PUDDLETOWN 0 WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND 48

JOEL Wilson scored a hat-trick for the second Saturday running to help Dorset & Wilts Two South leaders Weymouth & Portland bag their seventh win out of seven this season.

The visitors crossed the Puddletown line on eight occasions – just as they did against Dorchester Seconds a week earlier – with debutant Johnny Young also touching down.

Speaking to Echosport, Young’s coach Paul Harding was full of praise for the 17-year-old and he gave a special mention to summer recruit Carl Neal.

“Johnny is one of several youngsters that have come through this season,” he added. “He made his first-team debut on Saturday and went over for a lovely try.

“I was very impressed with his first performance for us and I think he has got a lot of potential.

“He ran some good lines and tackled and carried well.”

He added: “Carl was exceptional. For a winger, he was very involved in the game and his decision- making was excellent.

“He went looking for the ball rather than waiting for it to come to him and showed a range of skills. He kicked when he needed to kick and ran when he had space to run into. I’ve been so impressed with him given that he is new to rugby.”

Weymouth & Portland played into a strong wind in the first half and took a 19-0 lead into the break. Wilson opened the scoring on five minutes with his first try of the afternoon and second row Joe Gibson followed suit. Bryn Llewellyn converted to make it 12-0.

George Carter then crossed under the posts and Llewellyn converted as the visitors eased clear.

The returning Sean Murphy recorded the bonus-point try at the start of the second half before Wilson notched his second.

After a bit of a stalemate, Wilson’s centre partner Young made it 34-0, and then Duncan Bezzant, playing on the wing with Simon Dean unavailable, got on the scoresheet.

Llewellyn converted that try and Wilson’s hat-trick score late on.

“We were pretty dominant throughout,” said Harding. “The weather didn’t help us too much.

“We played into a howling gale in the first half and the rain was horizontal.

“Conditions were pretty hard but we were still in control of the game and it was a solid performance overall.”

* Harding’s men are now gearing up for arguably their toughest test to date this season when they go to second-placed Yeovil on Saturday.

* Weymouth & Portland’s Dorset & Wilts first XV Plate final against Pewsey Vale at Warminster RFC on Saturday November, 28 is a 1.30pm kick-off.