FOLLOWING the disappointment of a very late cry off from East Dorset, and no chance of organising a friendly in the build up to the Ridgeway Rumble next weekend, Dorchester’s first team had an unplanned weekend off.

With no senior rugby, the club’s eyes were on its highly successful junior section this weekend.

The under-15s completed a memorable season by beating Salisbury 29-10 to add a county championship to their medal haul, while the under-13s in their county cup final overcame Wimborne and Oakmeadians without conceding a try to become Dorset champions.

A committed under-12s side played with passion and belief but lost out on this occasion in their final.

In the two cup semi-finals, Dorchester’s under-16s booked a place in the final with a win over Sherborne however, the under-14s did not make it through this season.

Club chairman Nick Hodge said: “The club is rightly proud of its strong junior section and it is great to see such success.

“Many of these players are the future of our club and this season alone we have seen many former junior players step up into the senior sides with great success.

“I look forward to the same for years to come.

“I would also like to congratulate and thank all the coaches and volunteers who give of their time so generously to the junior section and see the players flourish.”

Meanwhile, the stalwart vice-presidents and ex-players still took the opportunity to have the planned lunch and 40 turned up to reminisce and look forward to future success at the club both on and off the pitch.

Club president Frank Dike said: “Those of us who made it to lunch thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and rugby is about friendships and shared memories, and we celebrated both.

“I must thank all those involved in salvaging the afternoon and those that made the effort to travel from afar knowing we had no game to entertain them with.”

  • This weekend sees two local derbies for the senior teams.

The first XV take on Weymouth & Portland away in the second instalment of the Ridgeway Rumble, whilst the second XV entertain Puddletown, unbeaten in four games at home.

Both games a promise to be hard-fought contests.