With visitors Esher RFC seemingly rooted within the league relegation positions alongside Loughborough Students RFC and Birmingham Moseley RFC, pundits perhaps predicted somewhat of a landslide victory for DMPRFC.

However, previous encounters between the two sides have always been ‘close’ affairs and ultimately this game was no different.

Encouragingly, DMPRFC started very well and the game appeared beyond the reach of the visitors after less than 30 minutes of play.

However, a combination of Esher pride and a loss of focus from the home side culminated in a 4-league point DMPRFC win and the visitors to their credit managing to scrape a losing bonus point, with a much better second half performance

After an early missed opportunity, DMPRFC opened the scoring after the visitors had strayed offside and fly half Warren SEALS registered with the ensuing penalty. (3 – 0)

Esher’s full back had a chance to level with a penalty for his side, but the ball hit the upright and the opportunity was lost.

Home flanker Simon UZOKWE, in his first start of the season, underlined his power with the first try for the home side, quickly followed by another from strong running wing Ollie WALKER and with both converted by SEALS, DMPRFC appeared to be laying the foundation for a resounding victory at the expense of Esher. (17 – 0)

This was further underlined when home winger Shaun McCARTNEY added a third try, following good ground from a catch and drive lineout which was whisked out to McCARTNEY. With the conversion added by SEALS (24 – 0), DMPRFC in full control of the game at this stage after only 29 minutes, with a lot more was expected in the 51 minutes of play remaining.

As is often the case when one side has registered what appears to be an ‘early doors’ winning score, the side in ascendancy loses focus and eases back, especially with the approach of oranges.
Accordingly, a frequent, but fatal false sense of security permeates throughout the team and this is exactly what happened to the home side yesterday.

Past experience in this league should have indicated to DMPRFC that such leads can be overturned and games lost, even after 3 or 4 try leads have been achieved.

Thus, Esher, who had not been in the game from the off, gradually edged themselves back into it prior to the interval.

After some good penetrative work in attack, fly half Basil STRANG created the gap in the home defence to score Esher’s first points under the posts, (24 – 5) with DAVIES converting as half time arrived.(24 – 7)

On resumption of play, unfortunately DMPRFC were a poor shadow of what had transpired in the first half and looked lethargic and devoid of ideas, whereas Esher, to their credit picked up their game and dominated the second half, restricting DMPRFC to only a handful of incursions into their territory and affording the home side no further points.

Esher replacement prop Jack MUSK scored after a well executed catch and drive from his forward pack.(24 – 12). DAVIES provided the conversion to close the gap (24 – 14) which had seemed highly improbable in a dominant first half for the home side.

A bizarre incident on 69 minutes, saw replacement home flanker George STOKES yellow carded. Seen by the referee’s assistant after the referee had followed the ball, STOKES had rallied to the assistance of his fly half SEALS who had become embroiled in an altercation with an Esher winger. SEALS had ended up on his back on the floor and the winger proceeded to punch and then stamp on SEALS whilst in this position, stopped only with the intervention of STOKES. Unfortunately it was STOKES’s retaliation which was brought to the attention of the referee by his assistant, even though the incident had taken place right in front of that assistant and the majority of the 800+ crowd in attendance, who were incensed by the decision to punish STOKES only, when at least the same, if not more serious (red card), should have been issued to the Esher player.

DMPRFC did cross the line with a drive from replacement hooker Jordan POOLE, however, the ball was dropped forward over the line.

Esher pressed forward and got within a losing bonus point when awarded a penalty when DMPRFC were adjudged to have not released in the tackle, which DAVIES slotted easily. (24 – 17)

With only two minutes remaining, Esher pushed for more, then thought the better of it, settling for the losing point as the game entered injury time, deciding to kick the ball out of play.

It is difficult to comprehend that the DMPRFC faithful should be disappointed with a victory, but that’s how it felt to them, as it was the manner in which DMPRFC lost their focus and allowed Esher RFC to get within touching distance. On the flip side, most sides in this league are capable of turning a game and mounting a fight back, as DMPRFC have done on many an occasion.