Dubs 3 vs Woking 13 (08/12/07)
With Woking promoted to Surrey 3 this season but currently struggling, this was an interesting comparison of the difference in the leagues as the Dubs continue to aim for promotion back to Surrey 3, having dropped down this season. This draw was the second round of the Surrey Shield, Woking having narrowly beaten Lightwater in Round 1.
With atrocious conditions the order of the day, the game was moved to the reserve pitch at Woodies which was less waterlogged. With the advantage of the wind in the 1st half, any kick was getting good distance and we were frequently pinned back. To his credit, Jiffy played the wind well and made good ground in difficult circumstances from No.10. Woking started out with a one dimensional game, playing around the fringes with their bigger back row, and we had to be on our toes to defend the fringes for the entire game. With lots of 50/50 ball to be won at the breakdown, the penalty count started to mount for both teams and a early chance saw Woking opt for the kick and take a 3-0 lead. Continued pressure and a good phased attack by the Woking forwards was brought down barely 2 yards out from our line and the referee stepped in to call a contentious penalty, when it looked like we had turned the ball over. He then compounded the situation by allowing the penalty to be taken 2 yards out instead of the statutory 5 for the easiest of crashover tries by the Woking pack, conversion missed 8-0.
Stung by the try we attacked hard and were rewarded with a penalty in front of the posts which Darren clipped over, 8-3. The game then reverted back to type with the forwards enjoying the majority of possession but not doing a great deal with it on either side. A couple of strikes against the head lifted the Dubs scrum and we held our own around the fringes to nullify the Woking game. Sadly, sloppy tackling in the midfield then allowed one of the Woking backs to run in under the posts which turned the game. Having shipped an easy try, we took some heart from charging down the kick to keep the score at 13-3 and make it a fight for every point.
Late on in the second half we could have pulled it back when Ross went on a sniping break and was hauled down just yards short. The supporting players failed to secure and recycle the ball to feed a waiting overlap to the left and the chance went begging. Despite finishing the stronger against a tiring Woking pack we could not create the scoring chance and the game ended at 13-3.
The match photos have been posted to the Picture galleries.
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