PUDDLETOWN 31 WIMBORNE III 18

PUDDLETOWN celebrated a third successive win with the help of a two-try salvo from flanker Matt Watts.

The first half was a tight affair, with both sides applying pressure in midfield and being cancelled out by strong defending.

Wimborne took the lead with a penalty but the hosts responded and debutant winger Zak Westall nearly crossed for the first try.

The visitors were in the ascendency towards the end of the half and kept the ball in the Puddle-town 22.

They looked destined to score until good work by Watts allowed full-back Ben Spinney to clear.

Just before the break, a Puddletown clearance failed to make touch, Wimborne recycled the ball quickly and veteran winger Ade Turner scored in the corner.

The conversion was missed but Wimborne led 8-0 at the interval.

The second half started as the first had finished with Wimborne on the front foot.

They stretched their lead courtesy of a penalty, however, replacement Puddletown full-back Marcus House made an instant impact when he came on.

He returned a loose Wimborne kick, chipped through and gathered only to be hauled down 10 metres out.

House off-loaded the ball to Watts who went over to score. Captain Tom Yeatman kicked the conversion.

Lively Puddletown scrum-half Dave Farrell showed tenacity in midfield, breaking several tackles before being stopped two metres from the Wimborne try line.

The ever-present Watts was on hand again to take the off-load and score the try. Yeatman narrowly missed the conversion.

With the game finely balanced, loose play saw Puddletown spill the ball on their 10-metre line.

That resulted in another try for the visitors and, with the conversion going over, they led 18-12.

From the kick off, Puddletown drove back upfield with some good interplay between backs and forwards resulting in a ruck on the Wimborne 22.

Number-eight James Perrett saw a gap in the Wimborne defence and drove through the middle to touch down. Yeatman missed the conversion.

The hosts then broke into their stride, with forwards and backs involved in retaining possession and recycling the ball.

Five phases of rucks pulled the Wimborne defence from one side to the other, the ball went back down the line and second row John Perrett broke through. Yeatman converted and Puddletown led 24-18.

The home side put the result beyond doubt when Jez Beale barrelled through to cross under the posts. Yeatman converted.