Dover II 20 vs TWRUFC 1st XV 14

22nd Nov 2025, KO 14:00

Dover II - Away

Live Text, Match Report & Information

Match Report

After a string of weeks off from the league due to the autumn internationals and set aside cup weekends paired with Ashford R.F.C. forfeiting their fixture against us on the 8th November, it’s safe to say that the boys were a little rusty.

Since the impressive 31-5 win at home against Aylesford on the 18th October, the boys had been forced to have a full 5-week gap from game time.

The hands may have been rusty and the bodies not used to the contact but there were some huge positives to take before the game even began, the return of some new (but old) faces like Alex Manning from his adventures abroad (bit dodgy to just disappear for a couple months if you ask me but I’ll let it slide), and Paul Moat quietly recovering from his boob job cheering the boys on from the side. Also, the support of the old guard showing up at crabble to cheer on the boys (by thanks of the local care home’s minibus). There was certainly a buzz to be back playing rugby again for everyone.

When we arrived at crabble it appeared we may have already won as we were the only ones there with a locked clubhouse to greet us, drex was amazed he could tick off another bucket-list kent location and Joey Hales was actually still breathing after the antics of the weekend prior (if you know you know). Soon the whole squad was there with the late arrivals of the swiftys and Mr Quincey who apparently had to be told about the speed limit that morning. Joe started us off with a team meeting which was quickly followed by a fast and intense warm up.

When the boys took to the town pitch in the brand new VX3 black and pink away strip, we kicked off and a very tasty game was on our hands almost immediately. With both sides putting in big tackles, big runs, good competition at the rucks, lineouts and scrums it was clear to see the 2 sides had all the capabilities of making this one of the games of the season. Some early injuries to the likes of Brad-Lee Nash with a whack to the knee and Swifty with his back (defo putting it on so he was nice and fresh to put up the Christmas decorations the next day !!!) meant some early changes had to be made in the form of Ronan Quincey on his debut for the green and whites, and drex taking up 13 to allow Matt Radbourne back in the pack and Kieran Munn-Hollands covering prop. This slowed the momentum we had carried all the way through the warmup and dover took the lead early on from a well worked try off of a lineout put down the field from a penalty and easily converted in front of the sticks.

It didn’t take long however for the boys to regain motion running in a hard earned try working it out wide Fin Parfitt putting his body on the line and getting his ribs obliterated in the process of drawing the man and giving the pass to Ronan Quincey who took one crash supported by a lot of men in the vicinity. Right under the posts a line opened up for the vc Kieran Munn-Holland to hit the weak shoulder of the opposition second row, charging from miles away moving like lightning he easily broke the tackle and dotted it down for the first ash score. Conversion followed from our very own ageing Jonny Wilkinson Brad Blaxland.

7-7 Game on!!!

We soon found ourselves back in oppositions territory with a 5-meter lineout driving maul which looked great until Fin Parfitt managed to fall onto the only person on the floor rather than the try line!!! (An almost certain DOTD act which would be later overruled in the dying minutes of the game). However, after even more hard fought territory a scrum on the opposition’s 10 meter set a perfect place for the South African beast Daniel Norman (aka Bok) to pick and go from the base and run it in on his own for the second score of the match. Swiftly converted yet again by the strong boot of Brad.

7-14, The boys closed the half strong retaining that tight winning margin.

The start of the second half closely followed the fiery start to the game with still more and more big shots all around the park. Poor discipline gifted dover an early penalty, taking the score to 10-14 and yet another well worked try out wide from the dover boys put us under pressure leading the game to 15-14. Nothing seemed to quite work out for the Ash boys in these last 40 minutes. We continued to play with heart the Ash way sending the ball wide and trying to score around the corner but lacks of match fitness and rusty hands mean the last pass or catch always seemed to go astray, foiling 4 or 5 opportunities for scores. In the end dover ended up using their strong wingers again to run in a final try ending the game 20-14. Not before, however our real DOTD showed his colors.

Picture the scenes a player has gone down with a hurt leg 5 minutes to the end, received treatment and been told he is coming off. He then proceeds to get up and try to hobble over to the next scrum while shouting at coach Joe and I quote “I’m not f*****g coming off”. It could only be one man couldn’t it Kieran?!?!?!

Although the winning streak was over and disappointment lingered in the feeling that the game was easily winnable and there for the taking especially in that second half, everyone from the sideline and the opposition assured the boys that the day was not a complete waste and to look at how far as a team we have come since the same time last season. It was a game that could’ve gone either way and just was against us in the end.

Dover R.F.C. 20 – 14 Ash R.F.C.

However, there was one more laugh to be had at the end of it all with Joe’s notebook being inspected in the changing rooms and finding a very detailed plan of the tactics he would take on how to best roast his carrots turkey and potatoes come the 25th of December. Take this as a warning you will be tested on this schedule at some point.

A huge credit goes to Dover for putting on an incredible show and taking the game to us just as much as we did to them, and for hosting in such good spirit.

MOTM: Daniel Norman – massive all-round shift as always and a lovely pick and go try

DOTD: Kieran Munn-Holland – find the above report

Try Scorers: Kieran Munn-Holland, Daniel Norman

Conversions: Brad Blaxland (2)

Onto next week, where the boys face yet another local tough game hosting Thanet Wanderers 2’s at home at 2pm

Come and support the boys and lets get back on the winners train.