Match report: Weymouth & Portland

Playing their fifth match in 6 weeks the Daggers again found themselves struggling for numbers and even with the return of Jed Gravelle and Jude Appleton it was always going to be a tough game against League Winners Weymouth. The team responded as they have done all season with a gritty performance all round restricting Weymouth to three tries in a 26-5 defeat.

The match which was very disjointed and never really flowed kicked off with the Daggers soon in their opponents 22 with a good kick and chase. Weymouth responded with good hands to drive up field into the Daggers 22 gaining a penalty and from a subsequent 5 metre lineout the backs ran a good line to score a converted try.

From the kick off Weymouth knocked on and Daggers gained a scrum penalty with Sam Petchey’s attempt at goal drifting wide. From the drop out Weymouth were soon back in the Daggers 22 gaining a penalty which was converted for a 10-0 lead.

Daggers whilst they were holding their own in the scrums were not able to make any real progress over the gain line and when Petchey’s clever kick through was only just straight out Weymouth won the line out and despite Daggers regaining possession they conceded a penalty allowing Weymouth a 5 metre line out. Even though Daggers initially repelled the first driving maul Weymouth forwards got the upper hand and drove over for a 15-0 lead.

Daggers now at last got some good possession following a line out in Weymouth’s 22 Pete Philips drove hard for the line but was just held up. Weymouth conceded a penalty from the scrum, which was quickly taken but they got a scrum turn over and cleared their lines. Samways returned a clever kick which was a fraction too long and Weymouth had a goal line drop out. Petchey ran the ball back and with Jordan Neil in support Daggers went through the phases allowing Samways to break through for an unconverted try and a half time score of 15-5.

The second half followed the pattern of the first half with a lot of breaks in play with neither side able to get any real momentum with a series of line outs and turnovers and with Appleton going off for a HIA Daggers had to rejig their back line. Eventually, Weymouth got a penalty in kicking distance and duly converted.

What happened next sealed the match as the Weymouth number 8 took the kick off on the charge and raced into the 22 and despite eventually being tackled the back up was there to score in the corner. This was quickly followed by a penalty when Daggers backchat overturned a decision in their favour.

Daggers continued their spirited defence and kept Weymouth from adding further scores and in the last 15 minutes enjoyed their best period of the match when following a Weymouth red card the forwards set up a series of driving mauls but the Weymouth defence held firm.

The team can take pride from this performance especially in the set pieces and look forward to the final league game of the season away to Wimborne where a win will take them into fourth place.