Pulborough hit an on form Darts side

Pulborough visited Dartfordians following their great season last year and promotion into London 2. Darts were feeling really confident after the great win over Beckenham despite numerous changes and the weather was suited to their fast, high tempo game. Asit turned out it was the visitors who had the first opportunity to score with a penalty which went narrowly wide. Darts first scrum was impressive pushing Pulborough off the ball and then with a great drive and recycling the ball was popped into space to Sam Cooksley who drewthe defender and put skipper Si Briggs over for the first try. Mike Briggs converted. 7-0 The scrum was totally dominant and when this forced a penalty more pressure built up and it was Connor Sutherland who went over. Mike Briggs converted. 12-0 From the kick off darts retrieved the ball and after a number of phases Matt Randall received the ball and ran from the halfway line before giving Connor his second try which again was converted by Mike Briggs. 19-0. A penalty for a high tackle put the visitors under more pressure and it was Skipper Si Briggs who scored his second. 24-0. The young Darts team were now highly confident and playing at speed and everything was paying off. Mike Briggs put in a delicate crossfield kick which was converted by Peter Essien and Briggs again converted. 31-0 Pulborough had a period of possesion but despite going through the phases the Darts defence was excellent closing down the big runners early and competing for the ball. The home side proceeded to push the visitors back in their own half and from another dominant scrum Craig Curley picked up the loose ball to score. Another Briggs conversion. 38-0. More greatt attacking play saw Sam Cooksley go over for another converted try. 45-0. A great run through 4 or 5 players by Peter Essien saw him go close but he lost his bearings and popped the ball out when he could have scored but the recycling of the ball was good and Connor scored his third try of the match. 50-0.
Pulborough took to the changing rooms at half time to regroup and when they came out for th second half they upped their game and for the first ten minutes of the half had a lot of ball and recycled the ball well but the organisation and power of the Darts defence was outstanding and their counterattacking saw Kieron Ryan go over for a long distance converted try. 57-0. It was much of the same from the kick off with fantastic work between forwards and backs which saw Kieron score his second try in as many minutes. Briggs again converted. 64-0.The pattern continued with Mike Briggs on the try count . 69-0. The play was relentless from Darts and nothing could go right for the visitors and Peter Essien took a clearing kick 50 metres he ghosted trough the defence to score his second.another Briggs conversion. 76-0. It was impossible for Pulborough now to get anything in the game as the Darts players were swarming over them and Alex Vousden scored another converted try. 83-0. 18 year Alex Hadler was having a good game in the centre and it was his turn to get in on the act. 90-0. Mike Briggs went over for his second from a another counterattack from the clearing kick and converted yet again. 97-0. Further great attacking play saw the ball move from side to side and eventually the ball found Steve Garrett on the wing and from a great clearout at the breakdown Hadler found the space on the blindside to score his second. 104-0. Unfortunately for the visitors they had a sin bin for taking out our scrum half and from the penalty the ball was moved to Jake Taylor who was tackled brilliantly and held up over the line. From the ensuing scrum Ryan Chandler picked up the ball and scored another converted try. 111-0. To finish the match prop Mike Young scored following some more great phase play to give a final score of 118-0.
Head Coach Bob Hussey was extremely happy with performance and gave the whole team the man of the match award for a team performance that was a close to a perfect storm as you could get. Credit to Pulborough who although being totally outclassed on the day never gave up their defensive duties.
Next week sees a far tougher encounter when we take on local rivals Charlton Park.