Dartfordians U16s 12 v 50 Gravesend U16s

The under 16's made it five wins out of six this season with a comprehensive victory over a depleted Dartfordians side on Remembrance Sunday. Darts have provided Gravesend with stiff opposition over the years with our league victory at Bourne Road last year the only win in our column; however there was a gulf in class between the two sides on Sunday as G's racked up a half century of points for the second game in succession.

The match was being held at New Ash Green RFC due to a lack of pitch availability at Dartfordians and Rectory Field, but yet again G's got off to a fast start on our travels, Ben Humphrey going over for his first try of the season following a slick backline move in only the third minute. Finley Hampson-Pugh then followed suit and Ben Fenton Smith slotted the conversion to make it 12-0. G's really dominated the collisions and were finding gaps at will in the Darts defence, Connor Chambers scoring twice with two trademark bursts through the middle to put more daylight between the two sides before the break. Finlay Luscombe added an excellent fifth from a lineout drive on the stroke of half time and Fenton-Smith added his 4th conversion out of five to make it 33-0.

Gravesend had the luxury of 25 players travelling so we made wholesale changes for the second half and Elliot King ensured G's started the second period as we finished the first with a try in the corner. The team were then guilty of taking our foot off the gas and combined with the changes we lost some momentum allowing a spirited Darts side to get points on the board with two tries in quick succession. After a team huddle under the posts the lads collected themselves to the score a superb team try with George Dyett going over and finishing under the posts, King making the conversion. Harry Bateup rounded off the scoring with a pick and go in the corner on the full time whistle to make it 50-12.

Starting XV
1. Ezekiel-Hart
2. Hampson-Pugh
3. Morrison
4. O. Bateup
5. Chambers
6. Luscombe
7. Richardson
8. Friend
9. Dyett (C)
10. Fenton-Smith
11. Smith
12. Grace
13. Walton
14. H. Bateup
15. Humphrey

Replacements: Steel, Reece, Bennett, Singh, Clack, Stearns, Bailey, Ramsay, King, Weston

Scorers:
Tries: Chambers (2), Humphrey, Hampson-Pugh, Luscombe, King, Dyett, H. Bateup.
Conversions: Fenton-Smith (4), King