YEOVIL 11

DORCHESTER 29

DORCHESTER produced their best performance of the season to inflict a first defeat on runaway league leaders Yeovil.

Playing down the slope and with the bitingly cold wind behind them, Dorchester knew they had to start well but it was Yeovil who made the early running.

Playing with the confidence that comes from being unbeaten, they tried to run the ball from everywhere. One long run from the centre only ended when he lost the ball going over the line.

The visitors began to take a grip of the game however, and the contest tightened up as Yeovil realised this was going to be a true test.

The sides scored a penalty apiece before Dorchester broke the deadlock, full-back Cam Lynch getting the all-important first try.

James Baker’s excellent conversion from near the touchline gave Dorchester a seven-point lead at the break.

Now playing against the elements, Dorchester struggled to escape from their own 22 for all of 15 minutes, but although Yeovil came close, the county town defence held firm.

Eventually, the hosts kicked a simple penalty to close the gap to just four points but the score signalled the end of Yeovil’s dominance as the visitors took the game away from the hosts with three outstanding tries.

James Newsam crossed following a period of concerted pressure on the Yeovil line.

Then the backs’ slick passing allowed Jamie Morgan to outflank the defence and run round behind the posts.

The icing on the cake came shortly afterwards when Rich Deakin scored the bonus-point try in the right-hand corner.

A dejected looking Yeovil side did manage a consolation score, their number eight touching down with the last play of the game.

Delighted Dorchester coach Ben Parker said: “This was our best performance so far and it came at the right time against a determined Yeovil side.

“We didn’t have it all our own way and we will work on those areas, but overall it was a solid performance.

“We will enjoy this moment, then focus back on the next stepping stone and continue our chase for third.”

The challenge for Dorchester now is to maintain this level of performance for the remaining seven games of the season.

Dorchester: T Evans, Pengelly, Cottell, A Makepeace, L King, Hallett, Newsam, Tucker, Bosher, Foot, Boyd-Paton, Baker, Morgan, Deakin, Lynch. Reps: Robson, J Underhill, Peach