SWANAGE & WAREHAM II 7

DORCHESTER 39

IN A TETCHY, niggly Dorset & Wilts One South game, leaders Dorchester managed to maintain their composure to earn yet another bonus point victory.

Conditions were not ideal for the visitors' running game but they still tried to spread the ball at every opportunity and it was not long before this season's leading try scorer James Baker opened the scoring when he went over the line.

Full-back Matt Read added a second as Dorchester dominated possession and field position.

The county town line-out worked well and skipper Adam Makepeace was the beneficiary of yet another catch and drive for Dorchester's third try.

The Swans were starting to have some success in frustrating Dorchester's ambitions but eventually prop Dave Cottell drove over for the bonus point try.

Baker was not having the best day with his kicking and with only one of the four tries being converted Dorchester led by 22 at the break.

The second half was punctuated with injury after injury which eventually led to the hosts having to revert to uncontested scrums but through all the disjointed action. Dorchester managed to add three more tries.

Callum King, Adam Makepeace and winger Jamie Morgan all adding their names to the list of scorers.

The Swans did get a consolation score when their prop broke through some weak tackles to score close to the posts.

This result puts Dorchester six points clear of second-placed Wimborne, who lost away to Oakmeadians, and in a strong position to gain promotion.

Coach Ben Parker said after the game: “This was another five points to take away from a game, however, it wasn’t the most exciting match you’ll ever see.

"This is a case of job done and move on to the next.

“As a team we missed too many opportunities and got dragged into our opposition’s style of play when we should have been dictating it.

“We need to train hard again and regain our focus.

"The team needs to return to how it was playing two weeks ago.

"The whole squad wants to play Southern Counties rugby next season, but we cannot afford to wait until September for that. We must be training and playing at that level now.”

Club captain James Newsam was the Copper Street Costa Coffee man of the match.