Shock!, Horror! Upset!!

Barnes secured the visitors' kick-off; two more kicks followed, the last to touch at Barnes' 22. There was a knock-on in the line-out giving Dorking the first scrum put-in. From this they set out their stall, bringing their backs into play and put together an excellent sequence of phases. After 11 recycles and one offload they were close to the opposition line and then scrumhalf Crow went around a ruck and scrambled over for the first score inside 4 minutes. Pimlow added. Four kicks followed the restart then the visitors kept ball in hand to get a penalty at 18 metres inside their own half. This was kicked for a line-out 8 metres into the other half. Barnes stole this; a very good kick over by scrumhalf Henry went into touch 13 metres from Dorking's line. The visitors secured their line-out ball then kicked ahead; Barnes sent the ball wide and after 2 recycles tried wide ball again, this time to lock Williams. There were 2 more recycles then fly-half Wicks broke through and sent lock Collins to the line after 9 minutes. Wicks added.

After the restart was secured Barnes had a kick charged down but this was followed by a penalty against the visitors. The kick took the home team to their line-out still inside their own half. From it the pack kept ball in a drive then after one recycle Henry went blind. Wicks made a half-break; after another recycle Barnes went blind again and made good yards then the ball was sent wide for wings Adams and Bevan to open up the defence before the ball was fed to flanker Robertson to go over after 13 minutes. Wicks added.

Barnes had another kick charged down just after the restart but again got a penalty as a result. The touch kick left them again in their own half. From the line-out the first kept the ball in then let the ball out and got another penalty on halfway. They ran this to get another 11 metres into the opposition half. A kick didn't find touch allowing the visitors to clear to touch at their 10 metre line. Barnes recovered from poor tapped ball and sent ball wide after going backwards and after 2 recycles an error gave Dorking a scrum 12 metres inside their opponents' half. Barnes wheeled this to get their own put-in then a free-kick at that. They ran the ball then Dorking forced an error to get a scrum 8 metres inside their half. From this scrum the visitors recycled well, keeping ball close and advanced to their line-out 10 metres into the other half. This line-out was thrown too long but they retained and advanced well before passing forward out wide just inside the opposition 22.

At this scrum Barnes were penalised and the ball was kicked for a line-out 10 metres out.

Dorking's pack set for a drive then they recycled twice after that went down to get another penalty. They kicked for a 5 metre line-out but were penalised in that. The kick took Barnes to another line-out 18 metre inside their half before they had that stolen. Dorking kept ball tight but were soon turned over. Barnes went blind and made much ground; after a pass and one recycle lock Williams made more yards then after 5 recycles and an offload the defence forced a knock-on to get the next put-in 15 metres inside their own half. At the scrum Barnes push took them over the ball which they hooked against the head then after one recycle the defence was penalised and also sent 10 metres further back to 30 metres from their line. This was in centre field at 26 minutes and Wicks kicked the points.

Barnes secured the restart and returned an up-and-under; Dorking secured this and got the next put-in near halfway. Barnes got a free-kick at that and ran it; they didn't get far before being penalised for non-release. Dorking kicked for a line-out 20 metres into the opposition half. They released to centre then quickly recycled wider and went to the line where the defence just held. They recycled to their backs again; Jeffery danced a few steps but was just prevented. After a recycle 5 metres out Pimlow tried himself but was stopped then the Ref. awarded the visitors a penalty 5 metres out. This was put into touch for a line-out. The forwards kept the ball for a moment then Crow got the ball to centre Bennett who scored at 32 minutes. Pimlow added.

Dorking secured the restart and soon kicked; they forced an error to get the next scrum near halfway. After one recycle Barnes were penalised for a tackler not releasing a ball carrier. The kick only went to 11 metres into the opposition half. From the line-out their pack started with a drive then the ball was released and wide ball got Dorking to 10 metres out. After the ball was recycled once Barnes were penalised 8 metres out and lost a three-quarter for 10 minutes. Puzzlingly the visitors chose a scrum at the back of which some chaos occurred then the Ref. blew for half-time.

Barnes restarted long; Dorking kicked high; Barnes ran the ball, recycled 5 times then launched an up-and-under. They were penalised for pushing a man without the ball and the visitors' kick took then to a line-out still just inside their half. An error soon after gave the home team the first scrum of the half at which Dorking looked stronger. After a back row pickup Barnes kicked out on the full; from their line-out the visitors kept ball tight before chipping through the defensive line. Barnes kicked back, Dorking sent ball wide and then recycled 3 times to get a penalty 29 metres out and a man advantage for 10 minutes for a "tackle" without use of the arms. The kick took Dorking to a line-out 17 metres out. Their pack kept the ball in advanced loosely towards the line but the ball carrier was held up by Barnes who got a put-in 8 metres out, from which they cleared to touch at their 22. From their line-out the visitors went blind then dropped the ball after one recycle. After their scrum, 17 metres out, Barnes' went blind with centre Hersey then tried an up-and-under after recycling once. Dorking dealt with this comfortably then sent ball wide and made a good break after one recycle. They made more progress but lost possession after 2 more recycles.

Hooker Crossley kicked the ball up field; the visitors ran the ball wide again then the defence forced an error after 2 more recycles. Soon after their scrum just inside their 22, Barnes got a penalty then their kick didn't find touch; Dorking ran the ball and Barnes tacklers held up the ball-carrier in the tackle to get another put-in. This was at their 10 metre line; at the scrum Dorking got a free-kick plus 10 more metres and ran the ball. The visitors recycled twice but Barnes' defence was good and got the next line-out 9 metres out. At that an error gave the opposition a scrum but they soon dropped the ball. From their scrum Barnes kicked towards touch not far outside of their 22, but did get the next line-out. Dorking stole this, Pimlow made a half-break then after a couple of recycles and another half-break Barnes were penalised. The visitors ran this and advanced to get another penalty 5 metres out which was put into touch for a line-out. From that they drove to the line but were held up over and got a 5 metre scrum. They were forced into touch after the scrum. Barnes launched an up-and-under after the line-out and this was dropped by the catcher giving the home team a put-in, now at their 10 metre line. This time Dorking took the scrum against the head and soon got a penalty that they kicked to touch but not far. Their line-out was 5 metres outside the 22; a knock-on in it gave the opposition possession. Barnes kept the ball tight to get a penalty and kicked to nearly halfway. From their line-out they set up a drive then went blind and kicked close to touch. The kick was good and resulted in their line-out 6 metres from the visitors’ line. After keeping ball in they recycled once tight then Wicks went blind; the ball was recycled to forward standing out then again to Hersey who went to the posts after 25 minutes. Wicks added the extras.

Barnes secured the restart then kicked; Dorking ran the ball wide to an opposition scrum 14 metres into Barnes' half. The visitors got a free-kick at that and ran it to get a penalty inside the 22 in centre field and Pimlow took the points at 29 minutes. The visitors cleared the long restart to touch still in their half. From the line-out Barnes first kept the ball in then tried wider before being penalised 15 metres out. Dorking kicked for a line-out near halfway then varied their plays with 5 recycles before the defence forced an error to get a scrum 6 metres into their half. Henry kicked towards touch and this resulted in a Barnes' line-out 11 metres into the other half. Dorking stole that and put together a good series of 6 phases before chipping ahead out wide. Barnes responded with an up-and-under. The visitors dealt with this and recycled twice before they got a penalty 5 metres into their opponents' half. They ran this and recycled 4 times prior to being penalised for not releasing 13 metres out. Barnes kicked for a line-out 27 metres out and from that kept the ball in a forward drive until Henry got the nod from the Ref. for time up and put the ball into touch.

Dorking had a slight edge in line-outs but Barnes a biggish one in the set scrums.

Conditions dry and fair with the pitch a bit soft, not a lot of wind.