DORCHESTER 55

NEW MILTON II 0

DESPITE not being at their very best, Dorchester still recorded another comfortable bonus point win.

The unbeaten Dorset & Wilts One South leaders totally dominated proceedings in the first half with the visitors rarely leaving their own half.

However, credit must go to New Milton for making the hosts work hard for their tries, not missing their tackles and competing hard at the breakdowns.

But they had no answer to the pace of the Dorchester backs who gleefully ran back any loose clearance kicks or turned over possession.

Right-wing George Foot opened the scoring with two tries in the right corner before left-wing James Baker crossed in the right corner.

The impressive young fly-half Alex Peel then raced through the midfield for the bonus point try and Baker added a fifth before the break. Three successful conversions took the total to 31 points to nil.

The second half began to get a little scrappy, New Milton managed to keep the ball for long periods using their pick and drive but they never looked like Dorchester’s defensive line.

Eventually the hosts took control again. Both Baker and Foot completed their hat tricks and Harry Charlier was on hand when Lee King was held up inches short. Baker finished off the scoring with his four try of the afternoon.

After the game, Dorchester head coach Ben Parker said: “We made some silly errors in key places and for a good 20 minutes didn’t have any on the game or cause New Milton and headaches.

"That must have been frustrating for those watching.

“However, given we didn’t concede any points for the second week, I’m not concerned but I do want the squad playing as they were three weeks ago.

"With the Vase semi-final and the big league clash with Wimborne looming the lads need to make sure they are at training over the next two weeks and put in the hard graft.

"They need to be fully focused on raising the bar again and get ready for the big challenges ahead.”

This week's Copper Street Costa Coffee man of the match was Sam Jones.

Jones showed just what an asset he is after returning to the club this summer, and put in a superb try-saving tackle to keep the clean sheet.

In other games this weekend, the A XV won at Ellingham & Ringwood while the third XV Gladiators lost to Poole. Carrying on their winning ways the ladies side also triumphed against Basingstoke.

Sunday saw the majority of the youth section in training whilst a number of the colts paraded in the Remembrance service at Dorchester Cenotaph where club president Bob Andrews and club captain James Newsam laid a wreath on behalf of Dorchester Rugby Club.

Dorchester: Rawles, Underhill, Cottell, Jones, L King, C Harries, Newsam, Tucker; Bosher, Peel, Baker, C King, Charlier, Foot, Read. Adams, Poole