DMPRFC 40 v OTLEY RFC 22

Rain from the previous days downpurs had made the usually firm Mowden surface somewhat loose on top, but on a perfect day for rugby, DMPRFC scored a hatful of tries, thrilling a decent crowd into the bargain.

DMPRFC started well and camped in the visiting 22 for ten minutes, until from a series of 5 yard scrums, scrum half Zylon McGAFFIN danced over for the first try near the posts (5 – 0). The conversion was a formality for Grant CONNON (7 – 0).

Otley did settle down, with several attacks of their own, but these came to nothing in the first half, as solid home defence repelled their incursions whenever they looked dangerous.

After another ten minutes, Max CONNON produced a try, when DMPRFC countered from their own 22 metre area, with several players involved in progress into enemy territory, with Max CONNON touching down (14 – 0). His brother Grant adding the extras from an easy angle (14 – 0).

Just prior to oranges, home No. 8 Danny DIXON was sin binned for a breakdown offence and Otley sensed an opportunity. However, as they applied pressure with repeated forward drives, the home defence were up to the task and the referees whistle brought on the break.

After oranges, it was Otley who started the brighter, scoring a try after six minutes through their winger. The conversion was missed and the sides relatively close in scoring terms.

Straight after the try, home skipper Junior SULUGA – FAGALILO gave way to replacement Andrew TONKIN, whose impact was immediate.

From the kick off, winger Chris McTURK caught the ball, feeding the replacement hooker who made some hard yards into the opposition 22 metre area, before offloading to supporting players, the ball finding its way to Grant CONNON for the try (19 – 5), adding the extras himself (21 – 5).

The bonus point earning try came courtesy of the hard working flanker Luke WISHNOWSKY, who’s support of a Cameron MITCHELL break, earned him the reward (26 – 5). Again Grant CONNON supplied the afters (28 – 5).

Otley were encouraged by some good back row forward runs, but too often, their work was let down by others failing to hold on to possession in the contact areas.

From an overthrown Otley lineout in the DMPRFC 22, WISHNOWSKY caught the ball and the flanker was involved in the whole of the field passage of interplay with his backline, providing Cameron MITCHELL the scoring pass (33 – 5). Grant CONNON was successful with the conversion, this time from wide out (35 – 5).

Both sides rang the changes for the last quarter of the game and initially it was DMPRFC who profited, as Max CONNON scored his brace, after a smart break by his brother Grant (40-5).

A combination of factors, allowed Otley some consolation, when in the last five minutes, they scored three tries that never had looked likely prior to that.

DMPRFC were again reduced to 14 men, when Guy van den DRIES was sin-binned for a technical offence and then effectively down to 12, as both flankers Luke WISHNOWSKY and Rory DUFF took injuries.

To their credit, Otley seized the opportunity and ran in the three tries, one of which was converted, to give the score line a better feel from their perspective and a four try bonus point into the bargain.

However, it was all too little too late, as DMPRFC took the spoils in an entertaining encounter, watched by DMPRFC ‘s biggest crowd of the season so far.