MATCH REPORT 23/09/07

Eastbourne 3   Dover 59

Last season, Eastbourne and Dover were a match for one another in London League 4 but on promotion, and from the evidence of the match at Park Avenue on Saturday, it will be Dover who contend and Eastbourne who need to dig deep if they are to stay the course in the higher league. The optimism of the pre-season can be forgotten. To ship 90 points in two weeks will require some serious thinking by rugby management if the club are avoid a massive disappointment in 2008.

From prop to full-back, Dover gave the home side an object lesson in all round attacking play.  Marshalled at fly half by skipper Beaumont, forwards and backs played their part in an imperious display of power rugby. They were helped by some woeful tackling from Eastbourne and a fumbling style of play that lacked any penetration whatsoever. To describe the fixture as one sided would be an understatement.

An outstanding back row trio led the charge by Dover; the first try came on 8 minutes and further scores followed with monotonous regularity. The outstanding running of Dover three-quarters, Tonks and Mackintosh went unchallenged by Eastbourne who had no response. The game was as good as over by half time when Dover turned round at 31-0.

Doubtless the Eastbourne coaches had something to say during the interval and within two minutes of the restart, Eastbourne had points on the board. A forceful drive by No.8 Stafford, caused Dover to concede a rare penalty and Steve Clarke slotted the three points. However any thoughts of an improvement in the second half were short-lived. Dover dominated the forward play in line-out and scrum and tries up the slope were made to look easy. The final whistle must have come as some relief to Eastbourne. Each half had conceded 4 tries and Beaumont had kicked all 8 conversions plus the one penalty.

There can be no excuses from the Blue & Golds and it is to be hoped that lessons will be learned from this display. Eastbourne`s young side have to improve their game and see this result as a wake up call.

Eastbourne: Keen; Crane; Clarke; Bremer; Brown; Craven; Pysden; Baldwin; Oakey; Price; Farley; Spires; Varney; Gower; Stafford; Barron; Groenen; Tobin

MATCH REPORT: Hugh Graham