Dunstablians IIs continued their fine post-Christmas form with a 19-15 victory against Old Northamptonians IIs on Saturday.

Both sides began brightly, despite the fact that Dees had been some time without a league fixture.

Dees dominated possession in the opening quarter but, despite numerous visits to ONs territory, the home side were unable to put any points on the board and it was the visitors who opened the scoring with a well-taken converted try.

This galvanised Dees into action and tries from the effervescent Simon Morgan and replacement number eight Glen Brinkley were converted by fly-half Joel Driscol.

However, ONs added a well-taken drop-goal to cut Dees' lead to 14-10 at the break.

Dees faced an uphill battle in the second half, but manufactured a sterling performance to claim victory.

This was typified by the front row, where veteran prop Copcutt and skipper Alex Ayres put in man of the match performances.

Old Northamptonians touched down with a catch-and-drive move from five metres out that was converted by their fly-half, but it was the last time that the visitors dominated the set-piece.

Dunstablians used their bench to good effect, with Egyptologist Simon Howard lending his considerable bulk to the back row.

Intense pressure from the Dees pack allowed Andy Champ to score in the corner, and the home side's defence then held firm to secure victory.

Old Northamptonians put Dees under intense pressure in the last five minutes, but Dees battled to a deserved win.


>> Late strike kicks Dees U18s out of cup


After controlling most of the game Dunstablians U18s were on the wrong end of a 21-19 defeat to Long Buckby, who stole victory with the last kick of the game.

And it was a cruel way for Dees to be sent spiralling out of the East Midlands U18 Referees Cup at the second round stage.

Dees were forced to rest a number of players for the game and had to call upon a number of the U16 squad, with props Dan Hilliard and Dan Roberts together with winger James Rochester answering the call.

Electing to play with the wind in the first half was a decision that was ultimately to prove costly for Dees.

Dunstablians started the brighter of the sides and opened the scoring on six minutes with a well struck penalty from scrum-half David Brown.
Buckby were kept pinned in their own half, and Dees landed another penalty 10 minutes later.

Indecision in Buckby's defence then allowed captain Declan Hall to cross the whitewash from a superb driving maul 17 minutes in, with Brown adding the extras.

And another Brown penalty increased the Dees lead to 13-0 at the break.

Thinking they had done enough to win the game, the Bedfordshire side took their their foot off the gas in the second half.

Buckby used the wind to gain territory and kicked two penalties and scored a converted try within the first 10 minutes to bring the score to 16-13.

And a handling error in their own try area by Dees allowed Buckby to snatch five more points.

With the clock ticking down Dees attacked and were awarded another penalty, and Brown was again on target to propel Dees into a 19-18 lead.

However, from the restart a Dees infringement saw Buckby awarded a penalty which they duly landed to snatch victory.


>> Saxons slay Dees as relegation fears deepen


Dunstablians U16s failed to ease their Hertfordshire and Middlesex League relegation fears as they lost 19-14 at Harpenden Saxons.

Playing their first game for three weeks, Dees just lost out in their penultimate league game of the season.

From the kick off Dees were straight into their game, with their forwards dominating the opposition pack in the tight and lineout, with jumpers Stuart Caines and Dale Martin disrupting the Harpenden ball resulting in three turnovers. The backs were also looking dangerous, with Harpenden struggling to deal with the pace of Dees' back three.

After 15 minutes of sustained pressure the ball was spun wide from a scrum inside the Harpenden half through to Dees left wing James Rochester for him to weave through the Harpenden defence only to be held up just in front of the line.

However, prop Matt Nouch was in support and took the final pass to score near the posts, with captain Connor Fleet-Chapman converting.

Harpenden were forced into some desperate defending, but conceded again when the ball was put through hands and top try scorer Matt Anderson broke several tackles to score under the posts, with centre Ben Dales adding the extras.

Dees went into the break 14-0 up, but that was as good as it got.

The Bedfordshire side controlled possession at the start of the second half, but Harpenden rolled the changes and battled back.

Dees began to tire and started to miss their tackles and Harpenden hit back with a try when their full-back arced into the line and broke a tackle to score a converted try under the posts.

With Dees' backs to the wall, Harpenden's confidence grew and they levelled the scores with an intercept try thatset up an easy conversion.

And Harpenden gained the crucial next score when they went over for an unconverted try in the corner.

Dees were forced to reshuffle their pack in the final few minutes, with winger Adam Chant playing flanker, and were cruelly denied a winning try at the death.

After some good forward work Matt Anderson raced down the wing for what looked like the winning try, before the ref called play back for a very late call from the touch judge.


>> Hemel Hempstead hammered by Dees U14s


Ambitious Dunstablians U14s moved a step closer to their target of seeing out the season unbeaten in the league with a clinical win 53-0 win at Hemel Hempstead.

The home side were a man short, but Dees flanker Ben Crapper offered his services to the hosts despite the fact that he knew he would likely end up on the losing side.

Even though Hemel were at the foot of the table and without a league win Dees took no chances and started well with a steady stream of tries from Ollie Clarke, Tom Maslin and Charlie Burnett, who completed his hat-trick before the break.

Harry Barter slotted a couple of conversions to give Dees a 29-0 lead at the break.

Dees continued the second half in the same vein and added further converted tries from Barter and Ciaran Mills to seal victory.

And a try from top scorer Lewis Taylor put the icing on the cake as Dees cemented their hopes of winning the league.

Stars of the day for Dees were Burnett with his hat-trick, prop Maslin, and a brave show against his team-mates from Crapper.

This win moves Dees to the top of Division Four in the Hertfordshire and Middlesex League on points difference, level on points with Harrow, but with a game in hand.

If they do win the league Dees will be presented with their trophy at Saracens' match against Harlequins at Wembley on April 17.

This should help to focus their minds for their remaining two matches, but first they will take a break from competitive rugby with a friendly at Olney on Sunday.


>> Dees U10s show Old Albanians clean pair of heels


Dunstablians U10s excelled as they registered four straight wins without conceding a point at Old Albanians at the weekend.

They beat Old Albanians' A team 5-0, their development side 45-0, their B string 10-0 and their development team again 40-0.

Dees maybe should have won the A team tussle by a wider scoreline and some handling mistakes and rustiness led to some frustration.

Plenty of tries were run in by B team players, with Sam Renforth, Louis Brandham and Scott Adams all scoring heavily.


>> Old Albanians and Hemel Hempstead too strong for Dees


Plucky Dunstablians U9s competed well at the weekend but were just edged out in all three of their games against Old Albanians and Hemel Hempstead.

Good, hard tackles were made in all of the matches by Dees, with Henry Hardwicke twice crossing the whitewash and Tristan Randolph touching down once.

Dees lost both their matches to Old Albanians 10-5 and went down 25-5 to Hemel Hempstead.