FROME 30 DORCHESTER 13

A DISASTROUS last 10 minutes prevented Dorchester from winning a third straight game in Southern Counties South.

Conditions in Somerset were difficult following a very heavy rainstorm just before kick-off but both sides seemed to cope well and attacked with ball in hand whenever possible.

The hosts had the better of the early exchanges but Dorchester’s defence held out until a needless obstruction allowed Frome to take the lead with a simple penalty.

Dorchester hit back with a penalty of their own, James Baker slotting over the three-pointer to level the scores.

Frome continued to dominate possession and the forwards eventually forced their way over from close range.

The try was converted and a further penalty gave Frome a 13-3 lead at half-time.

Dorchester’s players received a blast from coach Paul Dunne during the interval and, despite playing up the slope in the second period, gradually forced their way back into the game.

A second penalty from Baker closed the gap to 13-6 before Sam Jones drove over following a period of sustained pressure on the Frome line.

Baker’s conversion levelled the scores and Dorchester were looking the side most likely to win.

However, it was not to be, as Frome turned over the ball deep in their own 22 and went the length of the pitch to score the decisive try.

The score seemed to knock the stuffing out of Dorchester and give the home team a huge boost.

As a result, the hosts added two further tries to make what was an extremely close game look like an easy win.

Those tries also gave the hosts the extra bonus point and the win saw them climb above Dorchester in the league table.

Dorchester are now level on points with bottom side Bradford-on-Avon, who picked up a losing bonus point in an 18-15 defeat by Wimborne at the weekend.

Elsewhere last Saturday, Dorchester Seconds finally earned their first victory of the season in Dorset & Wilts Two South.

They beat Puddletown 24-12 at Coburg Road to wipe out the points deduction they incurred for forfeiting their match with New Milton Seconds in September. Dorchester are one place off the foot of the table but level with bottom team Fordingbridge Seconds on zero points.

Meanwhile, in Dorset & Wilts Three South, Dorchester Thirds were beaten 36-0 by Swanage & Wareham Thirds and continue to prop up the rest of the division, 15 points adrift of the next team up.

Dorchester: Ritchie, Cottell, Hodgson, Makepeace, L King, Harries, Arnold, S Jones, Clark, C King, Bament, Greening, Baker, Allan, M Evans, Hallett, Deakin.