Dagenham continued their good form at home this week, securing the try-bonus point victory in a 66-22 win over visitors Holt. The d’s got off to a strong start, fielding some early Holt kick pressure well. From a centre-field scrum, accurate passing opened up space on the wing for Nat Farrell to break before putting a deft kick back towards the posts. The Dagenham chasers managed to regain possession and quick hands found the returning number 8 Mitch Sinfield, who crashed over for the first try of the day. The Holt forward pack responded with some aggressive carries, but the Dagenham defence was up to the task and soon secured the turnover. Working their up field through the boot of Tommy Cameron, they were rewarded with a scrum on the Holt line. After spreading the defence touchline to touchline, it was again Sinfield who found the gap to run in his second try of the match. It wasn’t long before Dagenham were celebrating again, this time from a lineout on halfway; the backline running a crisp move to put Josh Groom through the hole, with the centre showing excellent footwork to beat the final defender. A determined Holt side weren’t about to roll over however and soon brought themselves back into the game. A mix-up at the restart caused a rushed exit kick from the D’s, granting Holt possession in the 22. After a few phases, the Holt captain picked a strong line cutting back through the defence to score under the posts. Holt soon had another opportunity, opting to take a shot at the posts from a penalty on halfway; a good attempt but the ball just sailed wide. Holt continued to press the Dagenham line, but powerful scrummaging from the front row of Taylor, Warner and Clark nullified the threat, enabling the D’s to clear the ball back downfield. Unfortunately, Holt were given another penalty just outside the 22; this time they were able to put the kick over the posts, bringing the score to 19-10. Fortunate began to swing back in the Dagenham’s favour after a Holt player was shown a yellow card for a no-arms tackle. A increase in intensity turned the pressure immediately onto the visitors and Lewis Pruce was able to crash through four defenders to score. with only two minutes left of the half, Dagenham were able to further increase the lead with captain Farrell claiming the restart kick and racing in from halfway for a 33-10 halftime score.

Dagenham were focused this week on ensuring there was no drop in intensity in the second half and they delivered on that aim. Another dominant scrum set the platform for Pruce to sell the dummy and swerve his way through defenders for his second try. Holt were able to pull one back quickly however, after a mistake from the restart providing a penalty; the Holt scrum half took the quick tap from close range to score. A short period of stalemate followed, with possession being contested around the halfway. It was Dagenham to score next however, strong carries from Earl Gorman and Groom set a midfield ruck, from which winger Daniels was able to capitalise on fractured defense to race in for a try. Unfortunately it was soon Dagenham’s turn to be temporarily reduced to 14 men, with the yellow card being brandished for a high tackle. Holt were able to immediately capitalise, their centre making a half-break before throwing a great offload to find their scorer in the corner. The D’s managed to immediately regain possession from the restart, Westcott and Farrell combining for the turnover. The forward pack put the wheel to the grindstone from the ensuing lineout; a rolling maul enabling Chris Warner to touch down for the score. Holt were unable to exit their half, their kicks being returned with interest. It wasn’t long before the pressure told, and after a series of close-range carries, man-of-the-match Sinfield crashed over to complete his hat-trick. Dagenham were able to have the final say of the day, the ball shifting from a scrum on the right side to find Liam Power Jr., the fullback offloading to Daniels in space who managed to beat the remaining cover defense to score his second. The final score of 66-22 and 5 league points will be exactly the response the Dagenham management were looking for after last weeks disappointing result. Dagenham will take the confidence of this win into next week’s fixture away to Thurrock.