Darts travelled to Tunbridge Wells knowing they would be in for a tough match against the only unbeaten side in London 2 SE.
It was a close run match at Dartfordians home ground but recent results indicated that the home side had hit some form but this ended up in a deserved win for Wells who showed immense strength in the contact areas and no lack of pace and stealth in the backs. The first half started with Darts playing against the wind and as expected the home team used the wind to gain field position and try and attack from within the 22. Darts were holding up really well and were strong in the set piece especially the scrummage where they had the upper hand for most of the match. Although the game was being played at one end of the field it was more even in terms of possession but it was clear that Wells were man for man the far bigger side and used that advantage well. A penalty was conceded in front of the posts which duly dispatched by the Wells full back. 3-0. Darts were not unduly worried and continued to work well in the tight and even took a couple of strikes against the head as well as turning over the wells lineout. The defence was holding well but when an attack was stopped the play was taken back to a penalty and Darts unaware that advantage was being played allowed the impressive Wells full back to tap and go and after evading a couple of wrong footed defenders go over under the posts and convert. 10-0. It still didn't look bad for Darts and they were still winning ball but were finding it difficult to penetrate the strong tackling Wells backs. Jo Gills coming in to make his debut as a fly half was kicking nicely into space and one such kick had Wells having to turn and chase back well into their own 22. There was a good chase but inexperience showed when they went up too quickly and the home right winger who showed all through the match that he had played at a far higher level avoided one tackle broke through a second and ran 70yards to score Wells' second try.15-0. Darts still continued to battle well but the rush defence from Wells was taking place all over the pitch not allowing the normally dangerous Darts backline to penetrate. Darts had a number of opportunities driving the ball tight and were close to going over but they were faced by a brick wall. As the half was coming to a close Darts looked happy to try and start the second half with the wind only 15 points down Unfortunately they hit the self destruct button and on their own 10 metre line won the ball easily only to see it dropped and nobody was able to get their hands on the ball other than a wells player who went over the line for a third try which was converted. 22-0. This was a blow to Darts who had played better than the score would have suggested but their own mistakes plus clinical finishing by Wells were the reason.
The second half started and again Darts showed good strength in the scrum and again had a lot of good pressure in the Wells 22 but it was same story of lots of possession but not making the crucial breakthrough. The big Wells centre allowed the home side to clear their lines when he used his great strength and power to take the ball up well past their 22 and from this the disorganised Darts defence never recovered and Wells scored their bonus point try. The work ethic of the Darts players was as ever first class but the sheer weight of attacks were taking their toll on the players bodies. The visitors had to use all their replacements and although at one time Wells were a man short and having to go to uncontested scrums they couldn't make any headway and after one last fantastic effort to score it was wells who ended up scoring again. Having repelled up to as many as 25 drives they finally turned over the ball and worked their way all the way down the pitch to score. Darts were nearly spent and Wells managed to outflank them twice more to end the match 46-0 winners however the score doesn't give credit to the way Darts handled the game against a team who looked like they should already be playing comfortably in London 1.
The old adage of a good big'un always beats a good littl'un was clearly seen today and the gulf between an unbeaten side at the top of the table and a side doing fantastically well in their first season back in London 2 was apparent. This was a good lesson for Darts and hopefully the players come away seeing the level that they have to aspire to in the future. The players have a week off to recuperate and then get back to winning ways.