SHERBORNE 29 DORCHESTER 6

THE Friday night rugby experience was not a great success for Dorchester as they left Sherborne without anything to show for their efforts.

Overhead conditions were near perfect but unfortunately the pitch was badly affected by the host club’s decision to play another game on it immediately prior to the main event.

However, it was the same for both sides in this Southern Counties South battle and Dorchester again made a decent start, carrying well and producing plenty of phases.

Ten minutes in, and Sherborne showed the difference between the two sides, a cutting edge behind the scrum, as they raced in from halfway.

Dorchester hit back with a Jamie Morgan penalty before the hosts extended their lead with a second try when the visitors failed to deal with a speculative kick ahead.

A third try followed soon after, again from long range, but Mor-gan did kick a second penalty for the county town side.

But then Dorchester committed rugby suicide when, trying to run a penalty from their own line, they spilled the ball and Sher-borne dotted down for the bonus-point try.

Sixteen points down at the break, it looked like Dorchester were in for a long second 40 minutes. But, as in previous weeks, the visitors regrouped and produced a half full of determined defence and some periods of excellent attacking play.

It was regrettable that they were unable to finish off any of the chances they created but can take heart from the fact they restricted Sherborne to a single try.

It is not always easy to be positive in what has become a difficult season, but positives are there.

The form and increasing maturity of captain and vice-captain, James Newsam and Chris Miners, is clear for all to see, while the emergence of several talented young players – Sam Jones, Ed Grassby and Camer- on Lynch for example – bodes well.

Meanwhile, it was also good to see Lee Harvey back in first team action.

Dorchester: Miners, Chalker, Cottell, Broadbent, L King, S Jones, Newsam, Sergison, D Gower, Bament, T Gower, Harvey, Deakin, Morgan, M Fry. Reps used: Evans, E Grassby, Harding.

Man of the Match: Chris Miners