Buoyant Weymouth keep on title track (From Dorset Echo)

Buoyant Weymouth keep on title track

8:22am Tuesday 17th January 2012 in Rugby By Ky Capel

WEYMOUTH 48 NORTH DORSET II 5

WEYMOUTH capped a memorable week in the club’s history with a resounding win over lowly North Dorset Seconds.

Entering the Dorset & Wilts One South fixture on the back of last Wednesday’s Dorset & Wilts Plate triumph, head coach Paul Harding feared a potential hangover as his troops returned to league duty.

However, there was no sign of fatigue at Monmouth Avenue as the table-toppers eased their way to a 10th win of the campaign, thanks in part to a hat-trick of tries from Will Quick.

Harding said: “We had four or five missing from the team that played in the final so we rotated a few and gave others a run out.

“It was a comfortable win to be fair, without expending too much energy.

“I was really pleased with the commitment and the fact that the guys were focused from the first whistle.

“After the final you would have thought it would be hard for the players to raise their game again but they were on it from the start so credit to them.

“They knew what had to be done and they went about it in a business-like manner. It wasn’t our best performance of the season but it was good enough.”

Prior to kick-off a minute’s silence was held in memory of former player Barrie Mason, who has sadly passed away.

Harding added: “I did not know Barrie personally but I know his brother Hugh and by all accounts Barrie was an extremely nice man.”

The home side made a bright start and deservedly took the lead when Quick crossed the whitewash for his first of the afternoon.

Mike Robinson showed good strength to add another unconverted try before fly-half Nick Sheppard went in under the posts for a fine solo effort, which he converted.

The final action of the half saw Joe Gibson touch down following a long spell of pressure.

Two superb breaks from Joel Wilson resulted in another two tries for the league leaders, with Sheppard adding the extras on both occasions, before Quick completed his treble to wrap up a routine victory – Ryan Lewendon dispatching the conversions.