DMPRFC 32 v WATERLOO RFC 10

It was clear how Waterloo RFC have amassed a high amount of bonus points, as their dogged defence never capitulated in this game, although it was breached several times as DMPRFC overwhelmed the attacking play.

Waterloo hardly escaped their own half prior to oranges, but the 15 – 0 score line at the break does little to explain the dominance enjoyed by the home team during that 40 minutes.

Grant CONNON slotted an initial penalty, after the pressure mounted on the Waterloo defence early doors and they infringed (3 – 0).

In their eagerness to add to the scoring, DMPRFC were guilty of butchering a couple of try scoring opportunities, when the final pass was either forced or astray, but continued to attack at a ferocious pace, which the visitors struggled to match.

However, their attacking dominance paid dividends, when forward pressure on the Waterloo line, allowed lock Neil YOUNG to burrow over for the first try of the day(8 – 0). The conversion was easy for Grant CONNON (10 – 0).

Again Waterloo defended well to contain attacks by the home side, but just prior to oranges, centre Cameron MITCHELL found a gap after good pressure (15 – 0).

Waterloo scored their first points just after the break, when DMPRFC were adjudged offside and their half back slotted his points well (15 – 3).

DMPRFC sent on Danny DIXON to bolster the pack and this appeared to have the desired immediate effect, as the prop carried the ball well, battering into the Waterloo defence.

It was his colleague at the coal face, Ralph APPLEBY, similarly carrying the ball well who added to the scoring, finding himself wide out to score after a good break by the home centres (20 – 3).

Waterloo showed little of their attacking flair, simply because they were being starved of the ball and were having difficulty at lineout time.

Home winger Chris McTURK scored the first of his brace of tries, after constant pressure on the visiting line saw the ball come out for him to show his strength (25 – 3).

His second try came after a delightful floated kick by the home stand off, which the former caught in full flight and then set off to attack the lone defending fullback, who ultimately was left in his wake as his sped off and scored under the posts. (32 – 3).

As the game entered its final stage, Waterloo pressed and although the home side won possession on the line, the attempted clearance found its way to the visiting full back, who gleefully accepted, adding to the Waterloo tally near to the posts (32 – 8) and the conversion was easy (32 – 10) as the official blew for time.

A thoroughly decent all round performance, against a difficult side.