Old Alleynians 3’s V Darts 2’s

The last game of the season saw a battle weary Darts 2’s arrive in Dulwich to a warm sunny day with a few enforced changes brought about by a variety of excuses some of which were better than others, these included injury (Jake Dykes), the start of the cricket season (Ben Crouch) babysitting duty (the ever green but ever so punchy Tony Mead).

Having arrived very late and warmed up poorly the game started in earnest and the early exchanges were honours even. Then on the 12 minute mark OA’s secured some turn over ball and some quick hands along the back line saw their afro donning baggy short wearing winger scorch his way over for the opening score Darts secured a penalty during their first foray in the OS’s 22, Judas duly obliged with the 3 pointer. But OA’s responded first to a mistake by Darts when they tried to run the ball out of their own 22 and knocked the ball on. From the resulting scrum more quick hands saw the home side score again, fortunately the conversion was missed.
Darts managed to get back into the oppos half and Griggs kicked a penalty from the 10 mtr line after an infringement from the home side.
Just before the half hour was up OA’s had the feed(literally) into the scrum and a simple yet well worked 8, 9 to 14 move saw Afro man sore his 2nd try, extras were missed.
Up until this point Darts seemed to be struggling to settle into their usual pattern of play; and with the home side taking full advantage of the Refs liberal interpretation of the off side law and hands in the ruck. It seemed that this may have been a game too far and the team were looking at a result similar to the home fixture early in the season when OS’s ran out comfortable winners.
However 5 minutes from half time Darts set up a maul just inside their own half and proceeded to drive the home side back a good 30 meters; and although we were penalised shortly after the maul broke down, this single passage of play was the catalyst for a Darts revival and change in fortune.

Half time came with the score 17 – 6 to the home side.
The second half started much as the first had until the 10 minute mark when a kick from a Darts scrum saw Babs Ojo collect the ball and beat several defenders to score a 40 mtr try with Judas adding the extras.
With Darts set piece starting to function better and the ref tightening up on infringements the visitors started to play to their strengths.
A lineout to Darts deep into the OA’s 22 saw a classic catch and drive with Lewis couchman fighting of all comers at the back of the maul to ensure that he was the man to score Darts 2nd try. Though to be fair his kit could have carried the ball over the line having remained unwashed all season, Judas missed extras, but for the first time in the match Darts led, 17- 18.
After 20 minutes some great hands from the backs down the line saw the ball end up in Bab’s hands and by now you can guess the result with Judas adding the extras. 17 – 25.
A further foray into the OA half saw another penalty awarded and where we may have chanced our arm in other games and tried to run the ball, good sense prevailed and Judas slotted the 3 pointer to a chance!
Shortly after OA’s looked to ease the pressure as they were camped deep in their own half. The resulting booming clearance although it went deep didn’t find touch. Instead Babs was covering Joe Austen at full back as he had previously carried the ball into contact. Babs duly took the ball cleanly and raced 40 mtrs to score. Much too the annoyance of the openside flanker who had a major axe to grind! Judas stepped up and smashed the conversion over the posts as hard as he could, as we wanted this game to end.
Alas OA’s had one more roll of the dice and some good pressure saw them deep in our 22, it was then that a moment of madness saw someone (who shall remain nameless) try to clear the ball only for it to be fired up a forwards arse from nigh on point blank range!
OA’s reacted quickest and scored a consolation try, this proved to be the last act of the game and in fact the season as the ref blew for full time.
The super 2’s ending the season on a high running out 22 – 35 winners, with probably our toughest test yet and a superb second half comeback.
The league title should be ours as well, although we finished with the same points as Beccehamians 2’s our superior points difference (68 points to the good) should see Darts 2’s make it a clean sweep for all 4 senior sides.

Scorers
Try
Babs Ojo (3)
Couchmans kit (1)
Cons
Judas (3)
Penalty
Judas (3)