After several weeks of hard training DMP Elizabethans arrived down at Darlington’s Blackwell Meadows with a large quad of 34 players in anticipation of the first meaningful match in a number of months.

With the squad split into 2 teams the warm ups got underway in readiness for kick off.

DMP Elizabethans 1st Vs Darlington 1st

DMP kicked off the first half and the battle commenced and for the 1st 20 minutes Darlington were well on top but DMP’s heroic defence kept them out.

Then on 22 minutes Tom Gardner DMP’s open side made a scintillating break putting the Diani Masi the powerful inside centre through to score under the post Mark Tank Bell adding the extras.

DMP Elizabethan’s 7 – 0 Darlington

The score seemed to ignite the DMP team and on 30 mins winger Mike Sereki scored in the corner to take the score up to 12 nil to DMP.

Darlington’s winger then scored to make the score 12-5

On the 35 minutes Tom Gardner DMP’s staring back row had to leave the field after a knock to the head, his replacement Jamie Pender a very promising 18 year old was then introduced to the game.

Then just before HT Dani Masi the inside centre who proved to be a thorn in Darlington’s side all game crashed through the home defence to release James Parks to score under the post with the conversion good.

HT DMP Elizabethans 19 – 5 Darlington

The 2nd half kicked off with both teams giving there all with neither side wanting to take a backward step, At this point DMP’s other exciting back row Johnny Allison leaving the field with a nasty gash to the cheek bone that would require hospital treatment.

Replacement Taitusi Bainivalu adding his considerable bulk to the back row for the remainder of the game.

Then on 60 minutes DMP kicked to the corner and from the resulting line out DMP captain Mark Bell scored to bring the score up to DMP 24 – 5 Darlington.

After this point DMP were expected to go on to win the game quite comfortably but Darlington to their credit rallied and scored to more tries to bring the score to 24 – 17 with 5 minutes on the clock.

Then in the dying seconds Darlington in their desire to win the ball in a ruck gave away the penalty which allowed Mark Bell to seal the game with another 3 points taking the FT score to :-

DMP Elizabethans 27 – 17 Darlington

On the other Pitch DMP Elizabethans 2nds played Darlington 2nds and even though DMP due to injuries ended the game with only 12 players completed a comprehensive 65 – 5 point win.

Special mention to Ryan Towns who scored 4 tries, Paul Blades and Charlie Willian’s who scored their first tries in senior rugby.

Next game at home to Consett Saturday 22nd May in the Arena kick off 2.15pm.

Social distancing crowds will be allowed and the CrossBar will be open.

Stuart Edwardson
DMP Elizabethans Team Manager