Sat 2 Mar 2024
DUNSTABLIANS GRIFFINS 15 - 20 VERULAMIANS 2s
Bolstered by some brash travelling support, a very vocal Verulamians side took on the Griffins in a rearranged merit league encounter. The hosts weathered an early storm before steadying the ship, a dominant display of power in the scrums setting the base for series of forays into the opposition half. Some impressive phase play had Verulamians on the back foot though it was the visitors who scored first, a tricky bounce and a defensive lapse seeing them go over in the corner for an unconverted try.
The Griffins regathered the ball from the restart and drove into the Verulamians 22. A ruck infringement gave the hosts a penalty in front of the posts and fly-half Dicky Jones duly slotted the 3 points.
With the Griffins gathering momentum, the visitors were once again forced to defend for long passages of play. A series of determined forward surges put the hosts on the opposition’s try line and scrum-half Rhys Coker darted through a gap for the Griffin’s first try of the game. The reliable boot of Jones added the extras.
Griffins were back into the Verulamians half from the restart though were unable to convert a period of sustained pressure into further points. Indiscipline crept in and concentration crept out, allowing the St Albans side back down the field and eventually resulting in a second try for them, again unconverted. With the scores level, and the visitors now on top, only some sloppy handling and forward passes prevented them from taking the lead. The Griffins still enjoyed the upper hand in the scrum, shunting the visitors back at will and this, combined with some stoic defence, brought Dees back into the game. A fracas on the line after another hefty defensive shift saw the garrulous Verulamians 10 yellow carded and the sides went into the break with honours even.
The Griffins started the second half strongly, some excellent breaks from forwards and backs gaining them territory, but the good work was undone by indiscipline which led to the visitors scoring their third try, this one much closer to the posts. However, with the 10 still on the naughty step, the backup kicker was unable to convert. Now on the front foot, Verulamians pressed hard and Dees were pinned back once more by a series of penalties, though the restored 10 was unable to take advantage, missing a simple 3-pointer in front of the sticks.
The game then entered a scrappy period, with errors and penalties from both sides meaning neither team could take a firm hold. It was the visitors who broke the deadlock, bursting through for a close range try after a line out. More unmannerly behaviour from Verulamians resulted in the Griffins being awarded a penalty from the restart. They took a scrum which was a springboard for another foray into the Verulamians half. A series of quick phases led to the versatile Will Ludgate - now at fly-half having already played flanker and scrum-half - carving his way through a disjointed defence to touch down under the sticks. Unfortunately the woodwork denied the extras and no further points were added during the remaining few minutes, leaving the exuberant visitors as winners.
