Fine Performance from D’s 2nds

This week saw Dagenham’s 2nds league encounter against Kings Cross Steelers 3rds at East London’s Memorial Ground, once home to London Welsh between 1904 and 1909 (One for the Fact Fans)

Both teams arrived with 20 plus players each (surely a record in the this league) and so with the cold wind blowing the game kicked off.

From the off the visitors came out all guns blazing. The Steelers could not get any ball with the men in red and white totally dominating.

This lead to a succession of tries from all over the park. Great running from Hogwood and a sneaky interception from Ballard adding some scores. Shadi run from all over the park and Hoggy carved up their defence like he was making some sort of roast dinner (A Hoggroast if you will)

The front 5 also really fronted up in the scrums and won lots of ball (a couple against the head) and so as the District Line trains trundled by so did the score board.

The Steelers only answer in the first half was a penalty kick meaning a score of 3-34 at the break.

After a couple of changes the D’s took their foot off the gas a little allowing Steelers a bit more possession.

Dagenham repelled many attack’s including a sprint back and try saving tackle from Hogwood.

Finally the visitors got their act together with Fergie and Yellop adding a couple of scores before the Steelers finally broke through and got a deserved try of their own.

Not content with their afternoons work Dagenham pushed on. New boy Paul Grint decided to go on a rampaging run and knocked over half the Steelers team like bowling pins.

2 more scores were added including a great team effort with Will Evans dummying before Ballard, in blatant jug avoidance, set up skipper Francis to cross the whitewash. Final Score 10-60

All in all a good performance from the Central Park men.

Credit to Kings Cross for not giving up and giving 100% the whole game.

Squad:
Andrews, A Evans, Tank, Garwood, Newson, Lumpy, Shadi, Fricker, Matthews, Hogg, Ballard, Yellop, Grint, Francis, Hogwood, Riley, Fergie, Smith, Lindsey, Dave, Emilio, W. Evans

Tries:
Ballard x 2
Hogg x 2
Shadi x 2
Fergie
Yellop
Hogwood
Francis

Conversions:
Hogg x 5

Jugs:
Newson x 1 (New Boots)
*A couple more players boots looked suspect but were not forthcoming with Jugs.