Dover 17 FRFC 34

This day will live long in the memories of those that played for, and supported the F.R.F.C 2xv v Dover at Dover..
As with all local derby games, there is a special feeling in the air, an extra hunger in the eyes of players and coaches. Especially in the hearts and eyes of the F.R.F.C. players that had played in the corresponding fixture at home and narrowly lost, they wanted to put things right and show who is the better team.

The ground was firm, the sun was out, the scene had been set for a special day, and the F.R.F.C team delivered a special performance, which had been bubbling under the surface all season. A performance which matched their desire, their skill levels and their potential.

Now although the scene was set and the atmosphere in the changing room was concentrated and all minds were on the same page and raring to go, the warm up was not one of the best, balls were dropped, a touch of frustration slipped in, and any dover supporter watching would think think that Dover would beat us comfortably. How wrong they would be, as once the F.R.F.C players emerged from the changing at took the pitch for kick off they were in full WE ARE HERE TO PLAY mode, and once the whistle went they showed what they were comfortable of.

They all played with pace, power, concentration. Showed individual, and collective skill, and stuck to the game plan. Any Dover player that came near them was chopped down, with the F.R..F.C tacklers like Ryan ' I can pass to a winger' and Damien ' im 7ft tall on the pitch' Dixon always trying to get on their feet and compete for the ball. With ball in hand they all showed pace, and they just of all had some of John ' Sit Down' Eustace special water as all players inc. Ashley ' ill run over you ' Gilligan sat the opposition down at times and made it over the gain line. Keen to get the team on the front foot and either produce quick ruck ball, or look for the offload.

The scoring commenced when deep in F.R.F.C. territory the back spotted the overlap, before Ben ' I love scoring and avoiding the hattrick' Brooks took the ball at pace chipped the full back and recollected to score in the corner. Then the following score probably the score of the day, where the ball was probably touched by every set of F.R.F.C. hands from one side of the pitch to another, to finally get in the hands of Kieran ' Never in any doubt' Smith for the final pass to the free Damien Dixon to score. F.R.F.C. kept up the pressure and followed with a penalty kick to lead 0-13. Dover came back into it just before the break with a maul from a lineout to make it 5-13 at halftime.

The players were focused and calm on the job at hand at halftime, and the forwards although playing well were told to up the levels and turn the screw.

From the restart, Dover got back into the game with good hands to go into the corner to make it 10-13, and it was like a reinactment of the past fixture of leading and then losing the game. But as all season there was a undying confidence in the team, and they didnt panick. They knew that if they kept playing their style of rugby that Dover couldnt handle it and this was the case. From this point, F.R.F.C put Dover to the sword. With the likes of Aaron ' I should be on the wing' Robbins make yard after yard, to be stopped just short of the line. Only for the Matt ' Juggernaut ' Roots to take a pop and smash the Dover players like bowling Pins for a strike try under the posts. This was converted by Dan ' Just give me the ball ' Woolford, who was pulling the strings and operating F.R.F.C all day. From here F.R.F.C just kept on the from foot with Will ' Mr Indestructable' Turner showing his speed down the wing for F.R.F.C deep into Dover territory, where the forwards kept the pressure on for Shane ' Wall' Burton to pick up, hand off and score under the posts to make it 10-27.

From here Dover managed to get into the game from a uncontested scrum as the Dover prop who was out of gas and couldnt push. Their number 8, picked up serged to the line, and although tackled their forwards forced them over the line 27-17. From here you would think that Dover would have some momentum, but this was short lived, as F.R.F.C, kept tackling like a tidal wave they would not back down and let Dover through, forcing either the turnover or Dover would have to kick to relive the pressure. And as all day they would kick to Jack ' Boomtime ' Brooks who starting at fullback for the first time would come back with alot extra. With either a swerving run or a racking touchfinding kick. Nothing was getting past him.

Another F.R.F.C attack led to another moment of inspiration, from the forwards ball carrying set up a ruck on the Dover 22m, the call was given by Ben Brooks and James ' Im the Man as he tells me' Mead went into ronaldo mode and delicately chipped over the defence for Ben Brooks to gather and score under the posts. Converted and the score as it finished was 17-34.

Dover tried to rally late, but whatever they threw at F.R.F.C was shut down and the ref blew the whistle for full time. The supporters, players and coach were jubilant, as to go to your rivals backyard and beat them is brilliant but go and give an amazing performance and completely play them off the park, is something very special indeed and never forgotten.

Every player 1 to 18 played their part, showed what it means to wear a F.R.F.C shirt, and showed what they are capable of. Usually a match has a man of the match but not today, as the team was the winner today.

The winning team was: Mat Roots, Ashley Gilligan, Aaron Robbins, David Jarvis, Kieran Smith, Shane Burton, James Perry, Will Turner, James Mead, Dan Woolford, Ben Brooks, John Eustace, Ryan Farrow, Damien Dixon, Jack Brooks. Subs: Jack Cox, Josh Parsons, Dan Cardinale. Remember these names.

With the last home game of the season on Saturday, come and watch these boys play.

(Editor's Note: OK Leigh's report is a little bit over the top but Leigh and skipper Kieran Smith have saved the 2nd XV which was very close to being scrapped just a few weeks ago. They've done a great job and they've got a great spirit in the team. The team here at Web Towers have not changed any speelign mishtakes or errors in grammar so that you can read it as Leigh wrote it and he obviously had a lot of pride in his boys at this game. We can only endorse his invitation to watch them play their last home game of the season on Saturday. So come on down to the New Burlington and cheer these lads on. THEY ARE FANTASTIC.)