KEYWORTH IIs TRIUMPH 20 – 12 AGAINST DINNINGTON

From the start, the Black & Ambers knew they were in a tough contest as the large Dinnington pack recycled the ball time and time again with pick and go’s and pops from the scrum half, close to the ruck. However, the Keyworth defence held strong and they gradually worked their way back into the game, gaining parity and more in the scrummage and securing most of the lineout ball.

The most significant action of the first quarter was the decision of the referee to yellow card one player from each side, after around 10 minutes and almost the first infringement. The opening score came on 25 minutes, when a Dinnington penalty kick to touch was knocked on by JP and the chasing player managed to hack the ball on several times to cover the 40 metres to the Keyworth line. With the conversion added it was 7 – 0 to the visitors.

In an almost identical scenario, a minute later, the Dinnington winger knocked on and with Felix Ng and Sam Tilaks chasing up it was the latter who gathered the ball 15m out and jinked his way between the defenders to level the scores, as he added the conversion as well. It was Sam who put Keyworth into the lead to 10 -7 on 35 minutes with a well slotted penalty after Dinnington had offended several times in their own 22. That was all of the action of the first half.

Keyworth used their bench well and rotated players at half time, including the veteran Darryl ‘born offside’ Jones. The second half started the way the previous half had ended, with a Sam Tilaks penalty to make it 13 – 7, after the home side had pressured the visitors line. With Lawrence Chan needing attention after a very heavy Dinnington challenge, there was a reshuffle in the backs and the evergreen Starry entered the fray on the right wing, surely a position he was made for, you’d have thought. NO! Definitely not! A mazy Jason Holland run saw him put Starry away on the wing and as he searched for a gear other than reverse, the cover came across to reduce the space and despite a textbook hand-off on the first defender, the next defender made the tackle and as Starry attempted to pass back inside, he juggled the ball forward and the chance was lost. Muppet!

Moments later, Dinnington had reduced the lead to a single point when they shipped the ball out wide to their pacy left winger who outstripped the Keyworth defence to score in the corner. This raised the Dinnington spirits but their indiscipline cost them dear as the constant backchat and questioning of the referee’s decisions turned him against them and they suffered penalty after penalty, which gave Keyworth the ascendancy.

The winning try was a worthy one. Sam Tilaks made the initial break in midfield and fed Lawrence Chan on the burst and his angled run took him away from the Dinnington defenders and he raced over between the posts from 30m out. Sam Tilaks took his personal tally to 15 points for the day when he slotted the conversion. The lead of 20 -12 was kept until the end of the contest and Keyworth were delighted to have beaten a side that had not lost a league match all season.

Man of the match was undoubtedly Sam Tilaks, but Lawrence ran him very close, with some fantastic solo runs. The centre combination of King and Pollard worked well defensively and had a few chances in attack. Rob Severn and Sheeny shared propping duties and with Felix and James Maddock all acquitted themselves superbly and had the better of their much heavier opponents. Lee Broadhead caused the visitors problems all day whether from No 8 pick-ups or by disrupting their maul possession. John Scott again ruled the lineout and brother Keith led from the front. Jaron Leung was utilised in numerous positions and as always worked tirelessly. Young Doug Martin also played his heart out on the flank and the wing. Jack Pitchfork and Matt Savage, having played for the opposition last week, both started this week and gave a good account of themselves, as did wingers JP and Zander.

A great all-round team performance by a Keyworth side which dug deep and showed great commitment to the badge. They fully deserved their win, playing a tremendous brand of running rugby. The only criticism that could be levelled was that early on they didn’t pass to the supporting player in space but tried to beat too many defenders on their own.

Next week is a league match at home to Ashfield, where once again, they will need to be at their very best.