OARFC
Tries: Lound 3, Hihetah 9, Fleckney 16, West 42
Conversions: Jones 4,10, 16, 42

Dorking
Tries: Howe 6, Coyle 33, Birch 37, King 46, Harwick 55, McRae 76
Conversions: Anscombe 7, 34, 39, 55, 78
Penalties: Anscombe 63

Referee: Simon Waite

Dorking came out on top in fast and exciting game. OA made a fantastic start, holding position for most of the first quarter. Their backs handled the ball well and went through many phases of possession. The first try came from a 5 meter lineout and instead of the usual catch and drive OA moved the ball flyhalf Greg Lound scoring under the post. Sam Jones converted. Dorking equalised from a lineout of their own Tom Howe scoring. Henry Anscombe added the extras. The OA possession led to the next two scores Stephen Hihetah burst through the centre to score. Jones again converted. An OA penalty was kicked to the corner this time the catch and drive lineout Charlie Fleckney scored. Jones added the extras. From the restart Dorking gained possession and kicked through, and a lucky bounce and Max Coyle scored. Anscombe converted. On half time another Dorking catch and drive lineout Henry Birch scored again Anscombe was successful with the conversion. Dorking were fortunate to go in 21-21 at halftime.

OA scored immediately at the start of the second half- openside flanker Charlie West broke tackles to score. The accurate Jones again converting. 7/7 conversions at Woollams this season for Sam. The bonus point try was to be OA last. As we all know; players and referees have long ignored the law on putting the ball straight in at the scrum. Referee Mr Waite decided to extent this to the lineout with the Dorking hooker seemingly passing the ball to the front of the line rather than throwing-in on several occasions Perhaps he had awarded enough penalties elsewhere to worry. This played into Dorking's hands, literally. Dorking started to gain the upper hand elsewhere as well. OA perhaps started kicking the ball too much, and Dorking were able to make ground with their possession and tries came for, Jasper King, Tom Harwick and Toby McRae. The referee showed a couple of yellow cards- one to each side for what it wasn't clear to me, something or nothing probably nothing. Dorking deserved their 43-28 victory and we still wait for our first home "W". But if Dorking are the best, or one of the best in Nat 2E, as many apparently in the know say they are OA can and should be confident of a good season as for much of the match there wasn't mush between the teams.

Colchester away and Sevenoaks at Woollams on October 5th hopefully will bring wins, despite more injuries in the squad than we would like in September.