HITTING THE WALL: Dorchester's Steve Hodgson is stopped in his tracks
Southern Counties South
DORCHESTER 24
OAKMEADIANS 20
DEBUTANT Tom Caines grabbed a last-gasp winner for Dorchester but it was not enough to save them from relegation.
The county town side climbed off the bottom of Southern Counties South but were unable to move above Ivel Barbarians who won at Sherborne.
Playing with the stiff breeze Dorchester started poorly and within five minutes had conceded a soft try, allowing the Oaks' centre to run through several weak tackles for the opening score.
The conversion was missed but the wake up call seemed to have been heeded and the home side began to get into their higher rated opponents.
It was from a scrum deep in the Oaks' 22 that Dorchester opened their account. Dave Gower broke blind and fed Dafydd Wright on his inside to cross the line with John Firkin adding the extras. Dorchester then increased their lead when James Spensley latched onto a bouncing ball and burst through the opposition defence to score under the posts.
The conversion was a formality for Firkin and the hosts found themselves nine points in front approaching the interval.
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The visitors however, were in no mood to concede the game. A prolonged attack finally saw the Oaks' left winger score in the corner despite Dorchester's desperate defence.
Again the conversion was missed but with the wind to come in the second half the visitors looked favourites.
Indeed, within ten minutes of the restart, Oakmeadians had taken the lead. Firstly they kicked an easy pen-alty and then scored a converted try.
As the minutes ticked away, with neither side looking as if they would score again, Dorchester put on their last two replacements, and it was one of those, Luke Weller, who made the difference.
Weller charged down an attempted clearance, re-gathered and fed Wright. He was hauled down inches short of the line but prop Steve Hodgson was on hand to drive over.
Firkin's conversion shaved the outside of the post to leave the hosts trailing by a single point.
Then, in a dramatic finale, Dorchester were awarded a penalty 35-metres out. The only option was to run it, and from the ruck a well-rehearsed move saw Spensley sprinting through the middle.
He was held up short but quick passing allowed Caines to dive over in the right hand corner. The conversion was missed but the game was won.
The euphoria was short-lived however, when it was discovered that Sherborne had somehow contrived to lose at home to Ivel Barbarians and so Dorchester finished 11th and face probable relegation to Dorset & Wilts One South.
Coach Chris Burton said: "It is not 100 per cent confirmed yet but I would be surprised if we weren't relegated. The decision still has to go through the league meeting so we should know by June.
"It's just very frustrating because the lads went out and played how they can play. But the way we played is refreshing for next season when we will regroup and have another go."
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