Vigo received an early Christmas present with this 7 try defeat of fellow strugglers, Dartford Valley. Both sides were desperate for a win as relegation looms, but this win moved Vigo up two places and outside the relegation zone.
Dartford arrived at Vigo having already beaten the Villagers on their own all-weather pitch, but this typical Swanswood pitch and North Downs weather, plus their own injury woes, must have been of little comfort to their gloomy prospects. Then Vigo’s ferocious scrummaging destroying their set piece in the first few scrums’ could not have helped their outlook on life. The opening exchanges happened to be quite desultory, the tension obvious and it took a great run by Liam Wiltshire, obviously fired up for the occasion, to get Vigo on the front foot. Although Vigo lost the ball, their pack demolished their opponents to win a penalty. Vigo chose to kick for touch, and although they failed to breach the Dartford defence, they remained on the front foot, shoving the Dartford pack – which contained a couple of big units – back at a rate of knots. The referee had to give a warning to Dartford’s captain but his side were unable to comply, and Curtis Hearne had to go to the cooler for ten minutes. This encouraged Vigo to attack, but, to their credit, Dartford defended ferociously, the veteran flanker, Colin Buttle, working industriously. But Vigo were using their scrum power to great effect, and really should have scored. The scrum was going forward at a rate of knots but, inexplicably, Vigo decided to pick the ball up instead of going for the pushover try. Needless to say, they then gave away a penalty which Dartford gratefully banged into touch.
Perhaps, Vigo might have spread the ball, but Tony Whitehead’s cross-field kicks were threatening, with Lewis Pitchell and debutant winger, Matt Dedman, chasing down every kick. Still, Dartford held on, and as soon as Hearne returned to the action, Dartford threw off Vigo’s shackles and advanced up the pitch to build up some pressure on Vigo’s line. It was Vigo’s turn to defend and the new centre combination of coach, Terry Papworth and Shay Keelam were not found wanting. Dartford possess some hefty individuals and they ran hard at Vigo, but Vigo held firm eventually turning the ball over to release the pressure. Dartford suffered a huge blow when their irrepressible number 8, Tommy Crane, suffered a dislocated elbow and was forced off. Vigo gradually worked their way downfield and took the lead. An attack was meandering until Lewis Pitchell retrieved a loose pass and attacked. Vigo recycled the ball quickly and Dom Carslaw put in a beautiful grubber kick through the Dartford lines. Harry Pattison, who was to go on to have a marvellous game, was first to react, hacking the ball forward past the last lines of defence and following up to score. Whitehead converted and Vigo had that first all-important score on the board. Now Vigo seemed to relax and only some loose passes prevented a further score. Wiltshire and McPherson were carrying wonderfully well, Vigo were moving inexorably forward, and might well have scored when the ball was moved sweetly along the line, where Dartford’s right wing, Jasper, collared Pitchell. Unfortunately, Pitchell was nowhere near the ball, so Jasper had to go to the Naughty Boys step too. This time Vigo made their numerical advantage count.
From a scrum, Dartford actually held Vigo’s surge so Carslaw moved the ball out, Whitehead fed Papworth, who smashed through a couple of tackles to score. After making his name as a hooker at Gravesend, the coach was playing at 12 in the absence of any other centre, and he made a pretty good job of it, some early match rustiness aside. So, Vigo trotted off for their halftime haribos in a pretty festive mood. Perhaps, Vigo could have made more of their pack’s dominance, but Dartford started to drop sweepers back to counter Vigo’s kicking game, the ever-reliable Kieran Yates always eager to set up counter-attacks, whilst rock solid under the kicks, Vigo’s attacks petering out.
Vigo could not afford to relax, Dartford’s big ball carriers always a threat, fly half Tom Castleton an astute kicker as well as a running threat, but Vigo again won a penalty which Whitehead banged into touch, ten metres out. Vigo won the lineout, moved the ball along the line, Papworth fed Keelam who tore over. Darren Cox, a superb warrior, made way for Sam Smith, captain George Rawlings, carrying an injury gave way for Nathan Covill, who was promptly binned for interference at a break down. I timed it at 30 seconds which has to be a record. That encouraged Dartford and they battered away at Vigo for a sustained period. Dartford claimed a try after their forwards punched a hole in Vigo’s defence but the excellent referee was right on the spot, decreeing the ball held up. But Dartford were not be denied. Using their big forwards to suck in Vigo’s defenders, a tried and trusted method, the ball eventually found Tom Castleton who smashed over for a fine try, which he converted.
That score certainly encouraged Dartford, as they powered forward. Vigo’s scrum wasn’t quite the same destructive force. But the visitors couldn’t maintain the momentum, and gradually Vigo worked their way back up field. Dom Mickelburgh put in a beautiful grubber kick which Keelam almost latched onto, but again Vigo were unable to make more of the chance. But they were on the front foot, and did manage to string some passes together to right winger Pitchell who tore over in the corner for the all-important bonus point try. From the kick off, McPherson, who along with Wiltshire, had been excellent made a startling 40 metre break. Again, Vigo could not make anything of it but were now passing the ball with greater purpose and accuracy. Dartford were being run ragged, even the inestimable Buttle brought to his knees, exhausted. Harry Lingham, off the bench, charged for the line, superb defence stopping the surge but Wiltshire was close at hand and barged over for a thoroughly deserved try. Dartford, understandably, were beginning to look a tad forlorn, with Vigo attacking from all angles. Keelam almost scored from a kick-and-chase, Dartford’s left wing, Jamie Simms, doing brilliantly well to deny the young centre his second, But Vigo were irrepressible, and McPherson cut through a tiring Dartford defence to score, Whitehead adding the extras. Dartford were defending desperately well, out on their feet, but courageously putting their bodies on the line as Vigo battered away. But they could do little as, deep into injury time, Vigo moved the ball out to the wing, where Papworth was loitering and finished the match with his second try.

Vigo team: H.Pattison; M.Dedman (rep: H.Lingham 61’), S.Keelam, T.Papworth, L.Pitchell; T.Whitehead, D.Carslaw; W.James (rep: D.Cox 80’), G.Rawlings (rep: N.Covill 50’), D.Cox (rep: S.Smith 50’); B.Howe, L.Wiltshire; D.Mickelburgh, K.Hall; N.McPherson.
Yellow cards : Vigo: Covill (50’) Dartford:Hearne (16’), Jasper (40’)
Referee: Martin Croker (Kent)

Scorers: Vigo: Pattison (34’), Papworth (40+2’, 80’), Keelam (44’), Pitchell (63’) ,Wiltshire (67’), McPherson (77’). Cons: Whitehead (2). Dartford: try: Castleton (55’). Con ; Castleton.

Man of the Match: Nick McPherson edging past Harry Pattison. For Dartford, Colin Buttle was picked as their MVP.
Terry Papworth (Head Coach): We finally clicked, played the rugby we had been threatening
George Rawlings (captain). I am proud of the effort and willingness to play expansive rugby on a soggy pitch. After a sticky opening our handling and passing improved considerably.

MOG’s View: No coincidence as Vigo welcome back some of their wounded, they begin to click. Dartford were unfortunate, suffering from a long injury list too, but their effort in defence in the second half was excellent. They were understandably out on their feet by the end but dredged up something from somewhere to stop Vigo from adding more tries.
Can Vigo beat the drop? It depends on attitude, commitment and belief – as well as the other clubs dropping points. If the injury curse can be kept at bay, there is a very good chance of remaining in this division, a remarkable feat for this village side.