DORCHESTER 3 MIDSOMER NORTON 25

IT was a much-changed Dorchester side that took to the field for the first game of the season in Southern Counties South last weekend.

A new coach and a new approach was the order of the day but despite some encouraging signs Dorchester were always second best.

Paul Dunne, the man who took over from Martyn Peel in the Coburg Road hotseat during the summer, was “happy enough” with his side’s performance, though their lack of pre-season matches told.

“Midsomer Norton were about two or three weeks ahead of us in terms of preparation,” he told Echosport.

“They are going to be a good side in this league but not having a pre-season game did affect us, I was aware of that.

“I did think we played some good stuff but there are a lot of areas we have to work on.

“We’ll be looking to improve and get better as time goes on, and it will be nine or 10 games before we really know where we are.”

The visitors applied the early pressure but Dorchester defended well and kept the opposition at bay for the first quarter.

Then, after several well constructed attacks, the hosts earned a penalty in front of the posts which James Baker duly popped over to put the home side in front.

Unfortunately, that was as good as it got for Dorchester.

Their normally solid scrum and lineout were not functioning and as a result they played most of the game on the back foot.

After missing two penalty attempts, the visitors forced their way over for the opening try.

Another penalty for Midsomer Norton extended their lead to eight points before some sloppy defending and poor 22 restart by the hosts allowed the away team to score a converted try.

With temperatures soaring the second half could have been a real problem for Dorchester but they never lost their defensive shape and despite conceding a penalty and another converted try were never out of the game.

They dominated the final quarter of the match but, despite their best efforts, Dorchester were unable to cross their opponents’ line.

However, Dunne's men can take plenty of positives from the game into this Saturday's trip to Devizes.

Dorchester: Warren, Tanner, Hodgson, Hallett, L King, Sharpe, De Kretser, Jones; Clark, C King, Paton, Baker, Greening, Deakin; Evans. Subs: Cottell, Harries, McQuillan.