Thrilling draw against Bromley

Darts welcomed Bromley to Bourne Rd knowing it would be another tough match with the visitors hoping to avenge the narrow loss they suffered earlier in the season. Darts started with a bang playing down what is now a small slope and after 3 minutes Jonny collected a clearing and showing his pace and power took play deep into the Bromley half and then recovered a kick throufgh to score the opening try. 5-0., It was certainly a competitive match but Darts were managing to keep play in the opposition half and it was good combination play between Dan Sweeney and Miles Taylor that saw the second try and a 10-0 lead. This didn't deter the visitors who were putting together some powerful and well constructed rugby but it was a steal in the lineout that allowed Jonny to clear the lines. Bromley continued to use the ball well with their forwards driving powerfully and their backs movingbthe ball at pace to the wide areas and their full back as in the first match was very prominant. Darts were forced to concede a penalty and from the lineout they drove well infield and their prop broke back blind and fed the winger for a good try which was converted. 10-7. A further penalty saw them level the score. 10-10. Darts for some reason couldn't get their game together and were making too many mistakes and their usually solid lineout was just not functioning. This gave the visitors confidence and another very good period of play saw them score an excellent try to take a deserved 10-17 lead into halftime.
The second half started with another mistake by Darts and more pressure form Bromley taking play tp the 5 metre line. They then stole a lineout kept possession well and scored their third try. 10-22. Darts were under a lot of stress now to turn the game around and they didn't disappoint the home spectators by putting together some good phase play with powerful forward drives and swift passing in the backs. This pressure forced a penalty but unfortunately nothing came from it. The Darts scrum was now really starting to aqueeze the visiting pack and making ground both on their n=ball and ours and this again resulted in a penalty A potentially good opportunity went when theexecution wasn't quite up to scratch. It seemed only a matter of time before Darts were rewarded with anotherscore and so it was when an excellent back move allowed Elliot to go ver for the home side's thrid try. 15-22. Darts were looking rampant now and the mistakes had disappeared and when they released Miles who was playing really well on the wing he made ground and when the ball ewas recycled it looked like another score however a forward pass stopped the momentum, Further pressure in the scrum saw another penalty which was kicked to the corner and after winning the ball they kept the momentum going tying in the Bromley back line before releasing the ball to the backs who quickly fouynd Elliot for his second try and a bonus point. Unfortunately we still couldn't find a conversion. 20-22. At this stage it looked as though there would be only one winner with all the power coming from Darts but Bromley were not finished and they sustained a number of phases before putting a deft kick to their winger who ran in from 25 metresto the corner with the Darts defence caught narrow.. 20-27. Darts had to do something to get anything out of the game and they hit back with a sysustained preiod of pressure with the backs and the forwards working incredibly hard to break down a stubborn Bromley defence but the spirit was fantatsic and a last gasp attempt from a lineout saw the driing maul push play closer to the line and after Jonny was tackled short of the line it was Smiler was quick to pick up the ball and drive over for the try. Jake Taylor stepped up to the plate and put over the conversion. 27-27.
3 bonus pounts for each team and it ended up a fair result as both teams played some fantastic rugby and put everything into a very entertaining match for everyone.