WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND 29 NEW MILTON II 7

WEYMOUTH & Portland surged to the top of the Dorset & Wilts Two South table after putting previous leaders New Milton to the sword at Monmouth Avenue.

The hosts secured a bonus-point victory on Saturday thanks to tries from wingers Simon Dean and Carl Neal, back-rower Ryan Lewendon and prop Lian Berry.

Lewendon added seven points with the boot and Craig Barter also kicked a conversion while the former was in the sin bin.

“The lads played well,” said delighted Weymouth & Portland head coach Paul Harding. “It was a really good performance from everyone.

“New Milton were not a bad side and they really tested us in the first 20 minutes before we managed to score.

“That settled us down a little bit and we played some good stuff after that.

“Both wingers were exceptional, both in defence and attack, and there were some good carries from the two centres.

“The pack was really solid and our set-piece game was excellent, we didn’t lose a lineout.”

Dean got the ball rolling with a try in his first game back for the club following a lengthy period out with a shoulder injury.

“Simon had an absolutely superb game,” added Harding. “He played for me four years ago but picked up an injury. He tried to come back from it but it hadn’t cleared up.

“He then turned up at pre-season training and said he was ready to play again.”

Neal crossed later in the first half, rounding his opposite number to score in the corner, and Lewendon’s conversion made it 12-0.

Lewendon then peeled off a ruck to go over for a try which he also converted, before being shown a yellow card on the stroke of half-time.

The hosts lost captain Kevin Leatham to a calf injury early in the second period but they extended their lead to 26-0 when Berry galloped almost half the length of the pitch to touch down. Barter converted.

There were no more tries after Berry had clinched the extra bonus point, though Lewendon slotted a penalty with around 15 minutes left.

New Milton did avoid being nilled when they crossed under the posts following a quickly taken penalty.

As well as losing Leatham to injury, the only other downside for the hosts came when Sean Murphy suffered a hamstring twinge.

Three points clear of Yeovil in the standings, Weymouth & Portland now turn their attention to a Dorset & Wilts 1st XV Plate semi-final against Bridport this weekend.