SLIDESHOW: Dinnington RUFC v Alnwick in pictures

A penalty miss, with the last kick of the game, saw Dinnington just miss out on victory in a tight 6-6 draw with Alnwick.
Dinnington RUFC v Alnwick RFCDinnington RUFC v Alnwick RFC
Dinnington RUFC v Alnwick RFC

But, considering the hosts played three quarters of the game with 14 men and their season so far, it was an excellent Northern Division North One East result.

Dinnington still remain third from bottom but with a trip to Guisborough, in their next game, the signs are looking good for them to get out of trouble.

All of Alnwick’s five defeats this season, coming into this game, had been away from home so Dinnington went into the game with a good incentive.

Dinnington RUFC v Alnwick RFCDinnington RUFC v Alnwick RFC
Dinnington RUFC v Alnwick RFC

But the visitors dominated the opening plays of the game and took the lead with a fourth-minute penalty.

Two minutes later Dinnington won a penalty themselves but chose to take it quickly only to knock on in front of the posts.

On their next attack, Dinnington lost the ball again and then had to be on their toes as Alnwick countered.

Just before the mid-point of the half, Dinnington again turned down a kick for goal to kick for the corner only for the catch and drive to be stopped short of the line.

Dinnington RUFC v Alnwick RFCDinnington RUFC v Alnwick RFC
Dinnington RUFC v Alnwick RFC

At the scrum a punch was thrown and Dinnington had a player sent off.

Alnwick cleared their lines but Dinnington were soon back, from another kick to the corner, only to be stopped short again and then forced into touch.

This time Alnwick cleared their lines better and were soon threatening the home line where, having being repelled, they opted for a drop goal to move 6-0 ahead with five minutes of the half to play.

The visitors then pressed in the last minutes of the half but Dinnington held out to prevent any further scores.

Dinnington started the second half with it all to do and the ‘all’ nearly became bigger as Alnwick started on the front foot.

It took some stout defending and a big hit from Andrew Aiono to stop Alnwick in their tracks before they were able to clear their lines properly.

Dinnigton could do nothing with their next possession and almost gave up more points when they fumbles and then had to recover quickly as Alnwick kicked through.

Both sides then made errors with their possession before Jonny West kicked Dinnington into the game with a penalty with a quarter of the game to go.

From this point on it was Dinnington who looked the more threatening and, after both sides had kicked possession away, they kicked a penalty to the corner to set up a catch and drive.

This was stopped short but Dinnington were awarded a penalty and West levelled the scores with less than ten minutes to go.

They then pressed for an unlikely victory. West missed with an attempted drop-goal attempt with four minutes to go and then, on the last play, was off target with a penalty.

This was an extremely encouraging performance from Dinnington that they need to produce in every game until the end of the season. They travel to Guisborough tomorrow.

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