WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND 24

SHERBORNE II 10

WEYMOUTH & Portland may not have been at their fluent best against struggling Sherborne Seconds, but they did enough to record a victory in Dorset & Wilts One South.

The Seasiders started the game almost in a trance as passes were dropped or missed their target completely and it came as no surprise when, in the 24th minute the visitors, who prop up the league table with just one league win all season, opened the scoring with a try.

As Sherborne took the conversion, manager Vaughan Carter could be heard imploring his charges to get focused and sort themselves out and it seemed to work because two minutes later the hosts drew level through wing James Davis, who touched down in the corner with Bryn Llewellyn adding the extras.

Four minutes later, Davis again outpaced the Sherborne defence and crossed to bank his second touchdown of the afternoon.

After the break, the visitors upped their game and had Weymouth & Portland scrambling inside their own half for long periods, but when 49 minutes had elapsed a long pass from his brother Ryan saw full-back Chris Lewendon claim possession and touchdown for a try, with Llewellyn converting.

Further pressure from Sherborne had Weymouth defenders rocking on their heels, but they held firm and, with 66 minutes on the watch, Ryan Lewendon outpaced the visiting defence to cross in the corner for a try.

As the game went into the latter stages, Sherborne grabbed a consolation try, but it came too late to affect the result.

After the final whistle, head coach Paul Harding said: “It was a disjointed scrappy first half hour.

“Whether the preceding events got to the players or the fact that we were up against the team at the bottom of the league table and expected them to roll over, I don’t know.

“But when we managed to get the lads focused it changed and we improved. Getting a four-try tally guarantees us a league bonus point.

“We didn’t play well, but still managed to win and there is still room to improve, so that is what we intend do.”

  • A minute’s silence was observed before the kick-off at Monmouth Avenue in memory of former Weymouth & Portland captain Julian Quick, who sadly passed away two weeks ago at the age of 28 following a long battle with cancer. The number eight shirt that was worn by Quick will now be retired by the club.