Dagenham were the visitors to Wiggy Park on Saturday in the last sixteen of the National cup. And with both sides enjoying almost identical records in their respective leagues a cracking encounter was promised.
This drew the biggest crowd to watch a Tamworth fixture for many years giving proceedings a proper cup tie vibe.
Right from the off it was evident that this was going to be a physical affair with some crunching tackles coming from both sides.
Tamworth edged into an early lead with a Danny Norton penalty.
The hosts than suffered a double injury blow losing firstly influential Vice Captain Josh Roe with a twisted knee closely followed by Fullback Matt Williams with a groin injury.
This tipped the scales in favour of the visitors whilst Tamworth readjusted after their enforced reshuffle.
In a rather expensive five minutes for Tamworth Dagenham firstly levelled with a penalty and then took the lead with a well worked converted try and then another penalty to go into the break 3-13 to the good.
The second half started with no let up in the physicality as Tamworth threw everything into trying to get back into this tie. Dagenham were permanently reduced in numbers on 47 minutes when their front row was red carded for aiming a punch at a Tamworth player on the floor.
Within a minute of this incident Tamworth were right back in the hunt Leighton Norton crossing the whitewash Danny Norton converting to get them back to within three points.
Tamworth were definitely in the ascendancy at this stage and kept pressing but the obvious experience in the Dagenham side started to show as they went about running the clock down the busiest guy at this point seemed to be the Dagenham Physio as he moved from “Injured” player to “Injured” player frustrating Tamworth and not allowing the game to flow with any tempo.
Then came the killer blow as Tamworth threw everything into attack they had to start taking the odd risk defensively and Dagenham pounced when a huge pass cut out a big part of the Tamworth defence where their winger found Tamworth short on numbers and streaked away to score. The extra’s were added and Tamworth needed two scores if they were to win the game.
They did score another try Kit Smith powering over but they couldn’t find the other score they needed before the clock ran out and it was the Essex side that went through to the quarter finals bringing to an end what has been quite a journey for this Tamworth side who despite their obvious disappointment at their cup exit could hold their heads high at what they have achieved this term and can now spend the summer repairing bodies and getting fit ready for the different and exciting challenges that await them come September.
Final Score
Tamworth 15
Dagenham 20