Season ends on high note
DORKING signed off their season on a positive note, by seeing off already relegated Bracknell away.
They had already secured a top five finish in National League Three London and Saturday's results further cemented another fine season for the Big Field outfit.
Despite the harsh reality of being relegated, Bracknell are a proud club and hopes were high that their collection of international stars could deliver a win to help bolster the start to next season in the next level down.
And so it was – despite a strong start – that Dorking were soon on the back foot and the large home pack were making it difficult for the Red & Whites to get hold of and retain possession.
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After the win in the midweek cup game, Dorking looked lethargic and this translated into a higher than normal error rate.
After a handling mistake, Bracknell were quick to seize the initiative and move the ball well to the speedy winger who crossed in the corner for a 5-0 lead.
Matters then took a turn for the worse when Tom Bristow was yellow carded for not retreating 10 metres when Bracknell were awarded a penalty and the home kicker easily converted.
Shortly after, Ryan Lucas sustained a shoulder injury and left the field to be replaced by Tom Hunt on the wing.
Gradually Dorking began to find their usual form and with the pack now providing some possession, the backs were able to make inroads into the opposition half.
After a trademark chip ahead, Ben Tyler re-gathered and fed Hunt who made ground before putting Alrich Muller into space, using his speed to get to the try line and score.
The extras were added by Fraser MacDonald and the lead was down to just one point.
Clearly director of rugby, Richie Andrews had sprinkled some of his magic dust on the team at half-time as a seemingly different Dorking team emerged for the second half.
From the kick-off, the visitors gathered the ball and moved quickly into the Bracknell 22 before being forced into touch.
Dorking stole the ensuing lineout and after a couple of pick and drives, Bristow went over for an unconverted try to give his side the lead for the first time.
Dorking turned the screw and the home pack were finding it difficult to defend and after another infringement at the breakdown MacDonald slotted the penalty.
He quickly followed this with another five minutes later and Dorking were in full control.
With a few players resting knocks from the midweek match, a couple of old faces got on the scoresheet.
First up was Army man, Ted Watts, who opportunistically picked the ball up at the back of a ruck to flop over for a score. This was closely followed by a score from Richard Kemp, who ran the ball in after a good period of ball retention and phases from the Dorking team.
MacDonald converted both and with the game effectively won there was much running rugby with both sides throwing the ball about.
Dorking surprisingly opted to take another penalty shot at goal – which was successful to move the score out to 35-8, but Bracknell were, however, to have the last say with a well worked move for a converted try.
So, overall another positive league campaign although the lack of consistency after Christmas and some disappointing losses against the form book, leave a feeling of frustration about what could have been.
Dorking: Knight, Stewart, Bristow, Roux, T Watts, Vermont, Kruis, White, Munford, MacDonald, R Lucas, Kemp, Muller, Crow, Tyler, Johnson, Smith, Hunt.
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