DORCHESTER 28 CREWKERNE 40

BOTH clubs turned out in force for Dorchester’s second pre-season friendly.

The hosts, in particular, were able to field two complete teams with a good number of replacements, giving team manager Rob Parker a bit of a headache trying to ensure everyone got a decent amount of time on the pitch.

The visitors settled in straight away, with the vast majority of position.

The hosts’ rare attacks were rapidly dealt with, and, after the first 20 minutes were completed, the visitors were on the board at 12-0 having scored two tries out wide.

At the mini-break, coach Paul Dunne invited his charges to identify what Crewkerne were doing better than them.

Being organised at the breakdown and in defence, with a formidable driving maul, seemed to be the answer.

On being challenged to up their game, and reinforced with several pairs of fresh legs, the county town side improved.

The quarter still went Crewkerne’s way, with another converted score, this time from their maul, but Dorchester’s defence was more solid and the half ended with the visitors under real pressure on their own try line.

In the second half, Dorchester upped their game, with plenty of possession and territory.

Two tries came from tap penalties from the visitors’ five-metre line, club captain Steve Hodgson leading from the front for the first, with Ali Vivian following up shortly afterwards.

A spell of Crewkerne possession saw them working their way to the home 22, then from a turnover, Vivian broke through several tackles, offloading on halfway to give James Baker a long sprint for the corner.

Dorchester’s best quarter ended with Hugh Vivian equalling his brother’s score. All four tries were converted, even from out wide. A bit of a struggle had turned into a comfortable lead 28-19, but the final quarter went Crewkerne’s way again.

Some missed tackles allowed their strike runners through and they gratefully ran in three converted tries.

Afterwards, Dunne said he had been very encouraged by the way everyone pulled together to bring the game back.

The ability to react to and counter an opponent’s strengths will give them a solid platform which they could build for future matches.

Next on Dorchester’s list of friendlies is a home club match against Sherborne on Thursday, August 25, at 7.45pm, as the prelude to the much anticipated Wooden Spoon select XV on Friday, September 2, when the first team will welcome a strong team headed by former England scrum-half Andy Gomersall.