David Butt
Memorial Trophy
Totnes 28,
Dartmouth 32
Dartmouth made the short trip to Totnes knowing that their opponents had already booked a place in the semi-finals of the David Butt Memorial Trophy.
Nevertheless, this was a Dart derby and with pride up for grabs the match did not disappoint.
It was Totnes who made the better start and were awarded a penalty in just the first minute which they kicked with ease to make it 3-0.
Jack Clark drew the teams level three minutes later from another penalty before Totnes made the first bit of possession count by going over to score the game’s first try after eight minutes of play.
The conversion was tucked away with ease to make the score 10-3.
There were now some heavy challenges going in from both teams and just after the 10-minute mark Totnes kicked another three points from a penalty to take the score to 13-3.
This came after Dartmouth’s number six Jaime Kearney fell awkwardly on his shoulder and had to replaced, later being admitted to hospital with ligament damage.
Dartmouth have made several signings in pre-season and are now starting to grow a real strength in depth, with one of the signings Dave Champion coming on as replacement.
A flurry of offside decisions against Dartmouth followed and on 20 minutes Dartmouth were reduced to 14 when Dec Hammond received a yellow card for one offside too many.
Five minutes later it was 14 against 14 as the referee produced a yellow card for the Totnes hooker for ill discipline when the play was on the Dartmouth five-metre line.
The last 10 minutes of the first half had Totnes threatening to run away with it, but some strong defensive work from Dartmouth limited their opponents to one more penalty, which was duly scored to make it 16-3.
Dartmouth were then forced into two more replacements, with Myles Churchill replacing Ed Notely and Lorien Spurdel replacing Xavier Picot.
Four minutes later and with half time looming, Dartmouth were awarded a penalty which Jack Clark calmly kicked for three points leaving the score at half time 16-6.
A second half fightback from Dartmouth was needed and was made even harder after two minutes of the restart as Totnes scored their second try of the day.
Some impressive kicking from the Totnes fly-half converted from the angle, making it 23-6. Dartmouth went straight back up the field and after some persistent pressure on the Totnes try line were awarded a penalty try which Jack Clark converted to make it 23-13.
Totnes then hit straight back from the kick off and were allowed to breach the Dartmouth defence once more to touch down for their third try. This time the conversion narrowly wide.
With the score at 28-13 Dartmouth then started to turn the game, with a lot of the play now going through the forwards they started to gain ground with number eight Alex parrot driving them on.
Fred Bancroft then replaced Jack Stirk after he took a knock and on 58 minutes Totnes were reduced to 14 again after another yellow card.
Immediately Dartmouth took advantage and Dave Champion scored his first try for Dartmouth after relentless pressure from the forward pack enabled him to go over the line.
Jack Clark narrowly missed the conversion, making it 28-18. If the first two tries were more down to sheer graft and teamwork, then the next try from Dartmouth on 64 minutes had a flash of individual brilliance.
Centre Gary Rooney picked the ball up between the Totnes 40 and 22-metre line and danced his way through the Totnes defence with pace to burn, placing the ball between the posts.
Jack Clark coolly kicked the conversion to bring Dartmouth to within a penalty of levelling the scores at 28-25.
Dartmouth, now sensing a win may be achievable against their opponents from a league higher than themselves, threw everything at Totnes and with the momentum behind them got their fourth try of the day when Dave Champion went over for his second of the match on 75 minutes. Jack Clark again proving solid with his kicking, converted to take Dartmouth in front for the first time in the match at 28-32.
The final five minutes took everything out of Dartmouth, with Totnes knowing that a penalty was no good they had to go for the try to win and a last-ditch tackle by Josh Bruckner prevented what would have surely been a winning try from Totnes.
With Dartmouth now camped on their own try line and Totnes throwing everything they had at them, the defence stood strong and they held out for a hard-fought victory and their third straight bonus-point win.
With the David Butt Memorial Trophy now finished for Dartmouth and the league not starting until Saturday, November 5, Dartmouth now have three development fixtures, starting with a game at BRNC this Saturday, kick-off 2.30pm.
The week before Darts hosted OPMs and strolled to a comfortable 27-8 victory, gaining revenge for the loss in the first game of the season.
The Riversiders conceded first through a fine try from the OPM’s winger, but from then on the scoring was all Darts bar a penalty.
Captain John Dingle crashed over, followed by a great try from Josh Brucker, to leave Darts 12-8 ahead at the break.
Further tries from Karl Caunter and Gary Rooney, plus five points from the boot of Nick Shillabeer, completed the scoring and a bonus-point win for the Riversiders.