DMPRFC 15 v BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL RFC 13

Three tries to one in favour of the home side and although each team also had the ball over the line under the posts for scores, the official was unsighted and ruled both out for being held up.

DMPRFC were slow into their stride, with the visitors pressurising the home line and going ahead with a penalty, when the home side were adjudged to have wheeled the defensive scrum illegally on their own 22-metre line (0 – 3).

Another penalty was to follow ten minutes later, as the home defence again were penalised at the breakdown (0 – 6) and to be fair, the visitors were full value for their lead.

DMPRFC showed flashes of their capabilities, but again to the credit of the visitors, they competed at every breakdown and were managing to halt progress initially.

A break from flanker Rory DUFF led to the first try for DMPRFC, as he carved his way through into the visitor’s danger zone, ably supported by backs and forwards and after a series of pick and drives, Birmingham & Solihull were penalised at the breakdown wide out. A kick to touch found the 5-metre line and although attempts were made by the visitors to collapse the forward momentum from a catch and drive lineout, prop Ralph APPLEBY burrowed his way over the line for the first try of the game (5 – 6).

As DMPRFC seemed to have found their form at this stage, the second try followed after less than 5 minutes had elapsed. A clean midfield break found fly half Max CONNON in possession. He chipped over a defender into the hands of his skipper Cameron MITCHELL in support, who offloaded in the tackle back to Max CONNON, who sped in for the try just before oranges (10 – 6).

Perhaps some words of wisdom and encouragement at the interval were made to the DMPRFC players, as their start after the break was more accustomed. After five minutes of the re-start, DMPRFC attacked from half way, but were robbed of the ball in contact. The visiting scrum half got possession, but spilled the ball forward and with the official playing advantage, the ball was whisked out through fast hands to skipper Cameron MITCHELL, who darted over for the try (15 – 6).

Just as connections thought that this would be the catalyst for DMPRFC to kick on and bring some sparkle into what had been a battle of defences, the game returned to a stalemate of midfield attrition, which seemed to suit the visitors.

DMPRFC had plenty of possession and did try to open up the game, but this proved to be more advantageous to the visitors, as they manufactured a converted try, which was probably what their overall endeavours definitely merited (15 – 13).

As DMPRFC probed for the bonus point try, several opportunities were either rushed from frustration, or had momentum stifled with some clever time management by the visitors, as despite being in the ascendancy for the final quarter, no further scoring was to be the order of the day.

Credit to the visitors, their influx of Worcester players has certainly made them a tough proposition for the remainder of their campaign and beware to all in the mix who face them home or away, as they are a very good side, full of commitment and belief.

From a DMPRFC perspective, although perhaps never looking like losing the game, their performance, although a winning one, will certainly need to be improved upon as the season eases towards a climax.

One game at a time though and the total focus on no further than Caldy RFC away, will be the order of this week's training efforts.