Puddletown 0 EAST DORSET 17

RELEGATED Puddletown were given a rude awakening in their first outing in Dorset & Wilts Two South.

Despite near perfect conditions for running rugby, neither side managed to find any sort of rhythm and the resulting scrappy contest was fought out mainly in midfield with the East Dorset forwards proving to be stronger, particularly in the set-pieces.

However, in spite of their superiority, the Christ-church-based outfit created few opportunities and it was left to a couple of Puddletown errors under pressure to hand the visitors a 10-0 half-time lead.

Unfortunate perhaps for the home team, but nevertheless symptomatic of the hesitancy that still seems to run through the whole side.

And after the break it was that same lack of decisiveness that saw a number of promising attacks break down at a critical stage.

The visiting defence held firm and it was an intercepted pass on half-way that saw their centre break clear to seal the victory with a converted try.

On a positive note for the Villagers, Ben Carter and Ryan Snook were both solid while three teenagers, Matt Hallett, Tim Legg, and Connal Newbery, made their senior debuts as second-half replacements.

Puddletown’s coaching co-ordinator, Toby Musgrove, said: “I didn’t think East Dorset were anything special, but the fact is they wanted it more than we did and we let them dominate us.

“I hope that the majority of our players will treat this result as a big wake-up call, otherwise we’re going to struggle again this season.”

Dorset Piddle Brewery Man of the Match: Ryan Snook