FORMER Dorchester sensation Orlando Bailey made his Gallagher Premiership debut as Bath thrashed Worcester Warriors 40-15 on Wednesday night.
Fly-half Bailey, who turns 19 later this month, earned 17 minutes of match time live on BT Sport after coming on for Cameron Redpath.
Bailey came agonisingly close to scoring a fairytale try in the final moments of the game but was brought down just short of the line.
Two tries for Elliot Stooke, reinforced by scores for man-of-the-match Tom Ellis, Jack Walker, Tom de Glanville plus a dazzling solo try for Josh Matavesi proved too much for Warriors, who went score-shy in the second half.
Bath remain in fifth place after fellow top five sides Exeter, Wasps, Sale and Bristol all won in round 19.
Bath fly-half Bailey starred for Thomas Hardye School in their famous 62-7 win over Dr Challoners in the NatWest Under-15s Schools Vase at Twickenham in 2017.
Somerset giants Bath moved to sign the talented teenager, who earned his debut after impressing with his try-scoring and goal-kicking in the Gallagher Premiership Under-18 competition.
Three other Dorchester stars – Frankie Reed, Ethan Staddon and John Stewart – have signed and played for Bath’s academy, with Bailey captaining them this season.
Ex-Dorchester gem Sam O’Connor has signed for Scarlets in West Wales and has represented Wales at under-18 level. His brother Hari is also at Scarlets and has been capped by Wales under-20s.
Dorchester’s golden crop of talent was coached by Mike Sprules, who led them to West Dorset Cup glory at under-12 level in 2013/14 before losing in the semi-final of the Dorset & Wilts Cup in the following season.
That loss proved a watershed moment for the squad as Dorchester did not lose to another Dorset & Wilts team for the next three seasons, claiming the county champion crown in 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18.
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