WIMBORNE II 5 PUDDETOWN 36

PUDDLETOWN finally banished any lingering doubts about their Dorset & Wilts One South status with a comprehensive win at basement boys Wimborne Seconds.

The visitors showed their intentions straight from the kick-off but despite enjoying most of the possession for the first quarter, they found themselves unable to convert pressure into points.

An injury to powerful number eight Tom Cato caused further anxiety to the visiting supporters but stalwart Ed Richardson proved an able replacement at the back of the scrum.

And five minutes later the Villagers’ pack, back into their rhythm, drove the hosts back over their own try-line.

The ball was grounded by Puddletown but the referee spotted an infringement by the home defence and awarded a penalty try under the posts which centre Dan Udell converted.

With confidence boosted by this score the visitors upped the pressure from the restart, and after a surging run from second row Paul Chidley the ball was passed out through the centres to Matt Isaac, whose blistering pace took him clear to score in the corner.

Wimborne did hit back with a breakaway try, but the half belonged to Puddletown who held a 12-5 lead at half-time.

The second period has so often this season seen the Villagers caught cold by their opponents, but not so on this occasion as within five minutes tries from second row James Perrett and scrum-half Josh Hiscock, both converted by Udell, saw the visitors take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Wimborne stuck to their task but Puddletown’s superior pack kept their backs supplied with good ball, and further tries from flanker Tom Foot, and a second for Hiscock, sealed victory for the Villagers and confirmed their opponents’ relegation to Division Two next season.

A delighted Puddletown skipper Martin Spicer said: “A win feels really good, particularly as the game had a lot riding on it.

“We’ve been playing a lot better in the last couple of matches without any success, so it was important that we got back into the habit of scoring.

“My man of the match was Matt Isaac, not just for scoring his first ever first-team try, but also for his work rate and tackling in defence.”

The Villagers host Salisbury Seconds on Saturday.