WESTBURY 12

WEYMOUTH 25

A DEVASTATING first-half display secured a second successive appearance in the Dorset & Wilts Plate final for Paul Harding’s Weymouth.

The Monmouth Avenue side, who narrowly lost 11-10 at Westbury in Dorset & Wilts One South action just two weeks previous, were 25-3 up at the break.

And although the hosts added three penalties in the second half, the damage was done and Weymouth secured a date with Supermarine in the showpiece game after their semi-final opponents – Bridport – were unable to raise a side.

Head coach Harding, whose men suffered defeat in last year’s final, said: “Westbury is a tough place to go, with a hostile crowd, but the first-half performance was top notch and we played some terrific rugby.

“The forwards really stepped up to the mark and although we had the wind in the first half, which was a key factor, Nick Sheppard at fly-half was outstanding.

“He put us into good positions and the forwards looked after the ball.

“We worked on a few things that we had highlighted after our last game against Westbury and it paid dividends as we blew them away with some brilliant rugby.

“They had a gale at their backs in the second half and although they scored three penalties, they never really looked like scoring a try.”

Harding went on to add: “It’s another final for the club and credit to the boys as we have had to play every game away from home.

“We are definitely a stronger side this year so I would be disappointed if we didn’t go all the way.”

Will Quick crossed for the opening try of the game, following several phases, and Nick Sheppard added the extras.

The visiting fly-half kicked a penalty to make it 10-0 before Weymouth drove over from a line-out and Joe Gibson got the vital touchdown, with Sheppard again dispatching the conver-sion.

The latter was in fine form and it was he who grabbed the next try after a superb break.

Sheppard did miss the subsequent kick but bagged his second penalty of the afternoon to hand the away side what proved to be an insurmountable lead at the interval.

The only downside to Saturday’s success were injuries to Dave Oakford (shoulder) and Dominic Sewell (concussion).