THE Dorset Destroyers Wheelchair Rugby Club have smashed their way into top position in the newly- formed sport of wheelchair rugby 5s.

The Destroyers, who are based at the Rossmore Leisure Centre, Poole, played against four other teams in the first weekend of three, including Solent Sharks from Southampton.

The first clash was against Northampton Saints, and it was the first match of the day and of the new League of Wheelchair Rugby 5s, so it was all about settling nerves and starting strongly.

The Destroyers line-up included Ben Steele, a gold and bronze medallist from the Invictus Games, and Paul Sutherland and Nick Coombs, co-founders of the Destroyers.

The game was end to end at first with both teams wanting to win, but, after a while, the Destroyers settled and forced Northampton into making errors and the points were starting to gain for Dorset’s team.

At the end, the score to the Destroyers was 27-14, which was a superb start.

Their next match, was against the Solent Sharks. Both teams had met in friendlies and the Destroyers had not won against them.

Both sides were well matched and it was an high-octane clash but the Destroyers broke the deadlock and came out 24-13 winners.

The next match was against Ospreys from Swansea, and the Destroyers went in with a comfortable lead and soon built up a cushion which allowed a different style of play and different players to come on.

Dorset turned the pressure up with a different team and won 23-8.

In the final match, the Destroyers faced the Woodbridge Warriors.

The Dorset side continued resting players to see what would happen but Woodbridge had other plans and were trying to spoil the Destroyers’ record and they were soon ahead.

Sue and Aaron (head physiotherapist) resorted to bringing the strongest line back for the final game.

The game was slowly turned around, but Woodbridge were like a dog with a bone and refusing to let go of it but the Destroyers eventually won, but it had been a bit of a shock, with the final score 17-10.

Coombs said: “We are leading the way, and it’s a great start, but one that we know is a long journey. Being on the front foot is a good start, and you couldn’t have asked for a better start.”

Dorset Destroyers: Steele, Sutherland, N Coombs, Fung, Stevenson, McGowan, Jolliffe, Elliott, Bray, Hill, Barents