David Butt Memorial Trophy

Old Technicians RFC 10,

Dartmouth RFC 25

Dartmouth travelled to Plymouth to take on Old Technicians with a depleted squad after three players called in injured in the morning, adding to the already extensive list at the club.

A few seasons ago and the game would have been in danger of going ahead at all, so it was a good test to see how far Dartmouth have grown over that time.

The rain that had threatened all morning slowly eased off before kick off and it was Old Techs that got the game under way and by their own high standards didn’t start well.

Dartmouth, on the other hand, adapted well to the conditions, with a lot of the ball early on; it was Nick Shillabeer that put the first points on the board, slotting home a penalty on 16 minutes to lead 0-3.

It only took four minutes for Dartmouth to turn the pressure into something more when lock Dom Calvert went over the line for his first try for Dartmouth. Shillabeer, converting with ease, took the score to 0-10.

Dartmouth seemed to be taking control of the game now and started getting the ball out to the backs to run at the Old Techs defence and on 31 minutes some great link-up play between Shillabeer and centre Sam Pearson enabled scrum-half Henry McCready to run for the corner and go over for his first try for Dartmouth, Shillabeer again converting to take Dartmouth to a 0-17 lead. Old Techs then started to apply the pressure in the last five minutes of the half and eventually went over to score with two minutes left on the clock. The conversion was missed but there was still time for Shillabeer to slot home his second penalty of the half on the stroke of half time, leaving the score 5-20 at the break.

Dartmouth made three changes at half time with Myles Churchill, Jack Clark and Piers Benjamin replacing Tom Clark, Dom Calvert and Xavier Picot.

Dartmouth were awarded an early penalty after three minutes of the restart and a quick tap and go from Henry McCready released centre Gary Rooney, who outpaced everyone in running half the length of the pitch to score.

Shillabeer was just off target with the conversion making the score 5-25 with 36 minutes still to play.

Old Techs hit back on 50 minutes with a try of their own in the corner but failed to convert, leaving the score 10-25. Dartmouth were reduced to 14 players shortly after when Piers Benjamin received a yellow card, but the away team dug in and didn’t let Old Techs breach their line again.

With six minutes still to play Dartmouth were awarded a penalty and against the wind Shillabeer kicked just wide. Two late replacements from Dartmouth, with Dan Jones and Luke Armitage coming on for Luke Bridgwood and Karl Caunter, was the last action of a thoroughly disciplined display from Dartmouth, taking them to the top of group C with three wins from three. Dartmouth now travel to Salcombe this Saturday in a 3pm kick-off at Twomeads as the trophy enters round four.