A moody old day with a fresh and strong wind across the Big Field home ground of Dorking RFC.
The shadow of the famous Box Hill loomed over the Olney RFC Colts in what was brewing to be
a cracker of a semi-final in the National Colts Cup.

The Colts were practically full-strength bar a few international camps, concussions and injuries,
and they were full of themselves as they pulled into the Dorking RFC car park on the players'
coach laid on graciously by the club. They had good reason to be, this was now their second
semi-final in two weeks and their second National Colts Cup semi-final in two years.

First Half
Olney won the toss and decided to kick uphill and slightly into the wind in the first half. Skipper
Beau Stenson stroked the ball deep into the Dorking half and we were underway. The Dorking
scrumhalf collected well under pressure, creating a ruck just outside his own 22m line. Dorking
went again around the corner only to be stopped dead by Monty Lee and Ferdi Barnett-Vincent.
This forced Dorking into a box kick exit from their scrumhalf, who executed it very well. It held up
slightly in the wind, causing Stenson to juggle the ball, but he popped it away to Maxton
Hubbard, who also juggled it backwards, pushing Olney deep into their own 22m and putting
them under some early pressure. Hubbard did well to set up a ruck, as did Ronan Perkins who
carried hard and was supported by a monster Howie Barnett-Vincent. But they crept offside,
which the ref spotted quickly, and the penalty went to Dorking. Olney lined up to defend the
lineout, but Dorking signalled to take the 3, an early marker for how the game would develop
throughout the afternoon.
The kick itself was too tricky, and the left boot pushed it out wide, forcing Olney into a 22m drop-
out. Stenson opted to go long, which was sensible given the swirling wind, and the opposition 9
knocked it on dead on the halfway line. Scrum to Olney and the first of the afternoon. This was a
big marker for the Olney pack, who smashed the opposition upwards and backwards, which
amazingly didn't result in a well-deserved penalty. The ref opted to reset, and the same
happened again, but Olney took the ball out via a gun to Owain Harries, who lifted the ball
slightly behind the onrushing Justin Fasanya and the opportunity was gone via a knock-on.
Another reset scrum, Dorking were looking a tad creaky under the pressure from the Olney
pack, but the ref seemed to think it was Olney cheating, even though it looked more like Dorking
snapping under the pressure to me.
The penalty was hit well and landed just short of the Olney 22m line, with a lineout to Dorking.
Olney's lineout had looked sharp in the warm-up and proved it again, adding tonnes of pressure
on Dorking's throw. The ball was dropped to the 9 and Perkins came flying through to gobble him
up. The big Dorking number 3 couldn't cope with the line speed from Olney's aggressive defence
and knocked on, giving the ball back to Olney. They pushed it wide from Alex Bickers at 9, who
speedily found Oli Surley, who tipped the ball to Howie Barnett-Vincent, who in his usual style
smashed his way up the field. Now the style button was switched on, Olney went fast out the
back to Owain Harries, who found pace through Fasanya and the sharp Maxton Hubbard. In
their panic, Dorking grabbed Hubbard around the head, which was greeted with some
unsavoury jeers from the Olney sideline who clearly saw this as cynical play to stop the Olney
onslaught. Stenson duly put the ball into the opposition half and Olney had a lineout.
The lineout was perfect from Ferdi Barnett-Vincent, who found Connor Wright at the back, and
the attack was on again for Olney. Charlie Constantine tanked his way up the middle of the park,
but the ball was well stripped by the Dorking centres and spilled forward. The pressure was
released as Dorking kicked long, though it was fielded well by Stenson, who set up a ruck after
beating one defender. Olney then plugged away up the short side only to knock on straight into
an oncoming Dorking defender. He was gratefully caught and chopped down, but the ref
dragged the game back to the knock-on. Another strong scrum from Olney went unrewarded
and Dorking struck out on their own attack into Olney's half. A good read by Fasanya caused
mayhem in the centre of the park, but the ref somehow missed the knock-on. It didn't matter
though, as Olney jumped on the free ball and spotted the 4-on-2 on the nearside, Bickers hit up
Stenson who found Hubbard, who subsequently beat 3 players and was dragged down just on
the 22m line. Olney now looked well encamped in the Dorking 22 and turned on the taps, but
amazingly lost control of the ball through a knock-on and let Dorking off the hook for the second
time since kick-off.
Dorking got an extra boost from a penalty, which they took and banged the ball 15m into the
Olney half. The lineout was good but the 9 was well wrapped up this time by Will Hepher.
Dorking wriggled the ball away after getting pushed back into their own half, and the ball was
picked up by their speedster left winger, who flew past two or three flailing Olney defenders,
making his way to 2 metres short of the Olney 22. Dorking continued to pound at the Olney door
and despite some formidable defending, the pounding kept coming and the inevitable penalty
to Dorking arrived. The ref was now clearly unhappy with Olney as the infringement count rose
to unacceptable levels, Olney now knew the next one would bring a yellow card and a 7-minute
spell in the sin bin. Dorking chose the lineout and Olney fought well, pushing them inside and
creating a counter-maul that caused Dorking to get in front of the lifter. Hepher ended up with
the ball, scrum to Olney and a chance to relieve their own pressure. Olney set up the clearance
well through Bickers and Harries, but the kick failed to leave the field and fell straight into the
hands of the Dorking speedster. He flicked the switch on his afterburners and went back up the
blindside, sensing Olney napping in defence. A secondary carry got them over the gain line, and
the attack was on for Dorking. They set up a nice bit of interplay, but Olney looked well
positioned to cover, until a clever kick put them in behind, and Hubbard did well to drop on the
live ball in his own try area. Olney really needed to chase the drop-out hard… they didn't. Even
though the drop-out made the halfway line, the ball was taken well, nudged through, and
bounced up into the centre's hands. At full flight, he smartly found a good supporting runner on
his inside - TRY to Dorking.
Dorking 5 – 0 Olney.

The restart went well and Wright gobbled up the Dorking 8, forcing the box kick, and Olney
began to attack again from their own half. A nice carry by Monty Lee had them looking to drive
through the middle through Barnett-Vincent and Hepher. A blatant knock-on from Dorking gave
Olney the scrum on their own 22m, and a yellow card was also administered. The penalty kick
from Stenson was good, reaching the opposition 22m, but the Dorking winger pushed the ball
back inside, however he landed off the pitch, which is illegal. Despite the team of three officials,
the referring team got this completely wrong, which clearly incensed the Olney coaching team.
Dorking played on and got away with another one, kicking the ball well to 5m short of Olney's
22m.
Olney, a little aggrieved, executed the lineout well and carried up the guts via Constantine, with
Perkins clearing out with some gusto. The attack was on again and Olney cleverly picked their
way through into the Dorking half. Dorking were now also allowed to be offside on numerous
occasions, incensing the Olney coaching team even further. The pass from Stenson eventually
broke down under sustained pressure with one going forward to a Monty Lee carry.
The scrum from Dorking was again obliterated by Olney but once again to no advantage. This
time Dorking didn't mess around and kicked the ball back down into the corner, they were now
beginning to show they knew how to use the wind and slope to their advantage. But the wind bit
back and pushed the ball out on the full. Lineout to Olney on the Dorking 10m line, though the
assistant referees pegged them back at least 5m short.
With a break in play for a Dorking injury, Olney rolled on a few substitutions and Will Light
entered the field of play for Monty Lee. The stoppage lasted well over 90 seconds as Dorking
dealt with their injury at an unbelievably slow pace, only for the lad to run off and be replaced.
The break clearly disrupted Olney and the lineout was overthrown. Dorking mopped it up but
some hard shots from the Olney front five won the ball back, only for them to throw a foolish
offload to one of the straggling Dorking pack. He powered up the midfield to take Dorking back
into the Olney half. The box kick came, which had French having to turn and cover with
onrushing chasers, the ball was difficult to collect, and French had to think quickly to scramble
and take on three Dorking chasers coming hard. He did very well under that pressure to set up a
ruck on the 5m line, with Hubbard clearing the ball. Ideally it needed to go off the pitch, but the
swirling wind had other ideas. The Dorking left winger collected and weaved his way inside, then
the inevitable box kick came again, turning Olney for the fourth time into what was becoming a
coffin corner. Olney now executed really well and created the angle through a strong carry from
Harries. Bickers took charge and hit a well-cultured box kick just over the 10m line.
Dorking were all over the place for the next 2 minutes and Stenson grabbed hold of his opposite
number over the halfway line. Their only option was to try and bulldoze their way through Olney
until their 9, and yes, you guessed it - popped a clever box kick over the top of the Olney
defensive line. Their right winger got the bounce this time but was caught by Fasanya and
Adebayo, who pushed him just short of touch. Fasanya, thinking he could legally go again at the
ball, tried to counter-ruck, but the ref gave a penalty to Dorking and inexplicably also brandished
a yellow card for Fasanya, which seemed harsh. Olney won the lineout and the next scrum and
cleared their lines well to the opposite touchline.
Now the game was stuck in the dreaded coffin corner again, with Olney committing silly
penalties and allowing Dorking good field position, exactly where they clearly wanted to be. The
home crowd could sense the inevitable. A series of messy lineouts, rucks and carries ensued
until the ball flipped back to the left-hand side and the left winger was in for Dorking, with a
good conversion from the junction of the 22m and 5m line.
Dorking 12 – 0 Olney

The restart was knocked on by Olney, which started to let Dorking think this might be their day
as the crowd grew even louder. The Olney scrum had their say this time and ploughed the
Dorking front row into the ground. Penalty to Olney, perhaps too early for the home crowd to
think the lads from Olney were throwing in the towel.
The kick was good from Stenson, setting up the lineout about 10m out from the Dorking tryline.
Dorking tried to sack it, Olney recycled well and Bickers hit up Darragh Fitzgerald wonderfully.
He pivoted and found Stenson, and the Dorking defence was cut open with ease, a stark
warning that Olney hadn't come here today to make up the numbers. Try to Stenson, who
added the conversion.
Dorking 12 – 7 Olney

Second Half
Olney were now playing towards the coffin corner themselves, but had the wind behind their
backs. The kick-off was well fielded, and Olney set themselves away with purpose, Perkins
finding French outside the 22m before he was dragged into touch by the big Dorking prop, who
injured himself in the process. Another monumentally long stoppage followed as we waited for
him to leave the field. Olney nicked the lineout through Jack Sivils and Constantine went on
another marauding run. Olney pushed their play hard and put Adebayo into space, but he was
another winger forced into touch. The lineout was better from Dorking and they box kicked
behind Olney again, but the ball was fielded very well this time by Perkins. Stenson hit a superb
drop-out, which was collected just outside the 22m, but Dorking panicked and kicked it straight
back to Olney, read perfectly by Stenson, who marked the ball coming over his shoulder.
Another almost 2-minute break followed as the Dorking physios entered the field for around the
fifteenth time. A good kick from Stenson got Olney back up to the halfway line. Then a foolish
melee resulted in yellow cards for both Perkins and the Dorking 6. The resulting free kick missed
its mark and Dorking were allowed to carry.….Wrong, as Wright came through with an absolutely
thunderous hit on the oncoming Dorking carrier that lifted the Olney support, but the ref blunted
it by calling Olney off their feet at the ruck.
Dorking looked to kick to the opposite wing, using the wind. It fell short, but cruelly so, the ball
was knocked on by Olney in the backfield. The scrum went to Dorking, and the penalty count
started to build against Olney again as they crept offside, giving Dorking a good attacking
platform. Dorking elected for the 3 points and got them.
Dorking 15 – 7 Olney

The restart was deep and high into the corner that had proved so successful for Dorking in the
first half. This time Olney's chase was hard and meaningful as the chasers smashed into the
Dorking kick-off receiving party. Olney were now trying a little too hard to execute their game
plan, which only allowed Dorking to interfere with it. A messy scrum with only 7 players in it saw
Garvey get the ball scrappily away to Stenson. A good carry by Barstow and a clear-out by Brock
eventually got the ball into some clear blue. Stenson dummied his pass as the Dorking 13
rushed up once more, and the space was in front of him. He found Adebayo, who had the
afterburners on, and Olney charged up to the Dorking 22m line. The key now was the supporting
lines, Constantine was there to use his footwork and power, only to be cut down less than 1m
short. Olney thought they'd scored but the ref dragged them back to an earlier infringement. The
penalty kick was good and Olney started to purr.
Stenson was now off the pitch with a recurring hamstring issue, so the backline was reshuffled,
with French coming in at ten. The lineout was good, the carry even better, and another penalty
to Olney in the red zone. Perkins was also back on the pitch and Olney sensed the time was
now. The forwards took control, they battered hard at a decent scrambling Dorking defence, but
the bodies ran dry until Will Light powerfully screwed his way through a hole to dot down under
the posts. Try to Will Light.
Dorking 15 – 12 Olney.

With little time left on the clock, Olney now knew exactly what they needed to do. Powerful
carries from Brock and Howie Barnett-Vincent gave them superb field position. Hubbard picked
up off the floor and took 3 Dorking defenders with him. Another penalty to Olney. The lineout
was executed with surgical precision from MacManus and Hepher, giving Olney permission to
play again. Sivils carried like a man twice his size, Olney were beginning to puff out their chests.
Lineout 7m out to Olney, again to the back, this time to Wright, who popped the ball to
MacManus. He then lifted it in the air to the oncoming Adebayo. It was a move with flair and
purpose all in one, as the Dorking players stood in amazement and watched it unfold. The one
thorn in Olney's side on the pitch, the big Dorking prop, read it well though, catching a boot of
Adebayo's and causing him to come crashing down to earth. Olney went again but gave Dorking
an out in their urgency, knocking on and handing Dorking an exit.
The lineout wasn't straight and MacManus loved that, scrum to Olney on the halfway line and
another chance to attack with style. Scrum penalty to Olney, Constantine opting to tap and go,
Fitzgerald cutting through on a lovely line. This is the Olney Colts the crowd wanted to see.
Dorking gave away another penalty and Hubbard kicked to the coffin corner. A mid-ball off
Hepher to Donny and then, unbelievably, they executed the same move again. Adebayo on the
sweeping inside ball, again achingly short. Olney went again, Howie BV with a strong carry, short
again. They tried wider through Harries and Hubbard, but to be fair to Dorking, they shut the
door time and time again.
Olney tried to stretch the game to the opposite wing and this time Dorking triumphed as Olney
went off their feet. Penalty to Dorking.
It was in the final moments of play that Howie Barnett-Vincent appeared to suffer a serious
injury, requiring numerous physios and the stretcher. To get him safely from the pitch, the game
stopped for nearly 8 minutes, and Howie was rightfully applauded off the field by everyone
present.
The clock now looked like a heavy burden on the Olney shoulders as they set up for the lineout
to Dorking, the break in play probably benefiting the home team more than the away side.
Dorking hit Olney hard, creeping up the pitch inch by inch until the inevitable box kick in behind.
Olney, now looking flat-footed, failed to retreat, allowing Dorking to release even more pressure.
Glances up at the clock were now frequent from the Olney players and support team as the
whistle crept ever closer.
But from somewhere deep inside, Olney found the ability to get up off the canvas one more
time. The ball was ripped, they got it wide and fast, Brock with a big carry, Perkins with an even
bigger one. Olney coughed it up once more in what was becoming a frantic finale, and yes, who
gets the ball? The Dorking talisman, the big prop. Unbelievably, he gets the ball ripped by the
back three. The Dorking crowd were incredulous. Olney set up some smart rucks to steady
themselves and then, bang, Fasanya was in space at full tilt. Within seconds he was up to the
halfway line, flattening the opposition fullback. But for some the pace was too much and Olney
knocked on again, giving Dorking another chance to see the game out. They took it well and
nudged the ball back into Olney's 22m with minutes to go, essentially saying, if you're that good,
play out from there.
Olney exited well through the boot of Dylan French, who chased his own kick hard to apply real
pressure on Dorking. That forced their kick straight into touch, Olney chose the lineout. It was
slightly overthrown but well fielded in the air by Hepher. Olney set up a couple of rucks to try and
generate some ruck speed, but Dorking had been good at slowing this all day. Another huge
carry from Wright gave them momentum at last. A carry from Sivils, who had been a ball of
energy since coming on, and then the ball found French, who popped inside to Perkins. His
timing and angle were excellent, as was the offload back to French. Olney were now in the
Dorking 22m and just needed to hold their nerve, but they couldn't help themselves and played
an audacious offload that was gobbled up. Now Dorking just needed to go around the corner a
few times to suck the energy out of the game and they'd be going to Sixways.
The box kick came but was covered by Hubbard, who was then put in what can only be
described as a headlock by the Dorking winger. Hubbard isn't one to be pushed around though,
and he fought him off to set up good ball. Barstow carried hard at the tired Dorking defence.
Connor Wright made another break and threw an inside ball to Monty Lee, could this be the
one? He was dragged metres short, but Olney still had the ball. They went again, only to force it,
and the chance was gone.
But wait….. The assistant referee had seen something off the ball. Dorking's discipline had been
poor throughout the second half, and maybe there was one last glimmer of hope. He reversed
the penalty and Olney had one final chance. Perkins tapped it on the floor and went hard at the
line, the support good and strong. Wright saw his chance and took an audacious leap over the
ruck to dot down, and the place went mental. Hubbard added the extras.
Dorking 15 – 19 Olney

For the first time in this game, Olney were in front, and for the last 15 minutes, they had also
been clearly the best team on the pitch. The restart went dead but Dorking got one last chance
through a dropped scrum height. They kicked to the corner, but Olney were now in full flow, they
tore the ball off the Dorking players with ease, set up the ruck with controlled carries, and the
last kick fell to Dylan French (who, it has to be said, had stepped up magnificently at flyhalf). He
booted the ball into the Dorking crowd.

It was Olney's day! Final Score Dorking 15 – 19 Olney

Post-Match Reaction
Ronan Perkins – Vice Captain
“The boys were never in doubt that we could get the job done, we just didn’t know when.
It wasn’t our best performance however the boy’s showed patience, trust, and grit which got us
to pull through.
I couldn’t be prouder with everyone and I’m sure the game brought us much closer as a group to
help us in the future”
.
Chris Denoven – Colts Head Coach
“The game was far from perfect in our eyes, but cup rugby isn’t about performance it’s about
results. The lads looked in charge for over half of the second period, so I was rarely in doubt that
we’d score. Overall, super impressed with the lad’s indefatigable belief and grit to get us over
the line. As always, we will go away analyse the harder and softer parts of the game and make
sure we are all working hard to get better as a group, but let’s not forget or take anything away
from the lads – that’s two finals in two years and that in itself is a huge feat!
“A couple of lads I’d like to mention in despatches are Dylan French, who stepped up brilliantly
at fly half when we lost our skipper Beau. Ronan Perkins & Connor Wright, just unreal in the
game today at times both were unplayable and finally Maxton Hubbard, he had to dig us out of
some shit on numerous occasions, and he never shirked that responsibility once”.

Man of the Match – Beau Stenson
Steadied the ship in the first half under some real pressure from Dorking’s clever kicking and
blitz defence. Scored for us at a time when we needed it and broke free wonderfully in the
second half again to relieve some huge pressure. Great game Beau – get that hammy sorted!