DMPRFC 30 v ESHER RFC 22

After a very even first half, the game burst into life after oranges, heralding six tries and 5 yellow cards.

Both teams endeavoured to no avail in the first half, with both sets of forwards battering away at each other and opposing backs testing respective defences.

DMPRFC appeared to have scored a perfectly well worked try via wing Lewis JOHNSON, only to have been brought back by the referee's assistant for a forward pass in the build up.

The big Esher RFC forwards did threaten the home line on several occasions, but were repelled by a combination of stoic defence and their own mistakes.

Home fly half was successful with three penalties in the half, whilst the visitors were restricted to one, keeping things tight at the break (9 - 3).

As has been alluded to previously, the game evolved into action when play resumed after oranges, as both sides sought ascendency and the vital win.

Home flanker was sin binned for a red zone infringement on 46 minutes and the extra man told, as the Esher forwards profited with a try for the second row skipper (9 - 8), which was converted by their fly half (9 - 10).

A break was needed for the home side and it came in the form of a wayward pass from Esher on the half way line, which was intercepted by home skipper Cameron MITCHELL, who raced away from the covering defence to score near the posts for DMPRFC to take the lead again (14 - 10). Grant CONNON converting (16 - 10).

Although there was no niggle evident to this stage, on 62 minutes, a melee erupted, resulting in the sin binning of home lock Ben GLEDHILL and an Esher replacement flanker.

Esher RFC were contributing to an exciting game, but were dogged by mistakes at crucial times and some good home defence.

A lovely piece of flowing play accounted for DMPRFC's second try four minutes later, when full back Henry ROBINSON provided the scoring pass for flanker Callum MACKENZIE to scythe through a gap in the defence for the try (21 - 10), which again was added to with a conversion by CONNON (23 - 10).

Debutant Australian No.8 Andrew COX grabbed the home sides third try, when charging over from close range after good pressure was exerted by DMPRFC on the visitors line (28 - 10). Again Grant CONNON converting (30 - 10).

Replacements were introduced by both sides in an attempt to bring fresh legs on to the field, but it was Esher RFC who took advantage and as the game entered the final ten minutes, the visitors turned it on, scoring good two tries via their strong running winger and another from their skipper, one of which was converted (30 - 22).

As the referee blew for time, DMPRFC had managed to hold on for another vital win, which on the balance of play, they fully deserved.