CALDY RFC 21 v DMPRFC 27

Observers could say that it was ‘a game of two halves’ quite literally, as the home side did have the better of the first half and the visitors the better after oranges, but DMPRFC connections would like to think that it was a little bit more than that.

A mixture of factors contributed to DMPRFC‘s below average showing in the first half. Lack of cohesion and frustration when in possession contributed. A difficulty in a fair contest at the breakdown also added.

However, to be fair to Caldy RFC, shouted on by their home crowd, they did look to take their chances when they arrived, resulting in the home side being two tries up before the end of the first quarter of the game.

One try was converted after four minutes (7 – 0), before Grant CONNON reduced the arrears with a well taken penalty strike (7 – 3), when a Caldy defender barged over a DMPRFC attacker in midfield just outside their 22 metre line.

Caldy struck back on seventeen minutes, when pressure mounted on the visiting line and an overlap did the damage for the try (12 – 3).

Again Grant CONNON kept DMPRFC in the hunt with another penalty (12 – 6), as Caldy again transgressed in midfield.

DMPRFC did have their periods of possession during this time, but the team were probably not firing on any of their usual cylinders and opportunities were squandered.

Caldy scored another two penalties before oranges (18 – 6), as the visitors didn’t look their usual selves, but were still in the game.

Early changes were rung from the DMPRFC bench in an attempt to galvanise proceedings and combined with some enforced changes in the home side personnel, the tide was palpably changing.

Initially a promising visiting attack was slowed down by interfering hands and Grant CONNON obliged with the punishment (18 – 9).

Caldy responded in similar fashion, with what proved to be their final score, a penalty from a scrum infringement (21 – 9).

So, with the score at 21 – 9, DMPRFC upped the tempo, as Caldy visibly tried to hang on for grim death.

A Grant CONNON penalty started the fightback (21 – 12), as Caldy again tried to slow the ball down illegally in the contact area.

By this time, DMPRFC had a new spring in their step and a re-acquired self belief, as up stepped scrum half Zylon McGAFFIN, to score three tries in thirteen minutes, putting DMPRFC on the front foot for the remainder of the match. Two tries were opportunistic bursts from set pieces, but one was started by a defensive clearance kick from the visiting 22 metre line, then good interplay from a mix up in the home defence, saw the little general finish off with aplomb (21 – 27).

Uncharacteristically, from exactly the same position on the field, Grant CONNON had no success with the conversions and two more penalties, which would have taken DMPRFC further ahead, however, those points would have flattered the visitors somewhat, as Caldy did play their part in an entertaining game.