Dorchester Seconds punished by East Dorset (From Dorset Echo)

Dorchester Seconds punished by East Dorset

4:21pm Wednesday 6th February 2013 in Rugby By Echo Reporter

Dorchester Seconds 22 East Dorset 31

FOR the second week in a row the county town side found themselves on the wrong end of a result, despite dominating much of the game.

The defeat came on the back of Dorchester having only nine players available on the Thursday night before following call-ups to the first XV.

It says a lot for the strength in depth of the squad and the perseverance of the selectors that Dorchester were able to field a side that pushed the unbeaten Dorset & Wilts Two South leaders all the way.

In fact, two tries in the last five minutes gave the visitors a flattering winning margin and again the hosts can feel disappointed they came away with nothing, the difference between the teams coming down to fitness in the last 15 minutes.

The first half belonged entirely to the home side as they exposed East Dorset’s game plan and defence.

After a tentative start, the home side began to impose themselves and from a scrum inside their own half, Dan Cree made ground before offloading to Rich Deakin.

He timed his pass to Toby Waddington to perfection and the latter carved open the visitors’ defence to go in under the posts. Cree added the extras.

East Dorset hit back with a penalty to reduce the deficit but home second row Lee King had an immense first half, causing problems for the visitors every time he got the ball.

Waddington then got his second try following good interplay between forwards and backs but the conversion drifted wide.

East Dorset did hit back but the home side responded and, with a carbon-copy of the move that led to Waddington’s first try, full-back Kieran Fry went over with Cree adding the conversion and a penalty to make it 22-8 at half-time.

Dorchester lost the influential King to a head injury after the restart and, with their rivals playing with the slope, the hosts spent much of the half defending.

It was inevitable that tries were going to be conceded but they only came in the last quarter when Dorchester tired.

Even the home side’s impressive back row of Simon Pengelly, Hugh Vivian and the ageless Ed Taylor couldn’t keep the score down.

This was a performance of endeavour and determination by Dorchester and one they should be immensely proud of.

Highwood Man of the Match: Hugh Vivian