As usual, DK arrived with a strong team of HUGE players. The Essington 15 were dwarfed by most of them (except Bommer) and a bit of a dicking looked on the cards. It looked even more likely after 5 minutes of play as the Dudley pack drove over from 5 meters to score the opening try which was converted by a fat bloke in orange boots.

Seven nil and less than 10 mins gone. Teams of old might have folded after this onslaught, but the current crop of players are made of sterner stuff. Loins were girded, words of encouragement spoken and the game was on!

Essington\'s forwards worked their socks off to nullify the threat from the DK pack. Tackling and mauling were the order of the day as they struggled to hold the well-fed visitors. Unfortunately, all this effort led to a real lack of ball for the exciting looking Essington backs who were straining at the leash to be allowed to run at their opposite numbers.

Scrum after scrum, lineouts, loose forward play but precious little ball for the sparkling back division. A mistake led to a penalty which was clinically dispatched by orange boots. Half time came with the score only 10 points to nil.

Could Essington do better in the second half? You bet!

As the DK dreadnoughts began to tire the Essington forwards managed to put some control on the game and actually got some ball to the backs. One attack from their own 22 saw centre Smith race 70 meters before being caught near the corner. From the resulting lineout Essington somehow managed to get the ball out and a series of slick passes saw the ball end up in the opposite wingers hands. A dive over the line by Jason Newton and the try was scored. Hoorah. His first one ever. Adam Smith converted.

A final penalty from DK left the score 7-13 at the end.

So, Essington II\'s lost the opening game, but there were many positives to the performance. The pack were magnificent in their efforts and the backs looked dangerous whenever they managed to get any ball. Everyone looks fit and the team came close to scoring a second try near the end of the match, everyone still full of running. Man of the Match was emergency hooker James Cowmeadow.