Dorchester fail to take initiative (From Dorset Echo)

Dorchester fail to take initiative

6:00pm Monday 4th March 2013 in Sport By Andy Haworth

DORCHESTER 9 SHERBORNE 18

ONCE again Dorchester contrived to lose a game that they really should have won as they were unable to turn dominance into points.

The first 20 minutes were fairly even with neither side able to get control of proceedings and Sherborne were first on the board when a county town line-out went wrong, the visitors pounced and their right winger scored in the corner.

James Baker replied with a long-range penalty but then disaster struck. The home side looked odds on to score until a careless pass was intercepted and the visitors went the length of the pitch to score their second try.

Dorchester were now looking a little rattled and third-placed Sherborne took advantage of a huge gap in midfield to score a third try.

Some stern words from the skipper saw Dorchester up their game and two further Baker penalties left them trailing by just six points at the break.

Playing towards the town in the second period, Dorchester totally dominated the next 30 minutes and Sherborne had three men sent to the bin at various times as they did everything to try and hold back the green tide.

However, despite all their efforts, Dorch-ester were unable to add to their score and a combination of great defence, a lack of patience and precision, and pure bad luck prevented them scoring the all-important try.

Baker missed two more long-range efforts and, as so often happens, when the team under pressure finally breaks out they inevitably score as the Sherborne fly-half finally found his kicking boots to slot the clinching penalty.

Dorchester should be heartened by the much-improved performance but need to find a way of winning these very tight Southern Counties South games.

Highwood Man of the Match: Ian Dixon