing passage of play from the home side saw an attack on the visitors line from inside DMPRFC's own 22-metre line, with some fine inter-passing and progress into opposition territory.The run only ended as the DMPRFC skipper was adjudged to have knocked the ball forward in the act of scoring.

There then followed a bizarre twist of events that galvanised the Loughborough players, as DMPRFC were reduced to first 14, then 13 players in quick succession.

Guy van den DRIES was adjudged to have tip tackled an opponent and received a yellow card. The act seemed innocuous, however to the letter of the law the official was correct and he had to walk,

DMPRFC re-shuffled their pack to accommodate the loss, but he was shortly followed 5 minutes later by influential flanker Callum MACKENZIE for another alleged tip-tackle, which looked worse than it was, but again fully justified by the official to take the action he did.

The game then inevitably turned with the home side down to 6 forwards and Loughborough to their credit took the appropriate action and with the numerical advantage, scored two unconverted tries, both from catch and drive lineouts, both scored by the same back row forward. (19 - 10),

DMPRFC were forced to defend during this period and managed only a penalty from Tom HODGSON in reply before oranges (22 - 10).

When returned to a full complement after several minutes had elapsed after the break, normal service was resumed by the DMPRFC forwards, as Loughborough conceded a penalty try from an attacking scrum (27 - 10), with HODGSON again converting (29 - 10).

Although Loughborough were showing their fitness and coming back into the game, DMPRFC seemed to have enough gears to cope with any rear-guard action.

Loughborough did score another well deserved try via another back row forward, which was converted (29 - 17), however DMPRFC's focus was affected when No.8 Guy van den DRIES received a second yellow for failing to release the ball after a defensive tackle in the red zone.

Loughborough pressed for anothe rscore for both the try and losing bonus point, but the home defence repelled anything further.

Some further pressure was brought to bear late on for DMPRFC, when replacement hooker Charlie MADDERSON was yellow carded together with a Loughborough player after a minor altercation, but the game was over by that time and a vital 5 league points obtained, whilst affording zero points to the opposition who are also similarly placed and who were also in need of league points.