Dees edge to victory over Wellingborough
Dunstablians got their Midlands Two East South season off to a winning start under the new guidance of coach Dave Marshall as they edged to a 19-15 win over Wellingborough at Bidwell Hill on Saturday.
Joe Murphy’s early 40 metre penalty driftw wide as the early season rustiness continued for both sides in the opening exchanges.
Wellingborough found their feet and had their first raid deep into Dee’s territory as they forced an offside infringement, but they too missed their opening penalty attempt.
The hosts counter attacked when they got the opportunity and Wellingborough did well to stifle Joe Murphy’s grubber kick, but Dees’ fly half succumbed to a groin injury shortly and had to be replaced with 11 minutes on the clock.
Dunstablians began to nose ahead in terms of territory and possession and the Warren brothers, Ashely and Scott, combined in midfield to set up a marauding run by the impressive Tom Evans.
From the resulting breakdown inside the visitors 22 they distributed the ball from right to left to allow Kevin Boland to sprint over in the left hand corner for the opening try of the season.
Danny Mills returning from his broken leg during last season’s campaign stroked over the conversion from the left touchline but Wellingborough responded well to going a score down.
Despite suffering a yellow card for one of their front row, they survived the numerical disadvantage and were on the scoresheet with a penalty, to trail 7-3 at the break.
With the wind at their backs, Wellingborough dominated the opening minutes of the second half, but as they probed wide looking for the overlap, the eagle eyed Boland spotted an interception opportunity from 70 metres and sprinted under the posts.
Mills added the conversion to extend the lead to 14-3.
With the crowd expecting this to ignite the home side it had the opposite effect as Wellingborough were back in the match with a fine unconverted try.
Leading 14-8, Dee’s rallied although Mills was just off target for the first time this season from 35 metres.
The visitors responded well once more as their impressive fly half distributed the ball wide with accuracy for his side to touch down in the left corner on 62 minutes with Dees caught short out wide.
With the tough touchline conversion nailed, Wellingborough moved 15-14, to set up an exciting final 20 minutes.
They then looked to have manufactured a two on one overlap, before Gavin Denning stepped in to make what turned out to be a crucial timely tackle.
With 10 minutes left on the clock the home side arguably had their best spell of the half and they muscled their way over the line for what turned out to be the winning try as veteran James Noel touched down for the five pointer.
This weekend, Dees host Leicester Forest.
Dees: Stuart Calder, Reece Bowles, Shaun Mangan, Scott Oliver, Raymond Carry, Aaron White, Ashley Warren, Tom Evans, Stuart Hall, Joe Murphy, Danny Mills, Campbell Haig, Scott Warren, Gavin Denning, Kevin Boland.
Replacements: James Noel, Nathan Dominique, Peter Thompson.
T: Boland 2, Noel. C: Daniel Mills 2.