Oundle Rugby Club denied at the death in Dorking ahead of a crunch title battle
A last-gasp converted try meant Oundle Rugby Club lost ground on National League 2 East leaders Old Albanians before the top-of-the-table clash at Occupation Road next Saturday (Feb 21, 2pm kick off).
Second-placed Oundle drew 21-21 at Dorking to fall six points behind their next opponents. Oundle were 21-14 ahead entering the dying moments when they conceded a penalty enabling their hosts to march up field and claim a try from the final play of the game followed by a successful kick.
Oundle felt they didn’t get the rub of the green from the referee, particularly at set-pieces. Within the first 15 minutes forwards Shaun Adendorff and Harry Nicholls had spent time in the sin bin, but that didn’t stop them taking the lead when second row Matthew Waring crossed and Ben Young added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
However Dorking moved ahead with two tries of their own, the second after the referee allowed them to play on after an obvious knock forward.
But Oundle kept the home side pinned back with some great tactical kicking from scrum half Lewis Finlay and fly-half Young. It was following one of these kicks and a mistake in the Dorking defence which allowed Jac Arthur to score. Young added the extras to make the score 14-14 at half-time.
The second-half followed a similar pattern to the first, but the dominant Oundle pack were in control and moved seven points clear when Harry Morley touched down and the reliable boot of Young added the conversion for a 21-14 lead. Oundle were now looking for the vital fourth try that would give them the bonus point and camped in the Dorking 22. They were only denied the score by some frustrating decisions by the referee who leniently failed to penalise Dorking for constantly collapsing set pieces and killing the ball. This frustration finally ended with Oundle conceding a penalty allowing Dorking to clear the ball downfield, gaining possession and earning a try and conversion at the death leaving the final score 21-21. With Old Albanian clinching a close victory at Canterbury, they moved further clear at the top of the table. A big crowd is expected to see if Oundle can avenge an defeat at the leaders earlier in the season. Standings (top six, all played 19): 1 Old Albanians 81pts, 2 Oundle 75pts, 3 Bury St Edmunds 73pts, 4 Canterbury 63pts, 5 Barnes 61pts, 6 Dorking 57pts.