Harding hopes for no Plate hangover (From Dorset Echo)

Harding hopes for no Plate hangover

8:30am Saturday 14th January 2012 in Rugby By Ky Capel

WEYMOUTH will be hoping to avoid a Dorset & Wilts Plate hangover when they return to league action this afternoon (2.30pm).

North Dorset Seconds are the visitors to Monmouth Avenue, three days after the Dorset & Wilts One South leaders tasted Plate success with victory over Supermarine.

And head coach Paul Harding is eager to keep the good times going.

He said: “It’s always a tricky fixture as they are always a difficult side to play.

“We just need to get our heads down as it will be our third game in a week, which is a lot of rugby.

“Hopefully we will get a win and keep things going.

“There were quite a few suffering with knocks after Wednesday so we could have quite a few missing.”

After disposing of Corsham in their first match of 2012, Dorchester will be keen to continue their impressive start to the New Year when they visit Trowbridge in Southern Counties South (2.15pm).

The county town side ran out 15-5 victors when the two sides last met in September and currently sit nine points clear of tomorrow’s hosts – thanks in no small part to a five-point deduction on Trowbridge’s behalf.

However, the Wiltshire outfit have won four of their last five matches.

Bridport entertain sixth-placed Ivel Barbarians knowing they will leapfrog their visitors with victory at Brewery Field (2.30pm).

Head coach Mark Botten, whose men lie seventh in Dorset & Wilts One South after losing at high-flying Westbury last weekend, said: “We’ve got a big game at home and I’m hoping we will win.

“We haven’t done well away this season but we have done well at home and as long as you win your home games you will be in the top half of the table, which was our goal at the start of the season.”

Puddletown will be aiming to bounce back from last Saturday’s defeat to table-topping Oakmeadians when they entertain Dorset & Wilts Two South basement boys Wincan-ton (2.30pm).

After losing to leaders Oakmea-dians Seconds last week, the Villagers will be keen to get back to winning ways in this game.

However, rock-bottom Wincanton are sure to come out all guns blazing as they look to start turning their season round with a much-needed win.

Josh Hiscock, James House, and Dan Udell are all expected to return to the Puddletown squad.

Last but not least, Swanage & Wareham travel to Swindon (2.15pm), looking to record back-to-back wins in South West One East for the first time this season.