In the first half Hayward’s Heath had the advantage of the slope and the biting wind but, it was Dover who started with gusto. The forwards securing good ball from the kick-off and debutant scrum half Steve Richards distributing the ball well, controlling the forwards and linking with the backs. The pressure was too much for Heath and once Dover had crossed into their 22 Heath found themselves penalized for offside. Skipper Martyn Beaumont duly converted giving Dover a 3-0 lead after 5 minutes.

From the restart Heath woke up and started to apply their own pressure but the Dover defensive line held firm. The game began to ebb and flow with neither side gaining the upper hand until Heaths threes cut loose and the outside centre breached the line into Dover’s 22 despite a fine cover tackle from Buster Collins Dover were penalized at the ruck and gifted Heath a penalty in front of the posts which was duly converted. 3-3

With 15 minutes of the half left Dover again applied the pressure upfront but Heath held firm and were awarded a penalty when Dover didn’t release the ball in the tackle, a loose comment to the referee meant the penalty was moved forward 10 metres, the resultant kick placed into touch just inside Dover’s 22. Dover infringed at the lineout and with no advantage coming in open play Heath where awarded a penalty 15 metres in on the 22. Heath’s fly half took the opportunity to give his side a 6-3 lead. Dover needed to see out the half without any of the errors which had started to creep in but, with two minutes of the half remaining a handling error on half way saw Heath’s winger intercept a pass and sprint the 50 metres to the line unchallenged the conversion was missed.

Dover could consider themselves unlucky to be behind 11 - 3 at the interval. Encouraging words from coaches Tonks and Hussey during the break saw the Dover pack firing on all cylinders from the restart. The Heath scrum was travelling backwards Ed Blowers and Dale Tonks dominated the line out, Ben Crawford and Collins cleaning up the loose ball and the front row of Chris Lucas, Kirk Savage and Dave Bartley using there bulk to gain advantage. Dover was camped in Heath’s 22. After 10 minutes quick hands from Beaumont and a line splitting run from Ricky Mackintosh saw the Dover flyer cross the try line only for the referee to judge the pass forward much to the home sides supporters relief. Heath were awarded the scrum the Dover front eight again powered them off the ball and after six phases of forward pressure Richards released Beaumont who found the space to score out wide. The conversion was missed but Dover was now within 3 points.

From the restart Heath secured the ball, it was shipped quickly along their back line only for their outside centre to be sent flying by Mackintosh, an altercation between the two saw them both sin binned for 10 minutes. From the resultant penalty Dover again secured the lineout, the ball spun out to the backs who on the day weren’t playing with the usual slickness and cohesion of recent weeks, Heath were awarded the scrum from the knock on. Dovers pack ground their teeth and fired themselves up, again Heaths scrum was travelling backwards and Dover were awarded the penalty as the opposition scrum crumpled under the pressure in the 22. Beaumont brought the scores level at 11-11 with the kick.

With 15 minutes remaining Heath knocked on from the restart and Dover clears their lines. Heath decide to win a lineout and trundle the ball into Dover’s 22, Dover were harshly penalized for offside at the breakdown and Heath duly converted to retake the lead 14-11. With 10 minutes to go Cooper replaced Moore in the front row, his work rate throughout earns him the rest. Dover took a couple of minutes to recover from the body blow which saw them behind and only fine tackling from John Foster and Mark Beaumont prevented Heath extending their lead.

Dover recovered, Blowers securing another Heath lineout and with the ball moving quickly down the pitch. Dover was again inside Heaths 22. The forwards again pushed Heath’s back in the scrum and powered forward in the ruck, with minutes left infringements from Heath went unpenalized and as the clock ran down the forwards gallantry went unrewarded. Dover can consider themselves unlucky not to get more than a bonus point out of this encounter.

Despite the defeat Dover remain in seventh place. Next week Dover entertain Portsmouth at Crabble in a mid- table interesting mid-table clash.

LUCAS (Cooper 70), SAVAGE, BARTLEY, SLUMAN, BLOWERS, COLLINS, CRAWFORD, TONKS D, RICHARDS, BEAUMONT Martyn, BEAUMONT Mark, FAULKNER, CHARGE, MACKINTOSH, FOSTER.

Replacements unused OSBORNE, MAY