Under-20 RFU Warm-up

DORSET & WILTS 25

HAMPSHIRE 19

DORSET & Wilts recorded a six-point victory over their Hampshire rivals at youth level in a county warm-up match at Chapel Gate.

The Twin Counties raced into a 14-0 lead with only 20 minutes of the contest elapsed, mainly due to some suicidal handling by their guests, who threw the ball about as if it were a training game.

Hampshire surrendered possession only to be punished by a clinical finishing from the Dorset & Wilts youngsters.

Firstly, flanker Hamish Renwick pounced on a loose ball to touch down in the 16th minute, followed three minutes later by Sherborne centre Rhodri Hopkins, who intercepted a stray pass on halfway then sprinted in to ground the ball beneath the posts with Royal Wootton Bassett fly-half Connor Tomley adding both of the extras.

The visitors then attempted to rally but that was until in the 27th minute when a series of forward drives resulted in Matt Goddard crashing over from close in for Dorset & Wilts’ third try of the afternoon.

With half-time beckoning, Hampshire broke clear from

the base of a scrum with the

ball eventually ending in the grasp of left-wing Charlie Waite, who touched down for the visitors.

Chippenham wing forward Sam Graham then attracted the wrath of referee Ritchie Denver and was exiled to the bench for 10 minutes following a high tackle to end the first half, with Dorset & Wilts leading by 19-5.

Starting the second period with a man in the sin bin, the Twin Counties were on the back foot and, with 51 minutes gone, the visitors drove over to score a try that was converted by Havant full-back Eddie Lewis.

Now back up to full strength Dorset & Wilts were able to meet their visitors head to head and on the hour Hopkins landed a penalty.

With substitutions now made by both sides, it was nip and tuck for 20 minutes until the away team strayed offside and Hopkins slotted his second penalty goal of the afternoon.

Hampshire managed one more score late on but it was not to matter, as Dorset & Wilts secured victory by six points.

The Twin Counties’ youngsters cannot rely on their next opponents, Somerset, to be quite so charitable when they meet on Saturday, February 4 in the RFU Championship proper.