Great start for Darts but tougher hurdles to come

Darts entertained Barking for the first time in many years looking forward to resuming a long standing rivalry. The visitors have hit some lean times in recent years but Darts were expecting a tough match to start the season. Darts started really strongly and put a lot of pressure on the visitors line and Kenny Lee had the ball knocked out of his hands as he went over the line. A poor clearing kick gave Darts the chance to attack and after some good passing the ball found Liam Brencher on the wing who used his pace to go over in the corner. 5-0 . With more pressure Barking were stretched and lost a man to a yellow card for a high tackle and from the resulting lineout Sam Cooksley scored from the driving maul. 10-0. Another penalty kick saw Darts go for the lineout and again it was the driving maul which resulted in a second try fro Sam Cooksley. Jonny Regnier converted. 17-0. The bonus point try came soon after as the speed of the Darts players again put huge pressure on the Barking line and eventually it was Kieron Ryan who scored. 22-0. Barking started to exert their own pressure and forced Darts to concede a number of penalties and it was inevitable that a yellow card was shown and it was Joe Wheeler who collapsed the maul and went to the touchline for 10 minutes. Darts defended brilliantly against the big strong runners and kept pushing Barking back and then turned the ball over and following a long kick and a good chase Darts scored another try when Kenny Lee went over with Regnier converting to give the home side a 29-0 lead at halftime.
Straight from the restart Darts went on the attack again and it was Matt Randall who scored in the corner. 34-0. Things didn't get better for the visitors as the restart didn't go 10 metres and from the scrum Darts took the ball to the right and a great move saw Kieron Ryan weave through 5 or 6 defenders to score. Another conversion from Regnier. 41-0. Darts were totally in command and looked like they could score with their fast backs going through some great moves and following some great phases the defence ran out of players and Regnier slid through to score a try which he also converted. 48-0. More good ball for Darts saw a wide kick to the wing for Jake Taylor but the ball went into touch. Kenny Lee stole the ball at the lineout and went over for another try converted by Regnier. 55-0. Barking didn't ;lack effort and continued to try and get through a terrific Darts defence who technique in the tackle was excellent and in the tight darts were dominant and from a Barking scrum inside the Darts 22 the home pack drove the visitors off the ball and a delightful chip through by Jonny saw the ball retrieved and it was Matt Randall who raced in from 45 metres to score. Regnier converted. 62-0. The Darts scrum was dominant and following another powerful drive another slick move saw Connor Sutherland score. Another Regnier conversion. 69-0. The game ended with another great backs move which saw Regnier go over for his second try which he also converted and then after more stout defence from Darts Jonny stole the ball to score his third try and convert to seal a fine performance and opening win.
A great start to the season for Darts against a side who are rebuilding after a number of difficult seasons but there will be far harder games to play this season.