An injury to DMPRFC loose-head prop Tristan GRANT in the 6th minute, disrupted their scrum and forced the visitors into an early re-shuffle, with Ralph APPLEBY moving over to loose-head and replacement prop Anthony HARVEY slotting in at hooker.

The shoulder injury to GRANT was the result of a third collapsed scrum, all penalised by the official in favour of the home side. DMPRFC coaching staff indicated to the officials after the second scrum that it was GRANT’s opposite prop who was causing the collapse and that scrum safety was a concern. Then came the third scrum.

Old Elthamians fly half Thomas White and the home side profited from the resultant penalty, White kicking the first points of the game. (3 – 0)

Home winger Dominic Lespierre was sin-binned at this stage, reducing the hosts in numbers, as DMPRFC upped the pressure.

In the 16th minute, the first try of the game went to the hosts and came courtesy of some good invention from White, who broke away, feeding scrum half Ollie Claxton for the opener, (8 – 0), White adding the extras. (10 – 0)

Two minutes later DMPRFC hit back when a penalty try was awarded, with home full back Ben Howard sent to the sin bin for preventing a certain try, (10 – 5), the conversion not necessary, but the extra two points narrowed the home sides advantage. (10 – 7)

Whilst down to 13-players, DMPRFC pressed home their numerical advantage, taking the lead after a further three minutes, when a 40-metre sprint by visiting winger Ollie WALKER was rewarded with the touchdown. (10 – 12)

Straight from the re-start, prolific scoring home wing Dominic Lespierre, fresh out of the sin-bin, put his team back into the lead, after some initial work from lock Dom McGeekie, (15 – 12), before White added to the total with a conversion. (17 – 12)

Hard working visiting flanker George STOKES received his marching orders at this stage, when yellow carded by the official.

Just prior to oranges, Old Elthamians added the killer blow with Howard making amends for his earlier transgression, with a third try for the hosts, (22 – 12), the conversion added by White (24 – 12), heralding the interval.

The first half showed that Old Elthamians used their big pack effectively with the direct 8-man approach and their speedy backline were a match for the visitors, with good work from 9 & 10. DMPRFC forwards were tested after the early re-shuffle, with some telling carries from Joe CRAGGS, Talite VAIOLETI and fly half Warren SEALS.

DMPRFC were heavily penalised in comparison to the hosts, but, as past results had highlighted, the points differential was not insurmountable and a comeback not beyond their grasp.

DMPRFC started the brighter and Fly half Warren SEALS was successful with a well earned penalty. (24 – 15)

The hosts’ defence held firm, but DMPRFC were hampered with some opportunities for tries frustratingly butchered by lack of patience and control when over or near the line.
A controversial fourth and final try then followed, as despite the hint of a forward pass in the build up from the home side, White hacked on and won the race to the ball and the line, (29 – 15), retaining his composure for the conversion. (31 – 15)

Replacement DMPRFC scrum half Cameron NORDLI-KELEMETI scored a late try for the visitors (31 – 20) converted by SEALS (31 – 22), however time was not on their side and they were unable to add a further try which would have brought two consolation points in defeat and perhaps a reasonable consolation which their performance merited on the day.

Old Elthamians deserved their victory on the day in a tight affair, with some entertaining offence and defence from both sides.

OLD ELTHAMIANS RFC
15 Benjamin Howard, 14 Dominic Lespierre, 13 Alexander Brown, 12 Kieran Moffat, 11 Bryan Hotson, 10 Thomas White (Christopher Surman, 68), 9 Oliver Claxton, 63), 1 Lewis Brown (Alexander Rogers, 39), 2 Nathan Morris (Jay Rudland-Thomas, 63), 3 Kieron Scutt (Lewis Brown, 59), 4 Dominic McGeekie, 5 Adam Preocanin (George Messum, 55), 6 Harry Ledger (Christopher Surman, 26), Harry Ledger, 30)), 7 Hamish Barton, Benjamin King.

SCORING:
Try: Claxton (16), Lespierre (24), Howard (39), White (67)
Conversion: White (17, 25, 40, 68)
Penalty: White (6)
Drop Goal: None
Yellow Card: Lespierre (13), Howard (19)

DMPRFC
15 Christian GEORGIOU, 14 Joshua HALL (Jordy HOP, 66), 13 Jordy HOP (Garry LAW, 23), 12 Benjamin FRANKLAND, 11 Oliver WALKER (Brandon ASHER-WOOD, 53), 10 Warren SEALS, 9 Bruno BRAVO (Cameron NORDLI-KELEMETI, 59), 1 Tristan GRANT (Ralph APPLEBY, 6), 2 Ralph APPLEBY (Anthony HARVEY, 6), 3 Ignas DARKINTIS, 4 Jacob BRADY, 5 Talite VAIOLETI, 6 Joseph DUFFY (Callum MACKENZIE, 59), 7 George STOKES, 8 Joe CRAGGS.

SCORING:
Try: Penalty Try (19), WALKER (22), NORDLI-KELEMETI (67)
Conversion: SEALS (68)
Penalty: SEALS (49)
Drop Goal: None
Yellow Card: STOKES (28)

Referee: Mr Alexander Thomas
Attendance: 431

NEXT WEEK – BLACKHEATH RFC (A)