8:41am Tuesday 23rd February 2010
By Echo Reporter
WESTBURY 38 Puddletown 7
PUDDLETOWN’S search for an elusive second win goes on after they went down at Westbury.
Following an encouraging performance at home to second-placed North Dorset the previous week, the Villagers were looking to go one better against Westbury, who sit just one place above them in Dorset & Wilts One South.
However, the struggling visitors made life even more difficult for themselves when, following the late withdrawal of several key players, they were yet again forced to travel to Wiltshire with a squad of just 15 and no replacements.
But despite his patched-up team including two 17-year-old debutants, stand-in captain Martin Spicer was in no mood to accept anything less than 100 per cent effort, and straight from the kick-off the Puddletown forwards responded by forcing their hosts deep into their own territory.
Patient recycling and good ball control took the visitors to within 10 metres of the line and, with just five minutes gone, second row Paul Chidley chose his moment to pick up the ball at the back of a ruck and drive over to open the scoring.
Fly-half Tom Yeatman added the extras and, while the home side managed to take play back up into midfield, the Villagers were soon on the attack again.
Scrum-half Gareth Price, making his first appearance for the senior side, spun the ball out to Yeatman, who in turn released Jack Foot with an inch-perfect pass, only for the centre to lose his footing as he rounded the last man.
Minutes later the roles were reversed and it was Yeatman who very nearly broke through, only to be foiled by a last-ditch tackle.
Westbury eventually cleared their lines and, on the half-hour, in what was really their first serious attack, put together a series of phases which resulted in a score out wide.
The try was unconverted, leaving Puddletown still ahead, but while they continued to enjoy the greater possession the visitors failed to add to their lead, and right on half-time it was the home side who broke clear for a converted try, giving them a somewhat fortunate five-point advantage.
This clearly inspired them, and with the benefit of fresh legs off the bench they stepped up a gear in the second period, running in four further tries before the Vill-agers dug deep for a final onslaught.
In the last few minutes both number eight Ed Malpas and flanker Spicer just fell short of crossing the line for a score that arguably would have made the result a fairer reflection of the game as a whole.
Dorset Piddle Brewery Man of the Match: Martin Spicer
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