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Dings Crusaders 16 - Southend 19
DINGS CRUSADERS 16 SOUTHEND 19: Dings Crusaders had to settle for a losing bonus point after going down to Southend for the second time this season. The home side had their chances and they received full marks for effort, desire and commitment, but their decision-making let them down at crucial moments. Southend accepted their opportunities and travelled home with the spoils without doing anything spectacular. The Crusaders were forced into late changes. Jack Tovey, Tim Gear-Evans and Sam Caven were missing from the backs, while Dave Wheeler's absence allowed hooker Adam Chaplin his first start. Chaplin, who has been at the Lockleaze club since he was 10, said: "I was really nervous but some of the senior lads helped settle me down. It was a pity we lost as that would have been the icing on the cake. "I was really tired late in the game because I played against Clifton Wanderers on Tuesday night and I'm not used to this standard of rugby. It's very physical." Dings went behind in the second minute to a drop-goal from visiting fly-half Billy Boughtwood, who also landed two first-half penalties. Dings replied with a 12th-minute penalty from fly-half Tom Lukjaniec and a 75-metre interception try. Southend were fully committed to an attack which was picked off by Lukjaniec, who nipped in to snatch the ball and raced off towards the Southend line. He was caught just short but popped the ball up to Neil Dipple, who touched down. Lukjaniec converted to make it 10-9 at the break. Dings bossed the third quarter, with lock Ed Hack prominent in the loose and No 8 Gavin Curry in the thick of the action. Scrum-half Steve Plummer also produced another impressive display. Two further Lukjaniec penalties and one from Boughtwood set up the final quarter, but Southend got the vital next score with a converted try from Ross Smale. Dings coach James Farndon said: "We talked during the week about the need to produce quick ball at the breakdown, which we achieved.
"I couldn't fault my team for effort but our option taking at times was naïve and that cost us dearly and I thought my yellow card was a bit harsh – It was my first offence but the referee said my infringement was the third penalty at the breakdown in a row and unfortunately I had to go," said the former Colts skipper. |
