SWANAGE & WAREHAM II 7 WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND 22

PAUL Harding reckoned his Weymouth & Portland side took their game up a level during a 22-7 success at Swanage & Wareham Seconds.

The visitors’ head coach was also purring over the performance of flanker Jake Guildford, whose display Harding described as “outstanding”.

Henry Perry put the seasiders in front with a try but the Swans hit back with a converted score of their own.

Gorden Tye crossed the whitewash to give Weymouth & Portland the lead for a second time. Bryn Llewellyn added the extras on this occasion.

Outside-half Llewellyn landed a penalty after the interval to make it 15-7, and the visitors’ number 10 then went on to touch down himself to secure the win.

Llewellyn converted his own try to give him a 12-point haul for the Dorset & Wilts Two South game.

“I’m really pleased with the way we played,” said Harding. “We played with an intensity which has been lacking in previous games, and we managed to maintain that tempo throughout the game.

“We were tight in defence and kept our discipline to win the match, and the try we scored with about 15 minutes to go was just what we deserved.

“Swanage had a couple of players that had missed the bus for their first-team game and they were pretty handy.

“But I was pleased with how we managed to keep them quiet and play the last five or 10 minutes with 14 players after losing a few to injuries.

“It was a great performance overall and I think it was a step up from the level we have been playing at.”

After George Carter had to pull out of the fixture at the last minute with a chest infection, the visitors lost Ryan Lewendon (head) and James Borrington (hamstring) during the match.

And while disappointed to pick up a couple of injuries, Harding was pleased with how other individuals did on the day.

He added: “Joel Wilson came back into the side and did well in the centre.

“I thought Jake Guildford was man of the match.

“He was outstanding in the back row and his work rate was superb, and he got through so many tackles as well.”

Elsewhere at the weekend, Weymouth & Portland Seconds lost 35-20 at home to Dorset Dockers Seconds in Dorset & Wilts Three South, while the club’s third XV forfeited their game at Wincanton when they couldn’t raise a side.