Dorchester 9 SHERBORNE 13

DORCHESTER continue to find ways to lose games that they should really be winning.

Last week it was a late try by visitors North Dorset.

This week it was another late score by Sherborne’s stand-in scrum-half that stole the result after the county town side had led from the fifth minute.

It has to be said however, that it is not the defence that is the problem but Dorchester’s inability to turn their long periods of pressure into points.

The hosts had much the better of the first 40 minutes, having the edge in the scrum and generally winning the battle of the breakdown.

All they had to show for their efforts were three Rich Bament penalties, which were answered by one from the Sherbone fly-half.

The second half was much more even with both sides having their periods of pressure but neither team being able to add to their total.

A second penalty for Sherborne closed the gap to just three points on the hour before the Southern Counties South clash was decided by a bit of quick thinking from the Sherborne centre, who filled in at scrum-half following an injury to the starting half-back.

He took a quick five-metre penalty and managed to force his way over the line for the winning try.

A losing bonus point seemed scant reward for all the hosts’ honest endeavour.

Dorchester: Warren, Chalker, Cottell (Woodbridge 60), Makepeace, King (Sergison 65), J Gower, Newsam, Vivian, D Gower, Bament, Croft (Baker 75), Clifford, Harvey, Waddington, Read.