DORCHESTER 31

SWANAGE & WAREHAM II 16

DORCHESTER ended the season with a bonus point win against local rivals Swanage & Wareham.

The county town side took the game to their opponents from the kick-off and it was not too long before they opened the scoring, with hooker Luke Doherty going over from a well driven line-out.

The visitors began to use their big pack to gain the hard yards and were rewarded with a series of penalties, two of which were converted to give them a narrow lead.

While Swanage were keeping the game tight, Dorchester looked to use their pace out wide and indeed it was left-wing Julian Dale who crossed for the hosts’ second try.

The conversion was missed but Dorchester added a third try when Lee King drove over from close range.

This time James Baker successfully added the extras and Dorchester led by 11 as the first half drew to a close.

In the dying moments, the Swans hit back as their scrum-half squeezed over in the corner from a five-metre scrum.

The third quarter was completely dominated by Dorchester but once again they were foiled by their lack of precision and a penchant for conceding needless penalties.

It looked as though they might pay the penalty when, in a rare visit to the Dorchester 22, the Swans added a second try. The simple conversion went wide but Dorchester now led by a single point.

However, the hosts responded in the best way possible, Lee King regathered the kick-off and fly-half Callum King forced his way over for the bonus point try.

Baker popped over the conversion and looked to have made the game safe. There was still time for one more score, Callum King taking a tap penalty and breaking several tackles on his way to the line. Baker’s conversion was the last kick of the season.

Coach Ben Parker reviewed the game and season. He said: “This was a solid performance, getting back to the standard and style of play from a few months ago.

“We dominated the first half but struggled for 20 minutes in the second. A brief wake-up chat got the lads back on form and they finished the season in style.

“With promotion our target for next season and the continued development of the second and third XV, we need to hit pre-season hard to start the season strong.

“This season as my first season with the club, and I feel it has turned out a success.

“Rich Bament and I are on the same page and the players are taking everything on board.

“With the addition of a sports conditioning coach and a new coach next season to bolster our backroom team assisting with the second XV, I feel Dorchester will be the club to offer players the best quality training and rugby in Dorset.”

Dorchester: T Evans, Doherty, Cottell, Makepeace, L King, Hallett, Newsam, Tucker, D Gower, C King, Peach, Baker, Morgan, Dale, Foot, Robson, T Gower

n Dorchester’s other two senior sides also played, the final game of the season for the A XV, and penultimate game for the third XV Gladiators, who tour next weekend for the 21st year, this season visiting Ljubljana.

The A XV succumbed to Ringwood & Ellingham 27-19 whilst the Gladiators overcame a veteran touring side from Maidstone 22-17.