Late drama as McRae is sent clear to grab win

By KEVIN BEAL

Dorking…………… 17pts

Barnes……………. 13pts

A BRILLIANT stoppage-time try by winger Toby McRae snatched victory for Dorking in a tight game against Barnes.

With both sides committed to playing expansive attacking rugby, the crowd was treated to a match in which errors abounded but the skills on display continually defied the wet and windy conditions – aperformance that was a credit to both sets of players.

It was Barnes who were on the scoresheet first with a try 10 minutes into the game from wing forward Angus Farquhar following an elusive break by scrum-half Josh Davis.

The slippery and blustery conditions made place-kicking something of a lottery and full-back George Makepeace-Cubbitt duly missed his first conversion.

Dorking came straight back with a score of their own as flanker Will Scholes charged down Davis’ box kick following the restart to collect the kind bounce and score an unconverted try, making it 5-5.

A period of sustained Barnes pressure yielded no points as Dorking’s defence, led by captain Fred Dalton, held firm in tricky conditions.

Dorking were next on the scoresheet with a try from tight-head prop James Catton, another score which was to go unconverted.

Continuing the pressure, Dorking were unlucky not to score a third try as the ball bobbled loose when they had a two-man overlap.

Barnes finished the first half the stronger side with a try out wide from winger Will Lewin on the stroke of halftime, making it 10-10 at the break.

The second half remained scoreless until the 74th minute, although it was not without its moments as both sides pressed to take an advantage in the game.

Barnes looked to have the upper hand when Dorking were awarded a yellow card early in the half, however they failed to add to their tally until, following a series of Barnes pick and drives, Makepeace-Cubbitt slotted a penalty awarded for a Dorking offside under the posts.

With a second yellow card shown to Dorking for that offence, that looked like the match decider but, not to be outdone, Dorking redoubled their efforts.

And as the clock went into the red Barnes cleared their lines with a kick up field.

Dorking full-back Cameron Cowell fielded the ball safely and fed it down the line to waiting winger McRae on the half-way line.

Beating both his opposite number and two chasing defenders, he went over and touched down just to the right of the posts and. in the final act of the match, scrumhalf George Jackson slotted the conversion for the extras.

Dorking director of rugby Armand Roux said afterwards: “On a day where we didn’t play too well and the conditions were a challenge, it was great to get the win and shows the character, heart and resilience of this team.”