Match report: Oakmeadians

The Daggers stretched their unbeaten run to six games in a hard fought and well crafted display against second-placed Oakmedians.

The first half was a close run contest, with returning stalwart Mitch Waters usually on form with his place kicking missing a couple of penalties and a conversion of his own try leaving the Daggers a point down 11-12 at half time. The second half was a strong all round performance from the Daggers, with two Jack Pellow tries giving them a 29-19 victory.

From the kick off the forwards soon made inroads into the Oaks 22 through McLoughlin and Pellow and after a 22 lineout they forced the first of Waters missed penalties. The Daggers continued their attacking play with Wes Lewis and Charlie Samways linking well at half back and giving the backs plenty of quality ball which kept play in the Oaks half and forcing a second penalty again missed by Waters.

The subsequent drop out was charged down and Samways broke into the 22 and forced a penalty which Waters converted for the first score of the match. The Daggers were straight back into the Oaks half with a break by Jude Appleton who was well tackled and conceded a knock on. The Daggers scrum – which this season has been superb – forced the Oaks to knock on. Clean ball from Lewis to Samways enabled a quick offload to Waters who drove over from the 22 to extend the Daggers lead.

Sadly the Daggers defence was asleep when Oaks turned over the kick off and broke the defence for an immediate response scoring in the corner. Daggers  soon regained the advantage when McLoughlin broke free and over half way forcing a penalty converted by Waters.

Again, the Daggers defence was caught napping when Oaks took a quick penalty and scored under the posts. Hard as they tried with some flowing moves by the backs the Daggers could not regain the lead and went in a point down at half time.

The second half started with Daggers regaining the lead with a superb long range penalty from Waters.Oaks began to put the pressure on in the 22 but good defence and a Lewis kick cleared their lines, and when Daggers got a freekick at the resulting lineout Samways cleared long and Oaks knocked on.

An excellent driving scrum gave superb ball and allowed Samways time for a cross kick to Jed Gravelle who was unlucky not to take cleanly. Oaks kicked the loose ball straight out and from the line out McLoughlin set up a ruck with the ball going down the line to Pellow who was held up. Quick recycled ball to Waters  was again thwarted by the Oaks defence forcing a scrum. Oaks kicked from the base of the scrum, the ball bounced wickedly for Pellow and the onrushing Oaks attack won the kick and chase and scored in the corner which was well converted.

The Daggers response was immediate with Lewis making a clean break into the 22, quick ball out to Pellow resulting in a five-metre penalty. From the tap and go Waters sucked in the defence and quick ball and a long pass out to Pellow enabled him to just squeeze in the corner to tie the scores.

From the kick off Mcloughlin and Pellow combined well taking the Daggers into the Oaks half and when Lewis made a clean break Samways could not hold his offload. Oaks cleared their lines and when they tried to clear the ball from a scrum on halfway Pellow intercepted to run clear and score under the posts. Waters soon made it a two score game with a successful penalty and the Daggers played out the remainder if the match with controlled forward play and possession rugby.

Their next match is the rearranged fixture away to Lytchett on the 4^th February.