DORCHESTER 12 SWANAGE & WAREHAM 43

WING wonder Charlie Rowberry was the toast of Swanage & Wareham after a five-try salvo in his side’s big victory over Dorchester in Southern Counties South.

The hosts were unable to contain the Swans’ flyer as he helped the visitors to a seventh successive league win, one which saw them move up to fourth in the table.

Rowberry had already scored twice inside the first five minutes, the winger finishing off flowing three-quarter passing moves to dot down. Charlie Parish converted one for a 12-0 lead.

Dorchester regrouped and their forwards managed to get the team back into the game but, 23 minutes in, Rowberry sprinted clear and off-loaded to full-back Jack Moriarty who touched down.

Again, the home side tried to fight back and this time they did get on the scoreboard when captain James Newsam finished off a catch and drive move to surge over. Jamie Morgan converted to make it 17-7.

But in the last minute of the half and from a line-out on halfway, the visitors again moved the ball along their backline to Rowberry and he cantered in for his hat-trick try under the posts.

Parish added the extras to the bonus-point try and the Swans took a 24-7 lead into half-time.

Former Dorchester player Mike Cottrell then got on the scoresheet after the break, benefitting from a Rowberry run to cross between the sticks. Parish’s conversion extended the advantage to 31-7.

The hosts never gave up and after 56 minutes Tom Evans was on hand to collect Newsam’s clever off-load to score a consolation try.

However, 10 minutes later Rowberry scored his fourth try and immediately from the restart the winger collected the ball on his own 22, beat two defenders and outpaced Dorchester’s full-back for a brilliant solo effort.

Man of the match Rowberry had scored five tries and made the others for Cottrell and Moriarty, but Swans team manager Tom Dillon was pleased with the team’s overall performance.

“While we exploited Dorchester’s weaknesses we gave away too many penalties,” he said. “With another free week again this weekend the players will have to be on their mettle against Walcot.”

Dorchester also have a free Saturday before their last three games of the season, starting at Trowbridge.

Dorchester: Miners, Chalker, Cottell, Makepeace, Mitchell, Jones, Newsam, Sergison; D Gower, Harvey; T Gower, Lynch, Deakin, Chislett; Morgan. Reps: Evans, Grassby, Fry.

Swans: Moriarty (Dunsford 65), Barton, Cottrell, Graves, Rowberry, Parish, Warren (Tomes 36), Sheldrake, Elford, Wyburgh (Andrews 47), Burgess, Collins, Wright, Jones, Desmond

Dorchester Man of the Match: Mark Sergison