Match report: Puddletown

The Daggers got back to winning ways with a comfortable but hard won 19-0 victory over a determined Puddletown side. In wet and windy conditions, the Daggers played into the wind and scored two well crafted first half tries. However, in the second half, despite near total territorial advantage their attack was blunted by dogged Puddletown defence, and they were unable to get the fourth try bonus point.

From the kick off the Daggers knocked on but as last week their dominant pack turned the ball over and spun it down the line and got over the gain line only to lose the ball in contact. The game was held up for an injury to a Puddletown player. After a scrum restart Wes Lewis placed an excellent grubber kick into touch on the 22-metre line. The Daggers gained lineout turnover and the forwards drove the ball on. Quick release by Charlie Samways allowed Nathan Herbert to give an excellent pass to Jed Gravelle to score in the corner which he did not convert.

The Daggers now had their tails up and were forcing errors from their opponents culminating in a penalty in midfield. Opting for the scrum the good ball was taken on by Daragh Mcoughlin who released Gravelle for a run down the wing and followed up for the offload for an excellent score converted by Gravelle for a 12-0 lead.

Despite some excellent forward drives and good handling by the backs the Daggers were not able to break the Puddletown defence and on two occasions when their first line defence was beaten by through kicks they had to dig deep to defend their line and keep their opponents out. A crossfield kick by Nathan Herbert only just eluded Jordan Neil and despite more forward pressure they could not add to the score.

With the wind behind them in the second half the Daggers quickly counter attacked when Neil kicked and chased a loose ball into the opponents 22 forcing a turnover. From the scrum the forwards drove to the line but knocked the ball on. Puddletown cleared their lines. The Daggers by now were totally dominant territorially but were continuously frustrated by their opponent’s defence who were forcing errors from the attacking side as they sought the additional tries which their dominance deserved.

The deadlock was finally broken when after a series of driving mauls by the forwards Samways dived through a gap to score, converted by Gravelle. The Daggers searched desperately for the bonus point try but the Puddletown defence held firm. The Daggers next match is home to Swanage & Wareham on 12th November.

With the weather relenting the day concluded at the Brewery Ground when a large crowd attended the fireworks display organised for the first time by the rugby club. A 12-minute spectacular display was much appreciated and enjoyed by all present who had been “fed and watered” by members and staff of the rugby club and we all at the club hope that this will now become a regular event.