Match Report
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| Date - 20th December 2003 |
Old Brentwoods 2nd XV -v- Dagenham 2nd XV |
| Merit Table |
| Old Brentwoods 2nd XV 14 Dagenham 2nd XV 19 |
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| Despite a spirited second-half performance, the Old Boys were unable to overcome the first-half deficit and went down 19-14 to visitors Dagenham. |
| The game started brightly for the home team but a series of lapses in concentration resulted in Dagenham taking advantage after 10 minutes with a try on the right wing. The try remained unconverted but the visitors did not need to wait long before further points came their way: stout defence from all could not prevent the Dagenham pack driving up to the Old Boys' line and the try beside the posts was converted. |
| Moments later the Dagenham fly half took advantage of a lucky bounce from his own kick over the top of the Old Boys' line and ran in the try unopposed. His conversion made the score 19-0 after half an hour and the home team looked a shadow of the side that dominated so well against the league leaders the previous week. |
| Despite the scoreline the Old Boys began to rally and some fine work by Michael Bache helped set up Scott Inglis who powered over the line for a well-timed try on the stroke of halftime. With Perry Reeves slotting the conversion, a 19-7 scoreline at the break was a fair reflection of the first-half play. |
| The second half started brightly for the home team with the pack making their mark in tight and loose play. The pressure eventually told with winger Paul Buchanan moving infield and taking the ball on from a ruck five metres from the Dagenham line to go over for his seventh try in as many games. The conversion from Reeves was successful and at 19-14 just five minutes into the second half, the Old Boys were back in the game. |
| The play remained concentrated in the Dagenham half with the home team taking advantage of the weather conditions. However lapses in concentration at the vital moment denied either side the chance to further their score and the final whistle was met with relief from the Dagenham side and disappointment from the home team. |
| The Old Boys have much to be proud about so far this season and if they show as much commitment in the new year as they have in this one they can look forward to a successful 2004. |