DARTFORDIANS welcomed Bancroft from Essex to Bourne Rd for an EDF Vase match looking forward to renewing the Kent-Essex rivalry which has been sadly lacking in the leagues for many years.

Not much was known about the visitors apart from their league record being similar to Darts’ and a tough match was expected.

Darts made several changes to their recent league team.

Matt Kear and Dave Ratcliffe came in despite having played very little rugby between them over the last year, but both performed extremely well.

Positional changes throughout the team were expected to give the home team a slow start, but confidence from recent performances was high and Darts were out of the blocks in blistering fashion.

Good set piece and loose ball was won and from a great high-kick placed under Bancroft’s posts was knocked, enabling Ben Crouch to pounce on the loose ball and score a converted try to make it 7-0 within two minutes.

Darts continued to be destructive in the loose and again from great ball, Crouch scored his second to put the hosts 12-0 to the good after five minutes.

It looked like Bancroft were going to capitulate as Darts played some great rugby all over the park.

Eventually from a lineout and driving maul, Matt Edwards went over to score another unconverted try. History told us sides from Essex rarely give up and this was the case with Bancroft, who started to win good ball and tried to move it wide at all times.

However, great defence from Darts kept them at bay and eventually the only way to score was from a drop goal by their fly half to make the score 17-3 at half-time.

The second half started and Bancroft had the bit between their teeth.

They were pressing really hard and Darts’ concentration lapsed to give the visitors good momentum.

Darts’ tackling again was excellent and a penalty was all they gave away.

It appeared Bancroft were the slightly fitter side at this point and some bad decision making by Darts meant they remained under pressure.

Another penalty for the visitors meant the match was there for the taking and if the Bancroft number eight had not dropped the ball on reaching the line, Darts would have been in serious trouble.

Eventually the pressure told and Bancroft scored a good try wide out.

Darts now reverted to slowing the game down and started to produce some good driving mauls which frustrated the visitors and stopped them making any progress, allowing the hosts to finish the game with a hard-fought 17-14 victory.