National League 3 London & SE Bury St Edmunds 10 Dorking 50 A 40-point margin does not do Bury justice but Dorking showed on this form why they are likely to be plying their trade in National 2 next year with a clinical performance.

A 40-point margin does not do Bury justice but Dorking showed on this form why they are likely to be plying their trade in National 2 next year with a clinical performance.

Having led the League from the season’s start, Dorking’s slip-up at East Grinstead last week saw them fall into the play-off position behind close rivals and next week’s opponents Old Elthamians.

They arrived therefore at the The Greene King IPA Haberden in determined mood.

Having watched the two clubs’ under-14s sides play each other, the large crowd basking in the warm spring sunshine, welcomed the two sides to the pitch and it was Dorking who almost scored from the kick-off!

Arguably the League’s best scrum half, Will Crow, caught everyone napping with a clever kick over but he fumbled his attempt to re-gather the ball with the line at his mercy.

The first 25 minutes of the half were characterised by the difference in finishing. Bury had the better of territory and possession, but twice when they got behind the Dorking defence, they failed to score. Dorking however were clinical in their execution when given a chance. A fumble in the visitors 22 was gathered up, transferred through hands and Ryan Jeffery could not miss, and then a quick tap penalty, great handling in midfield and one missed tackle, saw Efthymiou slide over. Bury continued to press, Bixby, with Radmall latching on, almost scored but was held up over the line, Will Martin made several mazy runs from deep but having broken the first line of defence, there was always someone on hand to make the telling tackle and invariably then turn the ball over. Martin did land a penalty – after good work by Sean Davies – to get Bury on the scoreboard.

Dorking began to open up in the latter part of the half. The pace they put onto the ball in attack was a joy to watch while their commitment to the break down ensured that any 50/50 ball was always going to be theirs.

A powerful scrummage gained a penalty and with two advantages played, Jeffery collected his second score of the match when a two-man overlap was created. Frost’s fine touchline conversion extended Dorking’s lead to 19-3.

What was potentially going to be a tough final 40 minutes in front of the Haberden faithful got even worse in the first minute of the second half.

In attempting to run the ball out of their own 22, a spilt pass allowed Pimlow to dink over and with no-one at home, he easily collected his own kick for a simple try.

To their credit, Bury dug in and for the next 25 minutes they laid siege to the Dorking line. Tim Mann was starting to create space and openings in midfield and his fine break almost engineered a score but Frost’s fine cover work prevented one.

It was absorbing viewing. Bury were really pulling out the stops despite losing Waters to injury, forcing Dorking back into their own 22 but time and again Dorking refused to yield and then as they had in the first half, with one chance to break away they did so. Prop Ben Knight rumbling over from short range.

Martin was finally rewarded for yet another mazy break, by this time managing to get beyond the covering defence, and supply the supporting Sam Bixby with a run in to the posts to make it 36-10. Bury now had their tails up with Tim Mann starting to cause alarm in the visitors defence. But Dorking, as befits any quality team, soaked up the pressure, cut loose in the final five minutes scoring two more converted tries.

With moments to go, Dorking used the pace of their backs to cut through, and then the power of their forwards from a line-out catch to drive from five metres and end the scoring.