FOLLOWING last week’s disappointing performance against Gillingham, Dartfordians worked hard throughout the week to get prepared for what has previously always been a difficult fixture with Sittingbourne.

The match at Sittingbourne earlier in the season was a very tough encounter, with the defence of Darts performing magnificently against a pack who were dominant in every area.

Conditions were great for rugby, although a little soft under foot, and it was clear from the start there was a different attitude to Darts as they took the game to the visitors.

The forwards looked on top in the scrums and were certainly more lively at the breakdown and pushed Sttingbourne deep into their own half.

After 15 minutes of pressure, Darts were rewarded with a penalty which was narrowly missed by Tom Griggs 40m out.

Not to be deterred, Darts kept the pressure on and eventually scored when Griggs converted his second penalty attempt.

Darts were looking sharp in the backs and Dan Phillips and Baba Ojo always looked like breaking the line.

From one good move, Phillips was through only to be well tap tackled.

Unfortunately, in trying to offload the ball, it went to a Sittingbourne player to start the first real attack from the visitors.

Darts were penalised for an infringement at the breakdown and the visitors kicked for touch and then competed at the five metre lineout.

The visiting pack had some huge men in it and having won the lineout, drove Darts backwards and scored a try which was unconverted to give them a 5–3 lead.

Darts continued to pressure Sittingbourne all over the pitch and Ian Perkins, back on the wing, looked dangerous.

From a fine piece of all-round play from the home side, he finished off the move with a great try in the corner.

This made the score 8-5 to Darts at half-time.

The second period started and Darts looked a little nervous having only achieved a narrow lead in the first half despite all of their possession, they continued to gift the visitors with easy ball by making some basic errors.

The referee, who had an excellent match, was quick to blow up when players were tackled for not releasing the ball and Darts seemed not to learn form their mistakes.

With the coaches urging them to keep the ball off the ground, Darts continued to go to ground too early and the visitors didn’t commit to the tackle and then forced the offence from Darts.

Sittingbourne were having their best moments of the match now and pushed the home team deep into their own 22m area.

Great defence kept them at bay but eventually after a number of errors and infringements, the Sittingbourne pressure paid off and they drove over for their second try to regain the lead 10–8.

Although this was a blow to Darts, it didn’t put them off their game.

Knowing they had great attacking options in the backs, they soon released Ojo.

He made a fantastic break from inside his own half and after some great offloading, Phillips was given the ball and cut inside the defence to score a great try under the posts which was converted by Tom Griggs.

The belief started to come back to Darts and they got straight back into the game from the kick off.

Having won good ball, the forwards fed it to the backs and it was Phillips who again broke the defensive line and scored a second try to make the score 20-10 to Darts.

Being two scores ahead took all the pressure off the home side and with big Garry Jarman on at No 8, his battering runs, ably helped by the hard-working Paul Brown, kept Darts on the front foot.

The backs were now looking very dangerous getting early ball and believing in their ability.

Darts’ lineout was now functioning better with Matt Day winning some good ball to release the backs in space.

The hosts won good scrum ball and Jarman drove hard at the defence and quick recycled ball allowed Brown to do the same.

When it was spun along the line, it was Ojo who used his pace and power to go over and score out wide.

From the kick-off, Darts continued to pressure Sittingbourne whose heads were slightly down by now and kept the pressure on everywhere.

John Colmer at inside centre kept bashing holes in the defence and again it was great recycled ball which was fed to Ojo, who in similar fashion to his first try, crashed through and around the defence and to score behind the posts.