Clifton miss out in high scoring game at Dorking

Saturday will be a day to remember in the Jordan Household. A smooth drive up the motorways though there were a couple of delays due to road works and we left the M25 at Junction 9 as directed, Then we came under the control of Sat Nav lady.
She proceeded to direct us any way but the right way due basically to a closed road. We ended on Box Hill which the more sporting of you will remember from the Olympic and other Road Races. The views over Surrey were great while the cork screw roads were a challenge. Difficult to imagine the peloton racing downhill at speed. Eventually we retraced our steps and found some locals who gave us good directions. Nearly an hour late for lunch we arrived at the Big Field which on a sunny day has to be one of the most picturesque grounds in country. A field dotted with posts for soccer and rugby and in the distance a clubhouse with a display autumn colours as a back drop.

An excellent lunch followed by a hurried stroll to the pitch which was surrounded by at least five hundred home supporters roaring their side to what was in the end a good victory..

James Mackay gave us an early lead with a penalty and by the eight minute Gavin Curry went over for an unconverted try. We seemed to be on our way but it was not to be as we struggled to maintain possession against a side who turned us over on seventeen occasions. Should be an interesting time at training during this week. A plus on Saturday was the quality of our line out work. Fly half Cameron Pimelow broke through for Dorking’s first try and winger Mark Duxbury scored the second when Clifton were unable to touch a loose ball behind the try line and he was first to the ball. Pimelow grabbed a second with full back Matt Noble adding three conversions the home side had a substantial lead. We came back with some good attacking rugby and Matt Britton raced over with Mackay converting. Dorking retaliated with a penalty and Ollie went over following a good passage of play.

The start of the second half saw Dorking stretched their lead with a try in the corner scored by winger Joseph Mogaji converted by Noble.

We came more into the game after the interval producing some quality running rugby and in rapid succession wingers Ben Foley and Lucas Slowik crossed wide out and Mackay added one conversion.

Noble landed a penalty from the half way as well as scoring his sides sixth try and Duxbury grabbed a try with time running out.

We had the final say bringing the curtain down on an entertaining afternoon when Alex Haynes crossed with Mackay adding the extras.

Our congratulations go to lock George Kruis who as a seventeen year old broke into the Dorking side before moving on to Saracens and has been named by Stuart Lancaster in his training squad for the autumn internationals.