8:52am Thursday 11th March 2010
By Echo Reporter
Puddletown 7 OAKMEADIANS II 12 PUDDLETOWN’S 17th straight defeat in Dorset & Wilts One South saw them slip to the bottom of the pile.
The selection problems that have dogged the Villagers all season were apparent yet again as they entertained mid-table Oakmeadians II, with captain Dan Udell forced to make seven changes from the team that played Swanage & Wareham Seconds at Greenfields the previous week.
But the hosts showed plenty of spirit in their latest outing and, despite only one league win to their credit and relegation now a very real possibility, Udell’s troops gave what was arguably the team’s best performance of the season, very nearly claiming an elusive second victory.
If Oakmeadians were expecting to enjoy a repeat of their 56-5 win back in November, they were to be disappointed, with the home side taking a firm grip on the game from the start.
Hooker Toby Boatswain and number eight Harlan Hill both returned to a Villagers’ pack which dominated the visiting forwards in both the set-plays and in the loose, giving scrum-half Dave Davies options to set up attacking phases.
It was the busy number nine, drafted in as a last-minute replacement, who opened the scoring with 30 minutes gone when he sold the visiting defence a splendid dummy before darting through to touch down.
Udell added the extra points, but just five minutes later Oaks finally broke the home side’s stranglehold, with their speedy backs crafting a well-worked try out wide.
The conversion was missed and Puddletown quickly regained the initiative only to squander a couple of clear-cut chances.
The same pattern emerged after the restart with the home pack continuing to dictate play, but Oaks were not out of it by any means.
Midway through the half an injury to the ever-present Jim Talbot saw Hill move into the front row and Ed Malpas come on in his place, and it was while the pack were readjusting to these changes that the visitors struck with a converted try.
The away side were now five points ahead but they had to dig deep as the Villagers launched a final onslaught in an attempt to draw level.
Flanker Martin Spicer, Boatswain and Hill all repeatedly breached the defensive line, and breaks from prop Jon Wilson and fly-half Toby Musgrove both went agonisingly close, but the relieved visitors somehow held firm for a narrow victory.
Dorset Piddle Brewery Man of the Match: Harlan Hill
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