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Depletions hit hard in shield

County Shield

DORSET & WILTS 0

HAMPSHIRE 55

FEW positives can be taken by the Twin Counties from this encounter where the visitors ruled the roost from kick-off to full-time.

With two of the Counties' highest status clubs, Chippenham and Salisbury involved in other competitions and their players unavailable for selection this was by far from the strongest squad that Dorset & Wilts could field on the day.

However, this should not detract from the Hants performance of power, speed and skill that left the Twin Counties chasing shadows for most of the game.

The visitors signalled their intentions from the very early clashes and the home supporters only had to wait nine minutes for Hants to open their account with a try in the corner from Portsmouth left-wing Oge Ofuasia.

Eleven minutes later, and following a line-out, Havant scrum half Grant Morris found enough room to dive over for a try with his club- mate, full-back Keith Molyneuz converting.

With half-time beckoning, and following a period of intense pressure on the home line, Old Albanians' replacement number eight Russell Osman drove over for a touchdown.

Molyneuz then capped a fine back move with a try before landing the extras with the last kick of the first half to make the score 24-0 to Hants.

After the break two tries each for right-wing Karl Buttle and substitute back-row Robbie Searle, and a further score from Osman added more gloss to the scoreline.

Molyneuz was also successful with three more conversions to complete the demolition of the Counties.

This weekend Dorset & Wilts visit Lewes to play Sussex and it is hoped that some of the players missing against Hants will be available for selection.

After the game a Dorset & Wilts spokesman said: "The lads we had out today did their best for their county against a very powerful, well drilled side and we offer no criticism of them at all despite the result.

"I thought that there were a few positives to take away. Bournemouth scrum-half Sam Hardcastle had them rocking on their heels a few times, but we just couldn't win enough ball to exert any pressure on their defence and get into striking distance of their line.

"We have got another chance to put things right at Lewes and we are keeping our fingers crossed that we can bolster the squad with some of the players who were not available to us today."

8:20am Tuesday 29th April 2008

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