Sat 2 Nov 2024
GRIFFINS 27 – 17 SHARNBROOK & COLWORTH HOUSE
Dees’ Griffins played host to league leaders Sharnbrook in a merit table clash with the chance to claim the visitors’ top spot for themselves.
Despite a fumble from the kick-off, the visitors soon showed why they have powered to the top of the league with some strong runs from their large forwards battering away at the Dees defence. The hosts held firm but were unable to claim much of a foothold during the opening quarter, falling foul of the ref’s whistle on several occasions and finding themselves besieged deep in their own half.
Having soaked up the early pressure, Dees finally began to string together some phases, No.8 Brandon Thasan to the fore as a series of forward surges saw them break the shackles - it was now the visitors’ turn to find themselves on the defensive. With Dees pressuring the opposition try line Sharnbrook were penalised for hands in the ruck. Fly- half Lukas Chamberlain kicked into the right-hand corner and, from the resulting lineout, a Dees maul steamrollered over the line, Thasan claiming the points, though Chamberlain was unable to add the extras.
Sharnbrook came roaring back and a poor kick chase from the hosts allowed the north Beds side to unleash their dangerous backs and go over in the corner to make it 5-5.
Dees then showed the potential of their own back line, some strong forward runs hammering the defence before the ball was spun wide for debutant Ben Stone to run through the last defender on the line. Chamberlain this time converted.
From the restart Dees showed their intent to run the ball at every opportunity, breaking free again to threaten the opposition twenty-two. Sharnbrook scrambled desperately to keep the hosts out but minutes later a strong Dees scrum allowed some fine interplay between Thasan and scrum-half Connor Stone before the majestic Ben McDonagh broke through three tackles to score under the posts, Chamberlain slotting the simple conversion. Dees continued to enjoy their ascendency but were unable to add any further scores, going into the break 19-5 up.
Starting the second half, Dees took up where they had left off. Some powerhouse runs from the impressive Thasan nearly saw the young No.8 cross the whitewash after a bullocking charge from his own half but he was held out by a desperate Sharnbrook defence. He was not to be denied for long, being the beneficiary of another meaty catch and drive from the well-oiled Griffins’ line-out. With the kick being missed, the hosts went into the last quarter with what looked to be an unassailable 24-5 lead.
Sharnbrook, however, had other ideas. Keeping out a sustained period of pressure from Dees, the visitors clawed their way back into the game while the hosts began to lose some of their earlier cohesion. Some lateral running in midfield nevertheless paid dividends for Sharnbrook when they crossed the line on the wing for a converted try to close the gap to 24-12. More determined work saw them battering at Dees’ try line for a sustained period of pressure and, though they were denied the direct route by some strong defence, they finally managed to dart over in the corner to go within a converted try of the hosts.
Drawing on the last of their reserves, the Griffins moved onto the attack once more, driving deep into opposition territory. Errors and penalties from both sides made the final minutes a nail-biting see-saw but finally Dees were awarded a penalty within range of McDonagh’s boot and the versatile back duly slotted three points to take Dees clear and see them home and dry.
Now sitting at the top of the league, the Griffins look to next week’s home fixture against Kempston.
