RFU National 2 East - HRFC v Dorking (L25-28)
&layout=none&ref=https://windandsurfimages.zenfolio.com/blog/2024/12/rfu-national-2-east---hrfc-v-dorking-l25-28)
First impressions is simply a quick short sharp back-brief of a fading memory of 'what just happened on the pitch' for those of you who couldn't get to the game, hopefully to provide a bit of match context before you peruse our images. Sadly there's No time to access match video, hence there might be some mistaken memories, but these are essentially just a collection of private touchline thoughts & certainly not an official match report. #IMHO
Match Story Board: HRFC v Dorking (L25-28)
Venue: Hooks Lane
Crowd: Approx 500
Weather: Storm Darragh Wet, Windy and Cold
Havant Rugby Football Club
Dorking RFC
Match images are now available at:
First Impressions
First Half: Despite the ongoing stormy conditions (Darragh) sweeping through the lane and creating difficult playing conditions, this looked like two relatively even balanced teams testing each other out in the early stages. Although on paper this was top of the table versus bottom of mid-table, to my mind Havant started well, and seemed to be offering the referee what he wanted to see and were ineffect gaining the benefits and field position accordingly. That said, perhaps while acknowledging Dorking's prowess, we potentially gave them too much respect and when presented with early penalty opportunities chose to take the easy points, instead of perhaps looking to take more early risk by developing the opportunities for bigger scores with an outline aim of grabbing control of the game. To my mind we looked strong in the scrum, and clearly had opportunities to scrummage close to their line, with a good solid purple while our 9 was in the Sin Bin, but instead of applying heavier pressure on on one of their weaknesses, we chose either to take points or to kick to the corner. While clearly not wrong, this was early in the game when the relative scoreline pressures are still diluted by the timeline available and hence missed opportunities are less impacting. Regrettably our lineout looked less robust, and as such the four excursions we developed deep into their the red zone (via hard earned midfield penalties), effectively came to nothing because we were too reliant on our lineout to deliver, and it clearly wasn't a failsafe mechanism. For me the 10 minute carding of their Hooker was possibly a marker to take the opportunity to put their scrum under more pressure - but instead we chose to play through the lineout and got nothing in return. As such we probably didn't maximise our scoring opportunities in the first half (only two penalities), while Dorking who had started relatively passively with a penalty kick, began generating play with more confidence and flow, subsequently gaining field position in our red zone and before delivering a well executed cross-field kick to their winger, who having beat our fullback to the catch, shimmied pass the cover tackles to score. To my mind Dorking were ahead, but we had probably had the better opportunities.
Halftime: HRFC 6 Dorking 11
Second Half: Havant came out firing better than they had finished the forst half, we looked to be playing on the front foot which was putting Dorking under some pressure. Our bench were now value and heavy hitters were carrying well creating good continuity and possession. Both defences remained relatively strong and coherent, and field position was largely still being generated by outcomes of the the referees whistle. A high tackle by their 5 subsequently won Dorking a yellow card, which then allowed Havant to play with a bit more space and some more possession. We quickly exploited having more bulk on the park with a bundled forwards try by Haz Young (11-11), they maintained the lead with a converted penalty, before our backs subsequently broke through in broken play - Joel eventually offloading to Ben Griffen (MoM) to slide over in the corner (18-11). The real clincher came at 69'mins, when Alfie Wainscoat was bundled over next to the posts (25-14). With less than 10 to play - To my mind we were now in control and should have been able to switch to a more defensive stance to protect our lead. Instead we allowed Dorking to generate opportunities by kicking deep and letting them run at us from deep field - it was only now that you could sense they looked dangerous in attack. With deep penetrating runs and good inter-play, they were starting to find holes in our defence. Inevitably, our structure was not fully watertight and at 77min they created a well worked try, breaking through the weak tackles to bring the score back to 25-21. Again a more resilient defensive posture would perhaps have held out against anymore attacks in the limited time available, but having relinquished possession they once again seemingly kicked up a gear to create overlaps, before subsequently beating the final 1 on 1 to score. (25-28).
Full Time: HRFC 25 Dorking 28
Match Summary:
A game we probably could/should have won - where early opportunities to seize control were overlooked because we were probably giving the opposition too much respect. The subsequent 25-14 lead should have been enough to let us close the game down and defend lead up to the final whistle, but this was a good opposition side that are leading the charge at the top of the table and they weren't going to lie down, even when playing into the wind. Their last 10 mins highlighted their ability to play at pace and to generate attacking opportunities when given time and space on the park. As ever - we would probably have taken this result without complaint earlier in the season, but having now consolidated and looked at the relative competition in this league - I sense we are not far off the pace or capability and should therefore expect to be finishing these games when having generated leads like today. As ever - if we're not winning we must be learning and we'll be better next time we meet them. #upthehill
1. Large Captains Lunch Crowd assembled to see another #nat2e spectacle at the Lane.
2. Early exchanges seemed to fit with the Referees vision and we clearly benefitted from a number of penalties awarded enable better field position.
3. Solid Field position allowed Havant to mount a number of attacking opportunities.... but to no avail.
4. Regrettably our lineout was not the constant failsafe mechanism today, giving the opposition the ball back and allowing them to mount attacks from anywhere on the field.
5. We stayed in touch with Dorking through converted penalties, instead perhaps of looking to apply more positive pressure and seizing control of the game. Losing Ben Holt to a card didnt help our cause but was balanced by the relative loss of their Hooker to a Card in the first half.
6. Second half we looked to be firinbg better and continued to build pressure on the opposition.
7. the pressure was converted to field position and eventually generated real space, allowing us to attack and score.
8. Our Scrum looked strong almost dominant throughout the day and in my opinion was a strength we could have employed more.
9. Dorking Coaching staff looked on passively at 25-14 down ... would their team be able to claw back the difference in time?
10. Two well worked scores recovered the deficit and Dorking regained the lead to take the victory in the last 2 minutes.
11. Moral of the story: If you don't take your scoring opportunities the opposition will punish you when they get a chance! #missedopportunity
Match Image slideshow:
Comments
Photo Blog highlighting some of the more recent Windandsurf Images activity -
....because we're not always on a beach!
