DORCHESTER 18 TROWBRIDGE 29

FOR the second week running, Dorchester allowed their opponents to open up a 19-point lead before embarking on a rousing comeback that fell short.

Trowbridge kicked off in near perfect conditions and in less than a minute they led by seven points, their blindside flanker running through a static Dorchester defence to cross.

The visitors went on the attack again immediately but the home side appeared to have woken up and tackled resolutely to prevent a further score.

Dorchester had the upper hand at the scrum and with their forwards carrying strongly the match was even for the next 20 minutes.

However, an unfortunate fumble in the home defence allowed the visiting right winger to run through and score try number two, then minutes later Trowbridge found space on the left and the opposite wing sprinted 50 yards to touch down under the posts.

The successful conversion took the lead to 19-0.

But, just like the previous Saturday at Swanage & Wareham, Callum King kicked a penalty in the dying moments of the half to give his side some hope.

That hope soon began to blossom early in the second half when King latched onto a poor pass from the Trowbridge fly-half to scamper over the whitewash. Jamie Morgan added the conversion.

Dorchester were now bossing proceedings and King closed the gap to six points with another penalty before the same player was the quickest to react to confusion in the visitors’ defence and he crossed for his second try of the day.

The conversion attempt went narrowly wide but at 19-18 down Dorchester seemed as though they were on the way to ending their barren run of form.

Trowbridge, however, had other ideas and their prop showed good pace for a big man to roll over several Dorchester defenders and score in the corner.

As the game neared the end, Trowbridge pinned Dorchester in their own 22 until the visiting right winger skipped over in the corner to deny the hosts the consolation of a losing bonus point.

The missed conversion was the last kick of the game.

Once again Dorchester proved that they can mix it with the best teams in Southern Counties South but need to find a bit more composure under pressure if they are to turn the narrow defeats into victories.

Dorchester: Warren, Miners, Hodgson (Cottell), Jones (L King), Makepeace, Hosford, Newsam, Sergison; D Gower, Hunt; Bowden, Baker, C King, Morgan; Clark.

Man of the Match: Callum King