DORCHESTER 62

OAKMEADIANS 24

BIRTHDAY boy Greg Hallett starred as in-form Dorchester cut down the Oaks to maintain their recent good run of results, writes Tim Beavis.

Good handling in the backs allowed returning right-wing Zach Paton to open the scoring,

which was converted by captain James Baker.

The home pack started to show dominance over their counterparts and following a break from fly-half George Foot, a five-metre scrum was conceded, and after the visitors’ pack was sent backwards, number eight Steve Tucker scored. He then repeated this shortly after, supporting to finish off a move started by scrum-half Dave Clark, this time converted by Baker to make it 19-0.

The best try of the first half saw the ball spun right down the back line with excellent handling putting Paton into space. He rounded his opposite number before stepping inside with sufficient strength to have a clear run in behind the posts. Baker again converted to make it 26-0.

With the bonus point secured, Dorchester seemed to ease off and so Oakmeadians managed to get a foothold in the game.

The visitors started to build up some pressure on the home line and were justly rewarded when they drove over after a period of sustained pressure. Dorchester completed the first half with a Matt Read try, which was converted by Baker to make it 31-5 at half-time.

Oakmeadians quickly dispelled any notion that they were going to be swept away easily by opening the second half with a score similar to that of the first, driving over from short range.

Dorchester responded with winger Cameron Lynch scoring and this again was converted to make it 38-12.

The try of the match was scored when good hands and excellent support by the forwards saw the ball end up in the hands of flanker Hallett inside Dorchester’s own half.

Celebrating his birthday with a man-of-the-match performance, Hallett showed pace and strength to beat the first attempted tackles before stepping out of the final tackle to run in.

Flanker James Newsam then broke though on the halfway line, only to be hauled down five metres short. The ball was recycled and fed out for centre Jamie Morgan to go under the posts, and the score was converted to bring up the half-century.

But at this point Oakmeadians rallied once more and scored their third try to make it 50-17 and sensed the possibility of a try bonus point.

Dorchester kept the scoreboard ticking over with long-range tries from Read for his second, and Baker who ran almost the length of the pitch to score in the corner, a try he was unable to convert to leave him with a match haul of 17 points.

The final word was the visitors though as they deservedly scored their fourth try to gain the bonus point.

Dorchester Seconds suffered a 74-10 defeat at Dorset & Wilts Two South leaders New Milton 74-10