DORCHESTER III 0 WINCANTON 26

THE Gladiators lost top spot in Dorset & Wilts Four following a comprehensive defeat by a patched up Wincanton side.

Due to unavailability, the visitors had been forced to recruit players from other clubs to fulfil the fixture and with all the different sets of socks on display resembled a Barbarians side.

Dorchester felt this could be to their advantage as many of the Wincanton squad would not be used to playing with each other.

However, as the game unfolded it was the home side that struggled to lack much cohesion.

The first half was largely dominated by Dorchester, but a floated pass was picked off for Wincanton’s first try, and handling errors gave them a chance to seize on a loose ball for their second.

But overturning a two-score deficit did not seem an insurmountable task for the hosts, provided they could reduce their rather high error count.

Tom Dike, Yorrick Legg and Andy Matthews made ground in the loose, while ferocious tackling and carrying in the tight, as well as good scrummaging from Chris Elliott, kept the home side on the front foot.

Indeed, at one point Dorchester got over the visitors’ line only to be driven back before the ball could be grounded.

Wincanton came more into the game in the second half and had to work hard for both their tries rather than being gifted them.

Dorchester’s Karl Makepeace, in only his second senior game, got his arm under the ball to prevent another try.

A series of injuries disrupted the Gladiators late in the second half, with Elliott, Luke Scadden and Jarod Tasdelan all having to leave the field.

And, with less than 10 minutes to go, Dorchester were advancing purposefully when a nasty ankle injury to Matthews from a seemingly innocuous tackle brought the match to a premature end.

The Gladiators are away to Ellingham & Ringwood Thirds tomorrow (2.15pm).

Dorchester Man of the Match: Chris Elliott