DMPRFC 41 v DUDLEY KINGSWINFORD RFC 21

An early penalty after 3 minutes from Tom HODGSON (3 – 0) settled things down for the home side, as the visitors failed to roll away in the tackle.

A mistake in the Dudley Kingswinford defence cost them dear, when from the resulting lineout, the ball was shipped across the line and after a couple of phases, Cameron MITCHELL exploited the gaps and touched down for the score (8 – 0). Tom HODGSON was successful with the afters (10 – 0).

The visitors backs looked sharp and their first try came courtesy of a strong run from the centre (10 – 5).

The referee seemed keen to establish control at the breakdown and as infringements were continually committed by both sides, it was the home side who seemed to incur the lion’s share of the whistle, allowing the visitors a successful penalty (10 – 8) as the game seemed to lack a sense of flow.

DMPRFC conspired to spurn scoring opportunities during the second quarter, with overlaps going begging and twice they were over the line only for the ball to be lost in grounding.

Dudley Kingswinford capitalised on a mistake at the back of a defensive scrum, with the ball being whisked out for a wide out score (10 – 13).

DMPRFC were behind for the first time, but didn’t take long to get back the lead, when a similar defensive scrum mistake, this time by the visitors, saw scrum half Zylon McGAFFIN dart over (15 – 13), making the conversion easy for his halfback colleague Tom HODGSON (17 – 13).

An injury to flanker Graeme SEDDON just prior to oranges, meant an early exit from the game for him, giving flanker Rory DUFF the opportunity to take the field for his home debut.

Things were pretty even at the break, with the score at 17 – 13.

When the game re-started, it was Dudley Kingswinford who scored the first points, as another holding on in the tackle offence was punished (17 – 16).

Both sides re-shuffled and replacements were introduced.

After a 10 minute stalemate, it was DMPRFC who took the initiative from a lineout. The ever busy Zylon McGAFFIN running straight at the heart of the visiting defence and offloading to the supporting Grant CONNON who burst through the middle of two defenders, taking them both over the line for the score under the posts (22 – 16). Tom HODGSON slotted the conversion (24 – 16).

The ever available Chris PEACE was next to score a try, as the Dudiely Kingswinford defence were beginning to leave the gaps (29 – 16). Again Tom HODGSON was successful with the afters (31 – 16).

Dudley Kingswinford were showing signs that the game had escaped them, as first Sean McCARTNEY jinked his way over in the corner (36 – 16), followed closely by a Ritchie YOUNG try, after some good progress by Tom SCHOFIELD and Rory DUFF (41 – 16).

A late consolation try from the visitors (41 – 21) did nothing to take the gloss off a very good home display and a maximum points total.