Dorchester put up a brave fight at table-toppers (From Dorset Echo)

Dorchester put up a brave fight at table-toppers

4:03pm Monday 4th February 2013 in Sport By Andy Haworth

DEVIZES 30 DORCHESTER 17

DORCHESTER came away from Devizes beaten but with heads held high after their patched-up side made the Southern Counties South leaders fight all the way.

Playing up the slope and into a bitterly cold wind in the first period, Dorchester were constantly on the back foot but despite conceding an early score they defended manfully, writes Andy Haworth.

Devizes added to their score with a penalty and as the period drew to a close it appeared that Dorchester would turn around just 10 points down.

Then, in the last play of the half, Dave Clark’s offload was picked off by a Devizes player and their impressive right winger ran in a second try.

With the elements now in their favour after the restart, 15 points was not an insurmountable lead but Dorchester gave away a couple of sloppy tries and the hosts were well clear at 25-0 up.

The visitors refocused and had much the better of the final quarter. Luke Weller got Dorchester on the board when he collected his own kick ahead and dived in by the posts with John Bowden adding the conversion.

The hosts scored an excellent fifth try but Dorchester stormed back with two further tries from Carl Mitchell and the match ended with the visitors pressing hard for a fourth.

Dorchester: Warren, Chalker, Ritchie, Skidmore, C Mitchell, Miners, Tucker, Newsam; D Gower, Weller; Bowden, Newton, Read, Fry; Clark. Reps used: Bonner, Dixon, Morgan.

Highwood Man of the Match: Chris Miners

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