Puddletown in derby delight (From Dorset Echo)

Puddletown in derby delight

8:25am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Rugby

WEYMOUTH SECONDS 0 Puddletown 15

PUDDLETOWN maintained their grip on third spot in Dorset & Wilts Two South after defeating rivals Weymouth Seconds at Monmouth Avenue.

Just three points separated the two sides at the start of play, a fact that simply added extra spice to what was already an eagerly anticipated local derby, and the game certainly did not disappoint.

In an evenly matched contest, packed full of spirit and endeavour, both teams had their chances but in the end it was the Villagers’ superior pace and width in attack that saw them triumph and open up a seven-point advantage over their hosts.

Puddletown were first to settle and when the ball went loose from a five-metre line-out, flanker Matt Watts was quickest to react, driving through the cover to score his third try in as many games.

Skipper Tom Yeatman missed the conversion attempt from out wide but this early score signalled a period of sustained pressure from the visitors.

Weymouth, however, resisted well and, using their big forwards to good effect, soon got back into the game, testing the Villagers’ defensive qualities.

They too were equal to the task though and having dealt with this onslaught effectively, once again started to regain the ascendancy.

And just before half-time a second score came with prop Jeremy Michael-Beale’s fine run from halfway breaking several tackles and creating the space for centre Josh Hiscock to finish off the move under the posts.

Yeatman’s kick was charged down this time but the Villagers led 10-0 at the break.

Not surprisingly, the intensity of the game increased further in the second half as Weymouth searched for a way through.

But it wasn’t all one-way traffic and the visitors too looked dangerous, although with a number of passes going astray in the final phases there was always a danger that frustration would creep in as the game wore on.

However, with just five minutes left it all came good in one flowing move with Yeatman’s clever dummy run allowing fly-half Barry Dovell to pick out Hiscock instead, and he split the defence with a 20-metre dash before releasing full-back Marcus House to round the last man and cross the whitewash.

The conversion was missed but Puddletown were still able to regain the local bragging rights – at least for the rest of the season.

Dorset Piddle Brewery Man of the Match: Barry Dovell