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Dorking clinch Vase triumph

Dorking romped to the Powergen Junior Vase final with a 46-3 victory over Cleobury Mortimer in today's final at Twickenham.

It was the biggest winning score in the competition's 15-year history and Dorking passed 1,000 points for the season in the process.

For Cleobury Mortimer it proved a step too far after tight games in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

Dorking, runaway leaders of London Four South West, proved too quick and powerful for them as they ran in seven unanswered tries.

Cleobury, who play in Midlands Four West South, never really settled and struggled to find touch on Twickenham's big pitch.

They were under pressure throughout and trailed from the moment that Dorking fly-half and captain Jamie O'Brien landed an eleventh minute penalty.

South African blindside Armand Roux, a strong and penetrative runner, then set to work, setting up his back-row colleagues Jason Geldenhuys and Mark Bell for tries either side of one from winger Alex Aarvold.

Dorking were 22 points clear at the break and they did not ease up in the second half. Aarvold scored his second try within three minutes of the re-start and he was soon followed to the line by scrum-half Andy Geoghegan. Unfortunately Geoghegan was injured in the process of touching down and had to be stretchered off.

Cleobury finally gave their 1,200 travelling fans something to cheer when fly-half Allan Shields, who kicked the penalty that secured an extra-time victory over Old Saltleians in the quarter-finals, found the target after an earlier miss.

But as Cleobury tired, Dorking showed no signs of flagging. Aarvold set up Surrey county centre Simon Lowe for their sixth try and centre Richard Kemp completed the rout when he crossed for the final score four minutes from time.

"Things went very much according to plan," said a jubilant O'Brien. "We wanted to play some open, attacking rugby as we have been doing for most of the season.

"It's an experience and one that we will remember for a very long time."

The one blemish on Dorking's win was a serious injury to Geoghegan who broke an ankle scoring his try.

Cleobury captain Paul Harding said: "Dorking were a very goode side who got away to a good start and we weren't able to respond.

"Despite the defeat, the whole thing has been a life-changing experience for all of us."

Dorking: E Garner (M Kornrumpf); A Aarvold, S Lowe, R Kemp, O Keenan (G Dymond 52); J O'Brien (captain), A Geoghegan (A Shepherd 55); McLean (E Liebenberg 40), J Bambridge (D Hepp 43-52 and 72), D Elsbury, R Nash, R Carloss, A Roux, M Bell (M Christmas 61), J Geldenhuys (E Steyn 34).

Cleobury Mortimer: J Harding; P Harding (captain), J Hulland, S Morris (K Shields 74), J Manley (L Price 76); A Shields, W Bache (N Williams 79); H Smith (S Phillips 61), M Barnsley (C Price), T Heap, P Howman, J Taylor (J Banford 61), P Burrows (C Smith 74), C Todd, P Hulland.

Referee: Mr S Harland (RFU)