Dartfordians are up and running at the third attempt in Regional 2 South East after a 29-19 home win over Thurrock.

The hosts started well, defending strongly against some big Thurrock runners and keeping control of the ball when in possession. Space was soon created for prop Louis Chapman, and he crashed over to open the scoring.

Thurrock immediately hit back, forcing a penalty, and although this was missed they kept driving forward. From a good lineout they pushed on and moved the ball wide, and with the Dartfordians defence too narrow the visitors scored in the gap and converted to lead by two.

The home team regained the initiative when they forced play deep into the visitors’ 22 and from a strong scrum passed the ball to Jarlath Hetherington at No.10, who used his size to go over under the posts. The conversion gave Dartfordians a 12-7 lead.

The big Thurrock forwards were kept in check but a mistimed tackle from a high kick saw Harvey Whyte tackle the catcher in the air and receive a yellow card. With the extra man, Thurrock continued with their strategy of taking the ball on through their forwards, eventually weight of numbers told and the visitors scored a converted try to lead 14-12 at the break.

Darts started the second half well, using a combination of forwards and backs to force the visitors on the defensive. Eventually the pressure told with continued infringements resulting in a yellow card for the visitors.

The hosts continued to push play deep into the 22 and when a free-kick was awarded after a disrupted scrum a quick tap was taken and the ball given to Ted Rackley, who smashed his way over to give Dartfordians the lead again at 17-14.

Thurrock hit back with their own strong play, but the defensive work by Darts was sound and when the ball went loose Ryan Chandler gathered, took play into the Thurrock half before popping the ball to Miles Taylor, who used his pace to get over the line. Hetherington’s extras made it 24-14.

A penalty for Thurrock gave them a chance to clear their lines, but it didn’t find touch and Elliot Soler-Gomez made a great return run and forced a penalty for his side. A solid lineout took the ball on and the driving mauls won a penalty 10 metres out. Darts took the scrum and moved the ball blind to Whyte, who scored the fifth home try for a 15-point cushion.

With only minutes to go Thurrock put together a great move and scored in the corner, but with Kieran Clarke outstanding in the forwards and man-of-the-match Miles Taylor excelling at scrum half, Dartfordians were deserved winners.

Dartfordians visit Reeds Weybridge on Saturday.