Disappointed in Dartford: Chichester lose 19-5 lead

The groundstaff should be congratulated on their efforts to ensure the fixture took place with the application of sand making the going soft, heavy in places.

Richard Ives and Ben Polhill came into the pack, Matt McLagan, Tom Knight and Gareth Davies returned in the backs with debutant George Booth making his first XV debut on the bench.

In bright conditions, with a stiff breeze in their faces, Dartfordians kicked off up the slope. A Chichester attack was stopped illegally and Tom Blewitt kicked to the corner for a lineout on the 5m line.

The ball was worked across the field and at the breakdown an infringement meant the referee produced a yellow card, reducing Dartfordians to 14 players. The penalty was kicked into touch and from the lineout the pack drove over the line with Chris Johnson dotting down. Converted by Tom Blewitt, 0-7.

Still a man down, Dartfordians infringed close to their 22m line allowing Blewitt to put another kick into touch close to the corner. Blues reprised their lineout play and this time Harry Seaman was on hand to apply downward pressure. Conversion missed, 0-12.

Dartfordians were attempting to run the ball at every opportunity and finally found a way through the Chichester defence to get on the scoreboard. Conversion missed, 5-12.

In the final moments of the first half a scrum 10mnout provided Chichester with an attacking opportunity. Good work from Blewitt, Seaman and Baz Magda saw the ball advanced to the try line for Nick Blount to drive over for a third try. Converted by Blewitt, 5-19.

At the Chichester faithful confident that a bonus point win was on the cards.

Blues kicked off up the slope into a stiffening wind. Two minutes in the referee produced his yellow card and Chichester were a man down.

The Blues defence held firm for several minutes until Dartfordians found a gap and scored out wide. Conversion missed, 10-19 after 50 minutes.

Both teams looked dangerous with the ball in hand as the backs probed for a gap in the opposition defence. Scoring opportunities went begging for both sides, with Dartfordians’ handling letting them down at crucial moments and Chichester being penalised repeatedly at the breakdown.

On 61 minutes Dartfordians crossed the whitewash for a third time and the conversion made it 17-19.

As the clock ticked down Dartfordians were becoming more dominant in the scrum and things were looking ominous for the visitors.

With less than four minutes left, and with sleet driving down the pitch, the Dartfordians pack drove over the line for a bonus-point try and the lead, conversion missed, 22-19.

With the weather deteriorating there was relief amongst the supporters and players alike when the Dartfordians fly half kicked the ball into touch to end the match, with the Blues picking up only a losing bonus point.

Chichester: Drayson, Ives, Woods, Magda, Blount, Makasi, Polhill (capt.), Johnson, Seaman, Thompson, McLagan, Blewitt, Rowland, Knight, Davies, Deavall, Spriggs, Booth.

Chichester’s next match is on Saturday, March 21, when they welcome Thurrock to Oaklands Park (2.30pm).