Saints Continue Great Start to the Season

Dartfordians Saints v Beccehamians 2’s – Saturday 29th September 2018

Dartfordians Saints v Beccehamians 2’s – Saturday 29th September 2018 – 3pm KO @ Memorial Ground

Final Score 45-21 (Win)

Navi x 3 Tries, Dan Phillips x 2, Can’t remember the rest think Tom got 5 x Cons

Team:

Andy Moon, Billy Wilson, Iain McKensie, Pete Evans, Toby Forbes, Chris Nathaniel, Alistair Whibley, Sam Allen, James Matkins, Conor Freeman, Dan Phillips, Dan Duggan, Tom Mothersole, Tom Peryer, Jon Roots, Ricky Philips.

With 3 Saturday morning withdrawals due to sick, lame or lazy (Kitten, Gary and Biz), we went from 18 man squad to ‘having to mix and match with the 3’s and the 5’s to make sure we all had at least 15 players’. Luckily Ex first 15 captain and crowd favourite Ricky ‘Ant Middleton’ Phillips was available to bench for the saints, his request for ‘10 mins, at the end, on the wing’ was of course agreed to. Darts started brightly with Sam ‘Crabby’ Allen on his long road back from knee injury looking very useful at number 8, his pick and go’s from the scrum causing Becc’s problems and setting Navi up for two early tries. Unfortunately for Crabby he took another knock to his knee and had to come off after about 15 mins, resulting in Ricky ‘Gluten Free’ Phillips playing 65 mins at number 8. To which I add he played well and looked like he enjoyed being back in the pack, where the quicker kids don’t keep stepping him.

The score line doesn’t necessarily reflect how tough a game this was, Becc’s defense was in the main excellent and they had a couple of very fast and useful backs. They will be in the top half of the table again this season and deservedly so.

Darts scrum dominated the whole game, with Macca, Man bun Wilson and Moony putting the pressure on at every scrum. Some great work in the loose by Laces, Billy, Chris, Toby and Whibbers.

The stand out performances from Darts came at half back, with Jimbo Matkins and Conor Freeman both having excellent games. A tough call but James Matkins just about edge Conor for MoTM. His speed of moving the ball from the breakdown was key to Darts victory.

Conor unfortunately took a knock to the head and leg in a comedy double dummy switch crash with Rootsy – a Double TKO. Rootsy’s thick old skull won the contest. Speedy recovery for Conor.

Dan Phillips played brilliantly at full back, hitting some great lines and he was pleased not to be the oldest player in the team as usual and not constantly referred to as ‘Evergreen’. Dan Duggan enjoyed the afternoon of dummy running and defending.

Tommy Motherfunker slotted his usual allocation of conversions and Navi scored a hatrick.

All round an enjoyable game to watch, especially as it was very warm.

James Matkins MoTM