Dings 32
Cleve 21

DINGS completed their pre-season program with a 32-21 victory over local rivals Cleve at Shaftesbury Park. Crusaders out-scored the visitors by five-tries to three, with Marcus Brooker, Barney Goatley, Jordan Gratton, Shek Sheriff and Ben Davidson all getting their names on the score card. Ben Bolster added a penalty and conversion with Steve Plummer also on target with a conversion.

Dings were never behind during this derby, although the Cleve pack more than held their own throughout. Where there was a notable difference was behind the scrum, where Dings showed a greater cutting edge.

Brooker muscled over early on to get the home side off the mark, with Bolster slotting the extras. Crusaders’ second try was of the highest order, with the backs cutting loose from deep to release Goatley to finish off a flowing move to make it 12-0.

But the visitors hit back on the stroke of half-time with man-of-the-match, No8 Anton Welling striking from the back of a five-metre scrum to dot down out wide. Fly-half Nathan Huntley bisected the uprights from a difficult angle to make it 12-7 at the turnaround.

Bolster added a penalty shortly after the re-start before Cleve enjoyed a spell of dominance, resulting in centre Alipate Laulau hacking to ball on to score. Huntley again landed the extras to bring Cleve within a point.

But this was the catalyst for Dings to come alive and play their best rugby of the night. Gratton hit a great line to canter under the posts before Sheriff burst clear to add a fourth try. Jet healed Ben Davidson left the defence for dead with a blistering turn of pace to take Dings past 30-points.

The visitors did have the final say, with prop Dean Brooker burrowing over from close range to score Cleve’s third try – Huntley duly turning five into seven.

Picture is Marcus Brooker diving over to open the scoring for Dings.

Dings tries: Marcus Brooker, Barney Goatley, Jordan Gratton, Shek Sheriff, Ben Davidson.
Penalty: Ben Bolster
Conversions: Ben Bolster, Steve Plummer

Cleve tries: Anton Welling, Alipate Laulau, Dean Brooker.
Conversions: Nathan Huntley (3).