Sidcup RFC

at Crescent Farm by 2 goals and a penalty goal to 2 penalty goals. The pitch seemed to have resisted the challenges of the recent weather but there was a bitter cross-wind. Sidcup welcomed Julian Poff back at No 8 and also Lewis Anderson, last seen representing Oxford in front of a slightly larger crowd in the University match. The game was preceded by a minute silence for Maurice Sayers, the Dover President, who died during the week. It was evident when the two sides lined up for this that Dover had a considerably greater physical advantage.

After two disappointing performances, Sidcup needed to start well and immediately made a mess of receiving the kick-off. They then spurned a chance to clear the ball and conceded a penalty on the twenty-two in front of the posts; Greg Phillips putting the visitors in the lead. Sidcup then began to play. They created several promising positions but failed to capitalize on any of these through ignoring support players. An excellent kick by Gareth McRae to Jim Hardy on the wing nearly led to a try but play was scrappy with both sides making more than their fair share of mistakes. At this stage Dover were slightly in the ascendant as they were managing to get their driving maul going better than Sidcup but Sidcup were having much the better of the scrums. However Sidcup managed to draw level when Dover were penalized at a ruck just outside the Dover twenty-two and Hardy kicked the penalty.

Parity lasted but a few minutes. Dover put a dangerous looking kick to the Sidcup line. Although Hardy collected the ball and drove forwards, Sidcup were penalized under their own posts and Callum Thomson was given his regular breather. Phillips had an even easier kick than his previous one. For the rest of the half, Sidcup dominated territory. A forceful run by Poff looked like resulting in a try but he lost the ball just short of the line. Sidcup continued to press but conceded a penalty and the half ended with a penalty attempt from forty five yards by Hardy hitting the cross-bar.

The second half was dominated by Sidcup. A terrific run from halfway by McRae ended when he was tackled on the line but, from the resulting scrum, Poff drove over for a try which Hardy converted. Sidcup had started to make ground with their driving maul and astute kicking by Richard Clarke, in particular, was pressurising the Dover defence. Following a drive, a kick and chase led by McRae, Poff and Richard Roddis ended with the Dover defender being hounded down over his line. After a couple of wheeled scrums in the shadow of the posts, crisp passing provided Ryan Hudson with the opportunity to speed over in the corner. Hardy converted with an excellent kick.

Sidcup continued to control the game but Dover were defending resolutely and, although camped in the Dover twenty-two, they were unable to add to their lead. Danny Mizen had his shirt reduced to what on another body might have been a fetching backless number in a maul and, within five minutes had managed to engineer the same fate for the replacement. A driving maul was held up over the line and the game ended with Sidcup seeking their third try.

The second half, in particular, showed Sidcup in a much better light than the matches at Trojans and Old Elthamians. In the backs, Gareth McRae and Richard Clarke excelled. The forwards benefited from the return of Julian Poff who forced a number of turnovers; Peter Grayson and Mike Elliott were also prominent as was Donal Nevin when he arrived as replacement. Your Correspondent has a greater understanding of Higgs Boson than of what goes on in the front row but it was clear even to him that Lewis Anderson was dominating the scrum and fellow prop Sam Carmen appeared frequently in the loose.

Results elsewhere meant that Sidcup did no more than maintain their position in the league. However the next two fixtures give them the opportunity to progress in the table as the top two sides in the table are met. This Saturday, a large contingent is travelling to Guernsey although your Correspondent will not be among them. The following Saturday, league leaders Chichester visit Crescent Farm. Sidcup will need top performances in both of these games.