Tight win for Darts in a thriller against Charlton Park

Darts welcomed old rivals Charlton Park for their league match hoping to extend their winning run but expecting a very robust encounter. From the start the scrums were tough for the smaller Darts pack and gave away an early pen but Darts put the visitors under pressure with a good kick through into space forcing a penalty. Unfortunately for Darts Connor Sutherland had to leave the field with a neck injury.More pressure from Darts kept forcing penalties and from s great lineout drive and good work in the backs the ball finally found Hadler and then Golding who were held up short of the line. The vitors were under great pressure and were given a yellow card for offside 5 metres out when a try looked a certainty. Good work again by the Darts backs sae the ball moved quickly before mike Briggs put in a delicate kick which was gathered by Hadler who popped the ball to Jake Taylor who scored the opening try converted by Jonny Regnier. 7-0. A terrific run by the visiting centre saw them make great ground and forced a pnalty which was kicked for the lineout. Successive drives saw Park held up over the line and from the scrum a good pick up from the No 8 saw him crash over for their opening converted try. 7-7. Darts continued to use their pace to force penalties and one was converted by Jonny to regain the lead. 10-7. Darts seemed to be getting parity in the scrums and were awarded another pen when Park collapsed . Jonny converted to extend the lead. 13-7. Park came back with their own period of pressure and it was great defence from Darts which held back the tide. Pressure was eventually relieved when Park were penalised for crossing.Darts were giving the crowd something to cheer with some great interplay but they dropped the ball over the line. It was some small mistakes which were keeping Park in the match at this stage and the home team were punished when they gave away a pen in front of the posts and Park closed the gap to 13-10 at half time.
This was a great spectacle for both sets of supporters with the two sides putting everything into the game. Two contrasting styles with the visitors using their big players to crash the ball up and Darts with their smaller faster players trying to move the ball wide . From the restart Darts went through many phases moving the ball left and right mixing it up through forwards and backs before Liam Brencher went through 3-4 defenders in scoring in the corner. Jonny converted from out wide. 20-10. Again it was Park who hit back going through the phases pushing the Darts defence to the limit but great technique in the tackle kept driving them back. This time it was great defence by Park who stopped the home team's counter attack. Park were throwing everything into the second half and it seemed that their powerful runners would get some reward but great work by Joe Wheeler who stole the ball inches from the line allowing Jonny to clear. Turnover ball put Darts on the front foot again but great tackling forced Brencher into touch. Darts sprung yet another attack and the resulting pressure saw a deliberate knock on to prevent a great scoring chance and another yellow for the visitors. Jonny converted the penalty. 23-10. It was a fantastic match with both teams taking turns to put on the pressure and it was now the visitors who were on the attack and only a great counter ruck from Golding won the ball back but Park had their tails up and when Sam Cooksley was sin binned for a high tackle the visitors sniffed an opportunity, another great run from their backs put Darts on the back foot and the relentless pressure forced the referee to give a penalty try. 23-17. This was time to see how the young Darts side would cope under extreme pressure and they didn't disappoint with a succession of great tackles and when this forced Park to lose the ball it was fly hacked down the field and when the Park defender returned the compliment unfortunately for him the ball just found Liam Brencher who ran 40 metres to score his second try. 28-17. The last 10 minutes saw Park put real pressure on the 14 men but Darts bravery under pressure has never been doubted and when Ryan Chandler was also binned it was all hands to the wheel and despite conceding a try with the last play of the match they held out for what was a well deserved win.
A great win against a team who will be up there in the mix at the end of the season in what was one of the best games seen at Bourne Rd for many a year with both teams putting everything into the match showing what is great about the game of rugby.
Next week the team travel to Horsham who have also had a great start to the season in what will be another great encounter.