DORCHESTER 13

ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT 45

DORCHESTER were forced to field a much depleted side against the league leaders but despite losing, can hold their heads high after battling hard for the full 80 minutes.

The game started disastrously for the hosts and they found themselves three converted tries behind after just eight minutes.

At this point, it appeared that the struggling county town side would be on the wrong end of a huge defeat. However, the basement boys showed huge spirit and resilience to battle their way back into the game.

George Foot got them on the board with a penalty before Bassett crossed for their fourth try.

The hosts then scored two tries, firstly Dave Clark made a nuisance of himself at the back of a Bassett scrum allowing flanker Luke Robson to snaffle the ball and touch down in the right-hand corner.

Then, with a Bassett player in the bin, Dorchester produced a text-book move among the backs and Chris Lawton outpaced the defence into the left-hand corner.

Neither try was converted but the home side trailed by 13 points at the break.

The visitors started the second half as they had the first, scoring two quick tries one of which was converted.

With the points in the bag, Bassett again lost their shape and were unable to break down Dorchester’s dogged defence.

Dorchester had a couple a chances of their own but failed to add to their points tally. Bassett did score again with the last play, adding another converted try.

Dorchester: Elliott, T Evans, Ritchie, A Makepeace, L King, Arnold, Robson, Tucker, Clark, Foot, Lawton, Deakin, Sharpe, Hosford, Haskell, K Makepeace, J Harries