Match Report: Pilgrims 26- 17 Dartfordians

Pilgrims 26
Dartfordians 17

Pilgrims steady improvement coupled with the return of some experienced players ensured they secured a deserved first league win of the season against a competitive Dartfordians side. Dartfordians were quick out of the blocks as they looked to put the pilgrims under pressure from the outset with their offload game looking to stress the home defence.

The pilgrims were absorbing pressure well and exploited a wayward Dartfordians pass as last seasons top scorer Gus Lister- making his first appearance of the season- intercepted and raced away to score under the posts making Collins’ conversion a formality. 7-0.

Dartfordians hit back shortly after, breaking through tackles out wide to score an unconverted try in the corner. 7-5. Pilgrims had clear scrum superiority and used 2 penalty opportunities awarded at scrum time to extend the lead to 13-5 despite a yellow card to prop Harry Drane, before Dartfordians narrowed the deficit to just a point with a converted try on the stroke of Half time as they exploited their numerical advantage after winger Archie English was given 10 mins in the sin bin for a tip tackle and a 2nd yellow card of the half. 13-12.

Dartfordians made their numbers and the slope count as they took the lead within moments of the restart, moving the ball wide well to score in the corner. 13-17.

The remainder of the half saw the Pilgrims side start dominate the game with the strong runs of 8th man Mo Pangarker getting them on the front foot. The scrum was dominant and another penalty was added by Collins to reduce the arrears to 16-17 before an excellent break by him saw him burst through the middle, he showed great skill to offload behind his back to the supporting Lister who raced away to score under the posts and deservedly put the Pilgrims back in front. 23-17.
With the clock ticking down, another penalty was won by the forwards which allowed Collins a shot at goal to deny Dartfordians a bonus point which he stepped up and slotted to give the Pilgrims a well earned first league win, 26-17.

Team: MacMillan, Bull, Drane, Nicholson, Gill, Hunt (C), Devine, Pangarker, Valladares, Parker, Thompson, Hilton, Lister, Masaka, Collins, Everatt, Oliver, English.