Rugby Previews: Weymouth stars set to miss Sherborne encounter (From Dorset Echo)

Rugby Previews: Weymouth stars set to miss Sherborne encounter

8:23am Friday 20th January 2012 in Rugby By Ky Capel

TABLE-TOPPING Weymouth will be without two of their leading lights when they head north to Sher-borne Seconds tomorrow (2.30pm).

Last weekend’s hat-trick hero Will Quick and Gary Hamlin, who delivered a man of the match display in the Dorset & Wilts Plate final triumph nine days ago, are both missing for the Dorset & Wilts One South encounter.

Although disappointed to be without their services, head coach Paul Harding has faith in their potential replacements.

He said: “Will is away for a fortnight and he will be missed but hopefully Simon Dean will be available again.

“We are also losing Gary for two weeks. He has been on fire and in my opinion he was man of the match in the Plate final.

“Fingers crossed Harry Charles might be available so we can make a like-for-like replacement.”

Previewing the trip to Gainsbor-ough Park, Harding added: “It’ll be a tough fixture as it’s never easy to go there and win. They didn’t have a good result last weekend, losing 41-10 at Salisbury Seconds, but they may have had some injuries or unavailabilities.

“We are sitting top of the league but we are there to be shot at. We’ve had seasons where we’ve not had anything to play for but have been doubly determined to prove a point against the team that was at the top.

“I just want the boys to concentrate on playing the sort of rugby they are capable of. If we do that, hopefully everything else will fall into place.”

Dorchester will be confident of getting back on track tomorrow as they entertain rivals Blandford (2.30pm).

Their near neighbours currently sit second from bottom in Southern Counties South with just one win in 13 outings thus far.

They have also conceded more points – 521 – than any other side in the division and are 16 points adrift of 10th-placed Corsham.

Martin Oxland’s men ran out 23-12 victors when the two sides met in October and the county town outfit will be eyeing a repeat result.

Elsewhere, Bridport travel to high-flying Warminster (2.30pm), aiming to record back-to-back wins for only the second time this season.

Head coach Mark Botten said: “They have gone second in the league but hopefully we will have a strong side out.

“We don’t seem to do as well away from home but I’m hoping we will have a strong enough side to go there and compete.

“There’s nothing worse than having a good home win and then not doing yourselves justice away from home.”

South West One East strugglers Swanage & Wareham play host to mid-table Witney (2.15pm) while Puddletown are without a fixture.

However, a veterans’ XV have a friendly at Poole (2.30pm).