2nd team advance to Merit Final!

Dagenham 2nd team are through to their Merit final after a nail biting encounter with a determined Writtle team.

The afternoon started with Dagenham yet again having 15 players for a 2nd week running, however Sod’s law would dictate that Writtle unfortunately could only bring 12 to Central Park for the afternoon!

Having been in Writtle’s position numerous times this season and being the gentlemen that we are, we decided to make a fair game of it and play 12-a-side with 30 minute halves.

After our usual warm up of a fag and a boot about the game kicked off and although the visitors had only brought 12 men, they were determined to win. A few phases saw them gain a penalty in front of the posts which their in-form kicker slotted for 3 points.

The next points on the board were to be Dagenham’s. A loose ball from a ruck meant that Gary Francis was able to dribble the ball down the field before touching down. Scott Ballard, making his come back from Injury, unfortunately left his kicking boots in the changing rooms and missed the conversion.

With both teams using the extra space on the pitch the game was an end to end affair. Writtle responded with a try themselves through their pacey backs and conversion was successful.

The men in Red and White fought back. This time, scrum half Kingy sent Dave flying on the wing to score in the corner. Dave has never looked so happy! Again unfortunately conversion missed.

Writtle again came back with their seasoned forwards and scored a well worked try and again slotted the conversion.

However Dagenham this time replied with 2 more scores. Firstly, yours truly, finished a fine try (if I don’t say so myself) by taking a pop pass from Kingy, handing off 2 defenders and then putting down under the posts. Secondly Kingy himself added another by beating the Writtle defence.

With Ballard finding a successful kick the score was 22-17 at half time.

The 2nd half kicked off and the determined Writtle scored another well worked try, conversion missed meaning the teams were tied on 22 a piece!

Dagenham using fresh legs off the bench kept hammering at the Writtle defence with only dropped passes preventing them from scoring on a couple of occasions. One effort even being held up over the try line at one point.

Finally they got a breakthrough 10 minutes from the end with some nice passing leading to Mark Goodenough touching down in the corner. Conversion unfortunately missed putting the score at 27-22 with around 8 minutes to hold on.

Writtle then threw everything they had at the Dagenham defence. Some great tackling from the whole team meant they could not find a way through and so with the clock in red the ball was kicked to touch.

It was a great game, played in great spirits with Writtle wishing us luck in the final and buying us a jug of beer afterwards (which is what it is all about)

A great effort from all the players but a special mention to the 9 and 10 pairing of Kingy and Ballard who were the backbone of the team and to new boy Jordan, playing only his 2nd game of rugby, making some crushing tackles and punching up through the midfield.

I would also like to say thanks to the whole team for impeccable discipline throughout the game. I can’t remember a single instance of dissent and getting the referee on our side definitely helped us win the game.

Dagenham’s 2nd string now face Whitham 2nds in the Merit 6 Bowl final on 7th April at Thurrock RFC

Team:
Rick, Ali, Tank, Newson, Jordan, Fricker, Francis, Lindsey, Kingy, Ballard, Andrews, Dave, List, Goodenough, Conor, Lyme

Tries:
Francis, Dave, Newson, Kingy, Goodenough

Conversion:
Ballard