Dover welcomed old Elthamians to crabble on saturday in a match that league position suggested might be a close affair but a refreshed Dover side never allowed the visitors to get going.
Dover won the toss and elected to play up the slope in the first period. Old E's kicked long and chased well and were able to turn the ball over in Dover's 22. The next 5 minutes was all Old E's as they looked to take the game to Dover by picking and driving and moving the ball from side to side. Dover, to their credit repelled everything and on the odd occassion old E's looked threatening they were quickly shut down by the returning Craig May who put in numerous crunching tackles throughout the game.
Dover came to life with 10 mins on the clock, Debutant fly half Jack Ayling finding an excellent touch on the old E's 22 from inside his own half. The Lineout was taken well by Surrendorf and the pack set up an unstoppable driving maul that thundered its way over from 20 meters to give Dover the first score of the day, Prop Dave Bartley emerging from the bodies with the ball to claim the try. Ayling narrowly missed the touch line conversion. 5-0 Dover. the try Gave Dover confidence and from the Old E's re-start they started to show what they were about. The Forwards took the ball up well two or three phases at at time before Richards and Ayling got the backline moving. The Backs were looking sharp and it wasn't long before Debutant wingman Dave Farrell showed what he is about with a couple of strong pacey surges that put Old E'S on the back foot. This coupled with the fleet footed Osbourne and Mcnamara was putting pressure on the opposition all over the park.
Dovers' Next score was almost a carbon copy of the first. May this time securing the lineout and the pack providing a solid platform to drive 15 meteres, Steve Richards' quick thinking worked well as he took the ball up the short blindside, ran wide drawing the cover and popping the ball up to give Bartley an enterprising one yard dash and his 2nd of the game. Ayling this time converted well from the touch line to give Dover a 12-0 lead. Dover could have added to this but all to often indiscipline and over enthusiasm in the final 3rd cost them. HT.

Dover started the 2nd half well and immediately pinned old E's back in their 22. They kicked long in an attempt to clear their lines but evergreen fullback 'Super Stu Dean' returned the ball with interest. The ball was recycled quickly and good hands from Gill, Haywood and Osbourne put Mcnamara in space, His deft chip in behind was pin point and he was able to collect the ball and dive over for a try very pleasing to the eye. Ayling showed again what a talented goal kicker he is by slotting the conversion from the right touchline to give Dover a 19-0 Lead. Dover lost influential young flanker Hayden Annakie to a Rib injury after ten mins of the second half after another strong showing. His replacement, Sam Wheeler showed Dovers' depth in the back row with an excellent second half display. Dover were dominant in the pack and were aggressive and robust in the tackle and after losing Bartley to the sin bin in the first half, fellow prop Greg Hewer followed early in the 2nd period for 'overly aggressive clearing' at a ruck. Dovers' platform never suffered however and the forwards did a good job in his absence, Savage, May and Wheeler putting in the hits and Gill, Robinson and Surrendorf doing the donkey work. As the Game wore on Dovers' young backline were gaining more and more confidence and play was starting to reflect this, Ayling hitting foward runners and outside backs alike with Old E's defence under pressure all the time, Indeed dover were only denied 2 certain scores from a questionable touch judge descision and a very harshly adjudged forward pass. Hewer returned to the fray keen to channel his aggression and he was soon on the score sheet after good work from forwards and backs allowed him to spurn a 3 man overlap and barrel over from 8 yards. Ayling again adding the extras. 26-0 Dover.
Old E's then had their best spell of the second half, taking good advantage of Dovers' Indiscipline with a series of penalties to work their way to Dovers' 5 metre line. They didnt look like breaching Dovers' defence but managed a very dubious score out wide, the referee beleiving the old E's player had "one finger of downward pressure". 26-5 Dover.
Dovers response was again immediate- The restart was regathered brilliantly by Haywood. Two quick forward drives then saw the ball moved wide to Osbourne, who expertley stood up his opposite man to canter away and score near the posts to give dover a 33-5 Lead. Dover were keen to press on and showed good endeavour to play right to the final whistle, Mcnamara going over out wide for his 2nd to give Dover a convincing 38-5 win. Man of the match was close after a number of notable performances, but goes to debutant flyhalf Jack Ayling.
Dover will look to carry this momentum in to next weeks home encounter with Thanet.
Team- Bartley, Savage, Hewer, Robinson, Gill, H.Annakie, May, Surrendorf, Richards, Ayling, Farrell, Haywood, Osbourne, Mcnamara, Dean, Plews, Wheeler.