Young Players Impress

MATCH PREVIEW
Dorking away, ever since they arrived in our league, has always been a tough fixture. The only time we’ve left with a win was by a single point after Dorking missed a final kick of the game. It had also been one of our strongest first halves of rugby that season.
Even though we had very little possession for the first twenty minutes last week and spent that entire period defending inside our own twenty two, the scoreline was only 3–0. When Harry Sloan crossed the line twenty four minutes in, we then went on to control the rest of the half. Lucas Eule crossed twice from strong driving mauls and Harry added his second. We were clinical in our execution and made the most of nearly every visit inside the Dorking twenty two.
The second half started much like the first, with the players putting in long defensive shifts to keep Dorking to just three points. After weathering the storm we progressed up the field, culminating in Olly Frostick crashing over from short range. It would have been a great achievement to keep Dorking try less, but we fell short as they scored twice in the final five minutes. Still a strong result at a difficult place to win.
The young players who have been making their first starts over the last few weeks continue to improve while putting in eye catching performances. The strength of their development is something the whole club can be proud of. So many people have played a part in getting them to this point and they all have very exciting futures in the game.
The Pilgrims also had their first friendly of the season. A very young side beat Westcombe Park 2nd XV 45–10. It was a great warm up for the season that starts next week and has given the coaches some clear focus areas for training as we prepare for Tonbridge away on the 26th.
Our visitors tomorrow at the Marine Travel Ground are Esher. They’ve also had a strong start to the season against tough opposition. In these early rounds we’re all still working out how the deck will settle in this first block of games. I’m expecting two attacking teams to go all in tomorrow — one you won’t want to miss.

MATT CORKER’HEAD COACH