BLANDFORD II 10

PUDDLETOWN 55

AFTER the disappointing defeat at New Milton last Saturday the Villagers bounced back in style to keep up the pressure on league leaders Sherborne Seconds with this comprehensive victory at Larksmead.

This Dorset & Wilts Two South a fixture which was in doubt until the last minute but Puddletowhn gave an assured display to claim the points.

Puddletown’s Sam Bailey said: "All credit to Blandford. They contacted us on Friday morning to say they only had eight players available and that they might therefore have to concede the game.

"With our squad already named we agreed we’d travel up anyway then at least we could play a friendly.

"If that encouraged them then great; obviously a lot more phone calls were made after that and by lunchtime on the Saturday they’d put together a side strong enough to contest the fixture as a league game.

"Having done so, they certainly made us work hard for our win.

The Villagers too had key players injured or unavailable and this gave some of the younger squad players the chance to shine.

There were also debuts for two new signings, with James Brise starting on the wing and Dickie Watts coming on in the pack as a second half replacement.

Fly-half and former Blandford man Tom Yeatman got the visitors off to a flying start with a well worked try and, after prop Jez Beale added a second minutes later, it was clear the home side would struggle against Puddletown’s pace.

Seventeen-year-old centre Jacob Holt ran in a brace of scores, his first in senior rugby, before Brise and then full-back John Moise crossed the whitewash for a 38-0 half-time lead.

Blandford fought back well after the break and, as just reward for their efforts, a successful penalty then a converted try gave some respectability to the scoreline.

The visitors’ ascendancy never faltered though and both Beale and Brise scored again before number eight Pearce Mercer cantered clear for a final try.

This Saturday the Villagers host Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew, before the final league game of the season a week later, a local derby with Dorchester Seconds, again at Greenfields.