WIMBORNE II 34 Puddletown 19

AFTER an enforced two-week lay-off, both sides were glad to get back into Dorset & Wilts Two South action and, despite the deteriorating conditions, produced a closely fought and entertaining game, writes Geoff Puryer.

Evenly matched in terms of both possession and territory, it was the greater firepower of the leaders’ well-drilled back line that proved the difference, although the Villagers will take heart from a battling performance which saw them push Wimborne all the way.

A couple of last-minute changes to Puddletown’s starting line-up could have affected their game plan but in fact they started the brighter and, with a bit more luck, could have scored from their early domination.

But an intercepted pass after 10 minutes put the hosts on the attack for the first time and luck had nothing to do with the move that resulted as quick hands along the line saw them outflank the visiting defence to take the lead with a converted try.

Two more scores followed in the same vein and it looked as though the Villagers were in for a torrid time, but after working their way back up-field they too showed their handling skills with a fine move that put flanker Connal Newbery over for his first try in senior rugby.

With the wind in their favour though, Wimborne were soon back on the offensive and right on half-time they found the gaps yet again to go 24-5 ahead.

A soft try against the run of play early in the second half only served to increase the size of the visitors’ task but they continued to battle ferociously and 10 minutes later the pressure told as full-back Dan Udell broke the line to touch down under the posts.

Skipper Tom Yeatman added the extras and while Wimb-orne did later add one more score from an increasingly rare visit up-field, the rest of the second period belonged to Puddletown as they maintained their ascendancy. At last another breakthrough came as back row John Moise took the final pass to crash over with Yeatman again adding the conversion, but that was it and the whistle went before the Villagers had a chance of a fourth try and the consolation, at least, of a bonus point.

Dorset Piddle Brewery Man of the Match: Tim Yeatman