WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND 15

YEOVIL 53

WEYMOUTH & Portland head coach Paul Harding has urged his side to learn from their crushing defeat to Yeovil on Saturday.

The seaside club, who could have blown the race for the Dorset & Wilts Two South crown wide open with a victory, held an advantage at the interval against the league leaders when the sides locked horns at Monmouth Avenue.

But back roared Yeovil and they ran in a number of tries following the break to rack up more than 50 points and sink Harding’s troops in the process.

Harding, who also lost skipper for the day Ryan Lewendon through injury during the encounter, told Echosport: “In the first half we competed well

“Unfortunately in the second half they cranked it up a gear. They played the type of rugby I would like us to play. They played with a lot of width and a lot of speed.

“I think if we could have held them for five or 10 minutes early in the second half it would have helped but they started with two quick tries and, to be fair, I think our heads went a little bit.”

He added: “It makes you look at the side and say ‘what do we need to do to be able to compete at the next level?’.

“We have had a good year but I think there is a gulf between us and Yeovil.

“We have a very young side and it was a good experience for them. I think the physicality of Yeovil was a good test and it just gives them a good idea of what it means to step up.

“We talked before the game about learning outcomes and I think they got some good learning outcomes from it.

“If they take that away and work on their game it’s a useful exercise.”