Scoring a converted try with only 2 minutes remaining, must have given try scorer and DMPRFC skipper Ollie HODGSON and the Mowden faithful an expectation that they would then go on to register a close fought win at the Volac Park HQ of Cambridge RFC, as that score took them to 14 – 17.

However, for not the first time this season, DMPRFC failed to hold on to the lead, conceding a last minute penalty, which Player of the Match Ben PENFOLD slotted to draw the game for his side, which by all accounts was the fair result.

Game management and the ability to see out games when ahead must be high on the agenda if DMPRFC are to compete at the top of this level and that has been in short supply in a few games this season, which would have seen DMPRFC in a much higher position at this stage of the season.

The home side started well and scored their only try of the game within 3 minutes, when full back Joe Tarrant on hand to score, after a telling break by winger James MARTIN, (5 – 0) conversion missed by PENFOLD, who incidentally didn’t miss a thing afterwards with a Player of the Match kicking performance.

Mowden’s fly half Warren SEALS added a penalty (5 – 3), before PENFOLD replied with a penalty of his own, (8 – 3) which is how the teams faired at oranges.

DMPRFC took the lead within 2 minutes of the restart, with centre Ben DIXON burst through the home defensive line for the score (8 – 8), SEALS converting. (8 – 10)

Mowden lost a player to the sin bin and Cambridge regained the advantage with the resulting penalty another success for PENFOLD penalty. (11 – 10)

PENFOLD added to the total with another well taken penalty in the 61st minute. (14 – 10)

Mowden felt hard done by when Cambridge conceded 4/5 cynical penalties in the red zone at a series of attacking lineouts and rucks, without punishment, when at least one yellow card should have been the expected result.

With 2 minutes remaining, Mowden must have thought they’d done enough to win the tie, when skipper HODGSON forced his way over for the score, (14 – 15), with SEALS converting. (14 – 17)

Then came the levelling penalty, which PENFOLD was never going to miss. (17 – 17)