| Rich Fackrell's Match Report |
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So after a season of excellent match reports from the rugby prose of John White to the poetic conciseness of Rich Grant this week you’ve got me. So prepare yourself for the error ridden, at times fabricated but I do hope at all times entertaining match report from this short sighted but nevertheless one-eyed scribe. With Ealing riding high and looking for promotion my expectations, as we arrived on a crisp but beautiful afternoon, to be honest were not that high and when Ealing ran in two slick tries in quick succession just past midway in the first half they weren’t much higher. However Dings began to play their part in what was the best game of rugby I have seen for a while and with ten minutes to go the London crowd was silent except for a handful of Dings supporters in the corner. The reason being Dings had pulled it back to 29 – 28 and an unlikely away victory at that point was looking easily possible. The fact they kicked a penalty in the last minute to deny us by what was then just a bonus point only goes to show how worried they were. We deserved more. Dings took an early lead with a Jack Tovey penalty when Sam Caven put pressure on the home side when following up a high kick. Ealing struck back with their first try on ten minutes, unconverted. Soon after following a quick free kick by Dings, following a not straight line out throw, Ealing were back peddling at speed as Dings moved into the twenty two. So when Josh Lloyd popped up with the ball only yards from the line and gaps opening up in front of him we all thought “try” only for Ealing’s own Stretch Armstrong to reach out and knock the ball from his grasp. Dings did regain the lead on eighteen minutes with a second Tovey penalty. Ealing stepped up a gear and ran in two converted tries within three minutes and on twenty five minutes the score had suddenly jumped to 19 – 6 to the home side. Dings to their credit didn’t let their heads drop and within three minutes scored their first try of the game. A powerful run from midfield by Steve Plummer ended up inside Ealing’s twenty two before being stopped, Dings kept up momentum recycled the ball and Stean Williams touched down by the post, converted by Tovey the deficit was now six points at 19 – 13. The home side, now opting to kick to posts for the first time in the game stretched their lead by three points with a penalty on thirty five minutes. Dings again hit straight back scoring their second try within a minute of the restart. A hurried clearance from the kick off saw Dings with a line out ten metres out a good catch and drive saw the pack power towards the line with Dave Wheeler getting the touch down. Converted by Tovey to make it 22 – 20 with about four minutes to go to half time. We were saying yes we would take that score at half time but in this ding-dong exhilarating match that was far from certain, as it was soon proven when Ealing scored their bonus point try following a move going from touch to touch as their backs showed some slick passing moves. Even then Dings had a chance to pull points back with a Tovey penalty which just sailed wide, his first miss of the day. Half time Ealing 29 Dings 20 Ealing were first out the blocks after the oranges but a good mark called by Tovey halted any immediate threat. His sliced clearance took Ealing by surprise as it bounced into space Sylvan Edwards spotted an opportunity to take advantage gathering the loose ball and setting off on a weaving run only to be forced into touch close to the Ealing line. However Dings were now on the offensive again soon regaining the ball for Tovey to touch down for Dings third try, unconverted. A slight moment of panic in the Dings twenty two saw Ealing attack a bobbling ball hacking it forward, that to relief of the men in blue and black went dead. Following a massive box kick by Plummer saw Tovey go close again, then on fifty nine minutes a confident Tovey saw an audacious penalty attempt from just inside his own half sail over to bring Dings within a point at 29 – 28. This saw the start of nervous ten minutes or so for the home side, missing a penalty on sixty one minutes. Then four minutes later London hearts were in their mouths when Dings won a scrum against the head, a marauding Gareth Lloyd made good ground off loading to Neil Dipple who broke the line before being caught and forced into touch. On seventy two minutes with the little band of merry Crusaders shouting “forward pass” and from where we were stood had the best view of all, Ealing scored their first score of the second half with a try, missing the conversion to now lead 34 – 28. Dings not happy to settle for a losing bonus point were going for the win and with three minutes to go a huge Tovey penalty took Dings to a line out deep inside the Ealing twenty two but alas lost the line out. Ealing then worked their way up the field and with the last kick of the game snatched the bonus point away with a converted penalty. Many thanks to Dick and Brendan for their superb hospitality and kind words of condolence. I wish you the best for the season but if you get promoted I for one will miss coming to Vallis Way. Full time Ealing 37 Dings 28 Dings are now in ninth place but having played more games than the majority of the teams around them. There is no game next week due to the international call ups that have decimated our team. However this can only mean one thing the start of the six nations all shown on the big screen at the Dings unfortunately we don’t have 3D but why not come up early, have a few jars and watch it in double vision. We return to first team action against Bridgwater at home in two weeks time. With an exodus of players from their ranks in recent weeks it will be a long time before they award any more 100 appearances ties but that may come as a relief to their committee as how much do those 100 ties really cost the club.
One final thought to create a spicy atmosphere imagine if we adopted the infantile habit the Somerset creed tend to use by calling the team Bridgy would that make us Dingy !! So come along and make it a big Saturday crowd at the Dings, it has been rumoured that there have been bigger crowds on a Sunday but with players with nicknames such as “Thunder Thighs Thorne” or “Cameltoe Carter” displaying their skills I can see the attraction. So until next time . . . . See you there !!!!
Richard Fackrell
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