This was a high pressure game that Dartford Valley needed to win in order to stay in touch with the lower half of the league.
It was identified that defence and traditional Dartford Determination was the required basic ingredient. Indeed events during the week conspired to make the task more difficult. Due to injuries players were called into the squad that do not usually feature, indeed, one player was coaching the U 11s and found himself pulling on his boots for the 1st team !!
The squad produced a gritty display that demonstrated in equal amounts their defensive and attacking ability.
At half time Dartford led 10 - 7, it’s been a long since happened ! The second half saw Whitstable score, against the run of play, a try from their 22 m taking the score to 10 - 14, however, Dartford, with players running on empty, playing out of position and carrying injury still managed to force two successful penalties, as the ball sailed between the posts time was blown to win the game 16 - 14 thereby securing a vital 4 points. This was a superb team effort and well deserved.
It has been a difficult season to date, however, we live to fight another day and who knows what is come, with our new found confidence and the return of key players we can look forward with some optimism.