Barnes pay the Price as Dings steal it

By MICHAEL WHITFIELD

Barnes………………….23

Dings Crusaders… 30

TOM Price signed off a man-of-the-match performance by kicking the extras from the winning try as Dings claimed victory.

With a brisk wind at their backs, an early Dings yellow card for a deliberate knock-on allowed Rob Kirby to open the scoring for Barnes before a period of pressure saw the forwards recycle the ball well and Ash Thomas jinked over to extend the lead to 10-0.

Kirby added a penalty from the halfway line but Dings put together possession off the back of a strong scrum and lineout and reduced the lead to 13-3 after 20 minutes.

Barnes lost hooker Alex March to a head injury and Dings took advantage to turn the screw, notching up another penalty.

However, when the Barnes forwards made good progress in the visiting 22, skipper Ryan Seabright crashed over to score. With several injuries, no side had any advantage until Dings scored on the stroke of half-time. Barnes second row James Bloxham was yellow carded.

Barnes weathered the Dings storm and Pete Weightman went over to extend the lead but further injuries to Len Ashcroft-Leigh and Jasper Cameron took their toll and Dings made it 23-20 after 62 minutes. The spectre of a sixth draw of the season loomed for Barnes as Dings slotted a penalty a minute from the end.

From the kick-off, Dings returned the ball with interest and from the lineout executed their second catch and drive of the game with Price adding the extras.