Chichester were worthy winners of this vital game thanks to their very strong team performance in the first half. This gave them a 10 point lead and although mid-table Dorking pressed later, they were unable to catch up. Chichester avenged their 38 - 33 defeat in the away fixture last September. Blues are now 4 points behind Southend in their determined effort to pull out of the relegation area.

Chichester were without Jack Maslen but Aaron Davies, Nick Blount and Richard Adams returned. Ben Deavall moved across to tight head prop. They kicked off in bright but cold conditions. A Jack Evans kick was followed and forwards and backs combined in good phases. Aaron Davies sprang and delivered from the lineout to start a big drive by the pack, loose head prop Tauisi Vadei pressing down at the right corner. Conversion fell short. 5 - 0 after four minutes. Henry Anscombe kicked long to touch but Dorking countered with a kick and chase by their quick left winger Osborne. Chichester launched two attacks, the first stopped by a Dorking intercept knock-on, but the second was a flowing move across the backs which Evans finished off with a 10 metre dash and cut inside to score. Conversion missed. 10 - 0 after just 10 minutes. Dorking reached the home 22 for the first time but Chichester cleared. A big touch kick by Adams set up more attacks and it looked as though the visitors were already buckling, Chris Johnson, Aaron Davies and Taff Davies all breaking tackles. Dorking went offside to foil a chance and Taff Davies slotted the penalty. 13 - 0. Another drive lineout just failed with the ball lost almost on the try line. Jack Bentall climbed high to give the backs another run as Chichester emphasised their edge in the set pieces. Two penalties against Chichester in scrum and ruck stirred Dorking into action, but the Blues stole a lineout. The visitors advanced to the left corner but were held up. As they switched direction, Alex Grace tackled powerfully. Dorking's captain and playmaker Matt Noble put a reliably accurate kick to the right wing but Anscombe and Evans helped each other to scramble clear. The Surrey men were now fully awake and Blues conceded a penalty, converted by Noble. 13 - 3 at the break and Chichester could expect their opponents to benefit from a tough talk in the dressing room.

Dorking drove to the right flank, Chichester were penalised for entering the maul from the side and Noble converted well. 13 - 6. But he narrowly missed another penalty for a high tackle. Chichester almost paid dearly for trying a quick lineout which went wrong but they held firm. Blues returned to the attack with Sam Renwick and Matt Woodhouse making a lot of ground. A move shifted from the right to give a scrum in the centre. When the ball emerged hooker Mark Giddings looped around the back line to take a pass and accelerate from 25 metres. He broke one tackle and rode two others to crash over at the left corner for a superb try. Conversion missed. 18 - 6. Replacements were on as Dorking upped their game again and Chichester had to defend at full stretch for several minutes, but they finally won a turnover to huge cheers from their supporters, Danny Gray clearing to touch. Chichester went to the other end and applied their own pressure, Dorking tackling hard. A yellow card was awarded harshly to the mighty Johnson for a high tackle under the new RFU rules. Dorking began a fast counter attack which went along very close to the left touch with some clever inter-passing and resulting in a try from the final inside step. Conversion by Noble 18 - 13. Dorking were in with a chance of nicking It but Chichester held on in the last few minutes, despite giving away penalties, and in the end winning a turnover and scrum for Gray to kick out. Final whistle, Chichester had clinched it.

Chichester squad: Vadei, Giddings, Deavall, Blount, A.Davies, Grace, Bentall (capt.), Johnson, Anscombe, Adams, Woodhouse, O.Davies, Renwick, Seaman, Evans, Belcher, Dickin and Gray.

Next week is another must-win at Sutton and Epsom who are in good form and won a big game at Colchester. Chichester won the home game narrowly against them, 15 - 13. Should be exciting! All support welcome. The match will be played under floodlights so kick off will be at 15:00.