Sat 23 Sep 2023, 15:00
Dings Crusaders v Hornets 23.9.23
Hornets took the very short journey up the M5 to Shaftesbury Park the home of Dings in round 4 of the National League 2 West match and were confident after recent performances that they would come away with something but alas in a physical and hard-fought game Hornets returned to the Nest pointless losing narrowly by 3 tries to 1.
In bright sunshine and with an Antipodean referee in charge Dings started brightly and the big set of forwards were aggressive in the tackle and dominant in the maul. However, they weren’t having it all their own way as Hornets were competing and the game was played between the 2 red zones for a while until eventually Dings broke the deadlock with a well-controlled lineout maul.7-0
Hornets were showing glimpses of last week's performance but not enough to threaten the Dings line and there were too many turnovers by the Dings forwards which didn’t allow Hornets to get a foothold and they were efficient when they had a chance to score when a line break and the Dings hooker was able to go over almost untouched to go 12 clear.
Hornets did have some ball and were starting to test the Dings defence and on one such occasion the defensive centre seemed to lose his control but went relatively unpunished and Hornets had a chance to score via a lineout but the large Dings players were making it hard to win quality ball and the chance missed and to top that Jon Roberts was adjudged to not be rolling away from the tackle area and was yellow carded.
With a man down Hornets did see out the first half to get to the relative calmness of the changing room. Half time 12-0.
Hornets knew they had to score first in the second half but a long-range penalty kick by the home side sailed wide and that buoyed Hornets into attacking at pace in a fast-flowing period of the game.
Hornets now were having the upper hand, and a series of penalties and Dings were on a warning and Hornets put the penalty kick to the corner and the resultant lineout and after 4 phases of tight hard-hitting rucks it was Sam Taylor who had the strength to burrow over. 12-5 and Hornets sensed the tide was changing.
Ozzy James intercepted a ball deep in his own half and sped off but after some good defence the turnover and Dings could clear to the Frustration of Hornets.
Dings were able to get into Hornets 22 and again another good set of phases and a score under the posts and they had restored and improved their lead.
Again, Hornets went on the attack and when the Dings’ dangerous blind side was red carded for a punch to the face to Rueben Brown Hornets could feel they had their chance.
They began by attacking at every opportunity and came very close to the line but right at the death the same Dings centre was eventually removed from the game via a yellow card and credit to Dings who kept Hornets out and deny them of the losing bonus point try. Final score Dings 19 Hornets 5.
A tough game but Hornets have now won 2 lost 2 this year but have already shown they are a more organised outfit this season.
