Dinnington win in first meeting

DINNINGTON made hard work of a comfortable victory against Acklam to progress to the second round of the Yorkshire Shield, and a meeting with Doncaster Phoenix.

This was the first ever meeting between the two clubs at senior level and Acklam were a bit of an unknown quantity.

The home side made a strong start and took an early lead with a Jonny West penalty after five minutes.

Acklam responded well and, after hitting the post with a drop goal attempt, levelled with a penalty after 10 minutes.

The visitors then had a spell of pressure but good defence by Dinnington kept them out.

Dinnington were second best in the scrum in the first half which meant setting up attacking opportunities were difficult, but the home side should have done better with a break mid-way through the half.

Acklam used the slope well to keep Dinnington in their own half for short spells but again a home break was not capitalised on 10 minutes before half-time.

The half ended with Dinnington beginning to gain some success with good running, but five minutes before the break Acklam intercepted on halfway and ran in under the posts for a 10-3 lead.

Just before half-time Dinnington were on the Acklam line going for a pushover try, but they were denied by a defensive hand which saw a visitor heading for the sin-bin. The resulting penalty kick was missed.

Dinnington came out for the second half a rejuvenated side and began to play some good flowing rugby, running the ball in their usual style.

They were helped by a solid lineout and an improvement in their scrummaging.

Six minutes into the half, Dinnington reduced the deficit with a West penalty and five minutes later looked to be on the verge of taking the lead only to have the ball stripped from their possession and cleared.

A minute later, Dinnington did take the lead as David Longstaffe took the ball close to half way and beat nine players on a jinking run to the line.

He was caught just short but his momentum carried him over. West added the conversion.

This was the turning point of the game as within five minutes Dinnington were again pressing the visitor’s line winning a penalty try which West converted.

Dinnington then began to stretch the visitor’s defence with some good running and scored the decisive try when the forwards worked the ball from a lineout setting up Will Marshall to score.

West converted.

In the final minute of the game Acklam had a rare spell of pressure and came close to claiming a pushover try but were kept out by some good home defence.

Tomorrow, Dinnington have a crucial league fixture away to Heath.