Dagenham Take to the Road for the First Time

They say a week is a long time in rugby, I think, and this week’s experience for Dagenham II’s was a completely different story to the heady heights of the previous weeks.

Dagenham, as club, have taken some significant positive steps over the last few seasons and we are very proud that despite the current trends seen at the grass roots rugby that Dagenham are looking to put out three senior sides on a Saturday. But it mustn’t be forgotten that despite the players desire to put their boot on week in week out we all have lives to live and with that commitments outside of the club and rugby, whether it be personal or work related. Not to mention the recovery times players will need during the season - which is just part and parcel of the game - and the obligatory Saturday morning ‘cry-offs’ all clubs must endure.

Despite that the seconds travelled to Westcliff to paly their III’s with what turned out to be a squad of twelve. To Westcliff’s credit the host club lent Dagenham the players required to have a full 15-a-side game and the D’s appreciated the opportunity to be part of the borrowed players rugby development, and we wish them well in the start of there rugby careers.

It would have been easy for the D’s to just not engage and admit defeat against such huge odds, not so. The scrum held out admirably which seems to be a trait of the II’s. Lineouts were contested and the D’s disrupted on numerous occasions as well as securing their own ball. With ball, the back-line managed to work their magic again and again as we have come to expect from this second team now. Strangely enough though the ‘hands’ let the away side down from time to time which is uncharacteristic and ultimately that may have cost the East London side the game rather than the depleted squad.

The result was probably inevitable but the score was not, an away loss of 59-48. With contributions from:
• Shadi - 4 tries
• Hogg – 2 tries, 4 conversions
• Yellop - 2 tries

This was part of the leaning curve for the Dagenham II’s in Division 4 and we look forward to the return fixture at home to enable Westcliff to experience the D’s at full strength.

Well done lads!