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North Dorset   72  vs   Ivel   0  -  Saturday 12th December 2009
 
Pictures from Dave Fowler
 

Ivel, beset with injuries and unavailability, had to call on their Vets hooker, Simon Burrows, to help out against a team who are top of the league. From the start, sustained pressure on the Ivel line soon resulted in two quick tries, one of which was converted. Ivel's poor tackling allowed the North Dorset backs to dominate throughout the game and soon they went further ahead with a penalty.

The only highlight, in the first half, for Ivel was a good break by Richard Metcalfe but his pass was dropped with the line beckoning. The hosts then replied with another converted try but stout defence by Ivel kept the half-time score to 22pts to Nil.

Soon after the re-start, North Dorset realised they had the beating of Ivel by just running the ball along the backs. With this gameplan working there followed three converted tries in quick succession. From then on, North Dorset continued to dominate, scoring regularly and it was only in the last five minutes, when Ivel kept the ball amongst the forwards, that the visitors for Yeovil looked anything like a match for their opponents. The game finished with a convincing win to North Dorset by 72pts to Nil.

Ivel face Frome next week, at the Showground, who are second in the league, another tough match beckons. Ivel will be relieved to have the Christmas break and will hope to have some of their injured players back in the New Year. Once again, Mike Ellis was Man of the Match for Ivel.
 
 
 
 
 
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Ivel  25  vs  North Dorset 36 - Saturday 10th April 2010
 
Pictures from Dave Fowler
   

Match Ball Sponsor Roger Knight of Smile Entertainment

   

Ivel’s last home match of the season was against a team third in the league and who put seventy-two un answered points past them earlier in the season.

In the first ten minutes Ivel really took it to the opposition but didn’t score. Then North Dorset secured line-out ball. They fed it to their number 12 and he broke through tackles and with a quick pass exchange scored a try. The follow-up conversion was scored. The visitors kept up the pressure on Ivel and, within ten minutes, they had scored again. North Dorset (ND) won a scrum five metres from the Ivel line. The ball was moved through hands and, despite the presence of two tacklers they touched down. The conversion was missed. Ivel kicked-off, ND caught the ball and passed it the width of the pitch. It reached their winger who, following an interchange of passes with a team-mate, eluded the tacklers and scored. The conversion was missed. Twenty minutes gone and it was looking like a cricket score was on the cards. But this Ivel team was made of sterner stuff and they soon roused themselves. Ivel Captain, and scrum-half, Alex Gillies was directing the players around as he wanted them. ND secured a scrum following an Ivel error. The ball came loose and Ivel flanker Troy Fowler saw his opportunity. He grabbed the ball and ran for over thirty metres before being stopped. He managed to off-load to Rob Burnell who made a fantastic off load to Ivel full-back Tom Flynn. Tom escaped the attentions of the defenders and scored. He then scored the additional points. In minutes Ivel got more points on the board. ND infringed, Ivel were awarded a penalty and Flynn added the three points. This woke ND up. Five minutes later they had a rolling maul 22 metres out. The ball was fed to their outside-centre. He spotted a gap in the static defence and scored. The conversion was scored. Ivel went back up the field and captured more points from another Flynn penalty.

Half-time

Ivel   13       N Dorset   24

The second-half was more of a competition. Both sides now had the makings of each other and it became a game of opportunities and attrition. It took over fifteen minutes for the first points of the half to be scored. Ivel won the ball at a lineout and it went to inside centre Lee Jones. He made a bursting run through ND’s defence to be held up inches from the line. Ivel’s support was there when needed and another fantastic off load in the tackle saw prop Sam Bennett take the opportunity to score. Flynn added the conversion to bring the scores closer. It took another ten minutes before ND got an opportunity to reply. Ivel’s pack was starting to dominate and dictate, both in the scrums and at the breakdown. Praise is due to a lot of players but prop Neil Jackson, flankers Troy Fowler and Matt Berridge, along with number eight Rob Burnell shone with their disruptive techniques. Unfortunately the efforts up front weren’t of use with ND’s next score. They moved the ball across the pitch and, with tackles being missed, scored a try but missed the conversion. In no time they have moved further forward. Ivel’s Jones kicked ahead for winger Alex McGuinn to chase down. ND’s replacement full-back beat him to the ball and then ran three-quarters the length of the pitch to score. The extra points were added. Five minutes from the end and Ivel took a quick tap penalty five metres from the opposition try line. From the resulting maul Burnell picked up and drove over the line to score. Flynn’s conversion attempt missed, but only just – it hit the upright! For the remainder of the match (some seven minutes of injury time played) Ivel were in the dominance and it was only unfortunate knock-ons or forward passes that prevented Ivel from winning, or at the least drawing level.

Full-time

Ivel   25        N Dorset  36

An Ivel spokesman said: “This was always going to be a tough game for us, but it was closer than expected. The lads put in a magnificent performance today. Showed what they are capable of and it gives us something to build on for next season. We’ve got the last game of the season away at Devizes next Saturday. If we put in this same level, or better, performance then there’s no reason why we can’t finish the season on a high with a win. Let’s get the numbers we need at training and show again what teamwork can produce.”

Ivel’s Man of the Match: Troy Fowler