Dorking’s lone penalty in the eightieth minute ensured OAs left Kent with just one bonus point rather than the two which had been on offer moments before. Indeed the entire second half saw the visitors growing in confidence and competence in what turned out to be a brave but ultimately vain attempt to overhaul opponents who, at one time, seemed to be totally out of sight.

In football parlance, after the interval Albanians had it all to do. The hosts had command upfront though this became marginal as opposed to total the closer it got to half time.

The damage had been done during the first forty as a solid forward shift gave Dorking all the possession they needed to rack up five tries. A tour de force from flying wing Toby McRae allowed him a hattrick by the thirtieth minute with Cam Osborne and Fred Dalton joining him on the scorecard. Henry Anscombe converted four of them.

Bailey Thomas and Kemp Price crossed for OAs both converted by Thomas. So 33-14 at the break.

As reflected in the score Albanians had the better of the second half and edged gradually closer to an unlikely parity with the bigger pack, a good lineout performance and sterling defence giving credence to a possibly successful points chase. The collisions became far less of a lottery as the half wound down and the OA breakdown play will be a comfort as A’s prepare for their next fixture against Sevenoaks.

Increased possession led to two more tries for Albanians from Harris and Alex Noot who converted his own score as late as the 77th minute. Anscombe’s penalty did the rest.

Brian Quinn,

Roving Reporter