Dings make it a magnificent seven victories in a row

DINGS Crusaders made it seven wins in a row with a hard-fought 34-29 National Two South victory over Hinckley at Leicester Road.

The visitors appeared to be heading towards a comfortable winning margin after prop George Kloska crashed over on the hourmark to make it 34-17, but a late fightback for the home side meant Crusaders were anxiously looking over their shoulders in the final minutes of the contest.

Dings made a bright start and took a six-point lead thanks to two well-struck penalties from fly-half Ollie Millner. Crusaders’ extended their lead with a splendid try, finished off by centre Matt Smith, after wing Tom Foot split the Hinckley defence with a perfectlytimed intervention into the line. Foot was stopped just short, but Smith was in support to race in under the posts for the opening try of the game on 22 minutes. Millner added the extras from straight in front.

But the second quarter of the game was dominated by the home side. Their big, physical pack began to gain the ascendency at close quarters and set-up camp in the Dings half. They got their just rewards when flanker Harry Bower rumbled over in the corner from the back of a driving line-out for an unconverted try to make it 13-5 to Dings at the turn.

The home side struck first in the second half with another unconverted try from wing Tom Dacey to make it 13-10, but Dings responded immediately with a try from wing Tom Hargan. Millner again slotted the conversion to make it 20-10 on 51 minutes.

The visitors looked have got the measure of their bigger counterparts up front, with debutante Charlie Rice, in particular, having a fantastic game at both blindside flanker before switching to second row.

Dings’ replacement scrum-half Tom Knight darted over for a converted try on 55 minutes, but wing Euan Kelly crossed for the home side four minutes later. Fullback Rory Vowles converted to make it 27-17.

Kloska’s converted effort on the hour-mark looked to have wrapped things up for the visitors, but touchdowns from Alex Salt, converted by fly-half Joseph Glover, and Ben Pointon, resulted in the home side gaining two welldeserved bonus points in defeat.

» This report first appeared on pitchero.com/dingscrusadersrfc.

» Yatton stand sixth in Somerset One following a 35-17 home win against Stothert & Pitt.

Yatton scored four converted tries in the first half through James Copeland (2), Joel Giltrow and Charlie Wemyss, with Giltrow kicking the conversions. Dan Williams scored a converted try in the second half.