Saturday 23rd January 2010

Rugby Union

League Game: West Norfolk (32) 1Vs Dagenham (12)

West hosted Dagenham on Saturday in their first home game of the new year. The ground was wet, but firm after the Christmas break and thus the conditions were ideal for a good flowing game of rugby.

Dagenham once again field a strong side, including some nifty backs and bulky forwards. West were strengthened with a back line full of talent, which featured the welcome return from injury of winger Anderson.

From the kick off West went on the attack with some fine recycling at the ruck and mini breaks through the visiting defense. During this first quarter of the match West were producing some scintillating rugby that was a joy to watch. The immense pressure that the home team were exerting on the visitors soon told as Maule, who’s running lines were superb, cut through the defense to set up the lightening quick Singleton. Hogan converted and after adding a penalty, within minutes the score was 10-0 to the home side. Another Dagenham infringement saw Hogan stepping up to slot another long range penalty, giving West a 13-0 cushion.

This pressure continued and soon resulted in additional points as Dagenham struggled to contain the West offensive, with Gollaglee gliding over to the right of the posts after some well worked phases. With the conversion added and the score now 20-0, West were well and truly in the driving seat.

Despite Dagenham controlling the scrums, the West forwards were competing well at the lineout and dominating the rucks, with Skinner and Thurston and Trim punching up the flanks. This was enabling Moses to distribute good clean and quick ball out to the pacey back line.

Within only minutes of the second half beginning, West struck again with Williamson crashing over after another magnificent series of passing interplay between backs and forwards, making it 25-0.

With a few changes being made to West, with Davenport, Savage and Anderson coming on, coupled with a slight drop in the intensity of their attacks, the fluency of West’s game became a little disrupted. This was increased after Davenport reacted to a Dagenham players mister-meaner, an action which saw both walking to the sin bin for 10 minutes.

Dagenham struck back with a well worked try scored after a succession of attacking phases, with their No. 8 bursting over from close range, taking the score to 25-5.

Undeterred, West continued to press within the Dagenham half with a series of attacking driving mauls from the line out. The home team was awarded a penalty close, which Hogan neatly kicked to the corner. The following lineout was gathered by Trim, who powered over in the corner.

With the score now 30-7 to West less than a quarter of the match to go, Dagenham pushed forward for one last effort to get back into the game. With a succession of attacking scrums and lineouts the visiting pack came close to scoring, but West managed to hold them out with some last ditch tackles on a number of occasions.
Finally this pressure told and, following another West sin bin, the visitors finally broke through and their winger ran in for another try. The conversion was missed, leaving the score at 30-12. The remaining few moments saw a tense stand off, with West successfully withstanding any further Dagenham attacks to win the game.

Next week sees a vital away match to Upminster, another must win game in West’s bid to secure mid table safety in this closely fought league.

Tulip Manof the Match - Mike Hogan
________________________________________

Webmaster