Dover v G's

As the league season ends and the endless rain abates, April evokes memories of last season’s charge to the semi-final of the Counties 2 Championship. Last year, the disappointment of finishing 2nd in the league and uncertainty around promotion was put to one side as a strong cup run galvanised the squad that came tantalisingly close to a Twickenham final.

After finishing 8th in the league and ending the season on three straight defeats, this was a G’s squad out to prove that the club’s trajectory is only going up. Emerging from the coach to Dover was a team determined to bring cup rugby back to Saint Hill and keep the journey going at all costs.

The opening exchanges featured one of the day’s big talking points as relative newcomer Chris May-Miller delivered a tackling masterclass, using all of his 25kg bodyweight to obliterate a Dover ball carrier and any notion of weakness in the 12 channel with the injured Ben Saunders watching on.

EG’s defensive and attacking structure was clicking, and Jake Radcliffe and Oli Billin added the clinical finishing that we've sometimes lacked this season, taking the score to 0-14 within 10 minutes.

Lively to the challenge ahead of them, Dover's forwards set to work, pummelling the short phases and testing the referee’s interpretation of the breakdown. Patiently they persisted, with their fly half simply moving play across the pitch, waiting for an opportunity for the backs to find space. The visitors withstood several long spells without the ball, repeatedly stopping the Dover forwards on the try line, but eventually the effort took its toll and the score as half time approached was 10-14.

With Dover threatening a comeback, Ted Hardisty ran the ball from deep in the East Grinstead half, drifting off his right wing and eventually sending Jake Radcliffe down the left into the Dover 22. Working hard in support, the ball was recycled and quickly found itself back across the pitch with Connor Leggat running full steam at the last Dover defender and sending Sam Lindsay-McCall on a short gallop to score on the stroke of half time (10-21).

If the first half ended perfectly for East Grinstead, the second half started exactly as Dover would have hoped, with an early try keeping the leaders' confidence in check. Almost before they could finish celebrating, however, Oli Billin pounced on the predictable passing game of Dover's 10, taking a devastating interception to run under the posts and restore an 11-point lead.

This set the tone for a nervier second half, both sides now aware of the threats posed all over the park. A further two Dover tries briefly gave them the lead for the first time in the match with 20 minutes to go (29-28). Then some quick hands and a no-look pass from Mark Oliver off the bench handed Chris May-Miller his first try for the 1’s. Backs replacement Colm Geraghty soon added our 6th try to stretch the lead to 29-42 with 10 minutes remaining.

With Dover capitalising on small errors, they worked their way deep into the red zone, inching towards the line through the forwards to eventually be rewarded with another try. We were in for a nervy climax fitting for knockout rugby.

Oli kicked the restart knowing this would be Dover's last possession of the game with a 6-point deficit, but a knock-on in the breakdown a few phases later ended the game 36-42. A relieved Sandy could celebrate his first-ever win against Dover, while one jubilant female supporter leapt into the arms of Mr May-Miller. She was later identified as fellow EGRFC centre, Mrs May-Miller (see the Women's match report for more on this story).

With a 22-point haul to his name Oli Billin was nominated Man of the Match, but a case could be made for any one of the squad with barely a foot put wrong.

A hot and bruising encounter brought the sunshine back to knockout rugby for our 1st team, helping to banish the dark grey memories of Wensleydale a year ago. The score may not reflect the dominance felt in that performance, but this was a team that was more clinical, playing with more confidence and cohesion. But the season isn't over, and the best may be yet to come.