DORCHESTER 12

WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND 17

WEYMOUTH & Portland won the Ridgeway Rumble 17-12, upsetting higher-league Dorchester at their Surcouf Park home.

With a four 20-minute quarter format, Dorchester took a convincing 12-0 lead into half-time with tries by James Newsam and Callum King.

Dorchester’s solid scrum was getting the better of the Weymouth pack at the set-piece and with ball in hand Dorchester always looked to threaten.

With wholesale changes at halfway mark, the county town outfit let some of their younger fringe players get some game time.

Weymouth dominated the second half as Luke Savage and Todd Savage scored tries, both converted by Ryan Llewendon, who also notched a penalty.

Dorchester enjoyed a late surge in the final quarter and were unlucky not to finish off two good chances as Weymouth & Portland claimed a well-contested 17-12 win.

READ MORE: Tor 24-32 Dorchester - match report

Speaking post-match to idrismartin.wordpress.com Seahorses’ skipper Dave Oaksford said: “After almost two years of inactivity it is great just to run out onto the park again with the rest of the lads and in a derby game against our closest rivals was the cherry on the cake.

“We had the worst of possible starts gifting Dorchester two tries but after the break we took control of the game, tightened up our defence and also stopped making stupid mistakes,

“What was particularly pleasing was that both of our tries came from our wingers after flowing three-quarter moves.

“Late in the fourth period players from both sides were dropping like flies with cramp probably due to two years without playing serious rugby.

“Our man of the match was flanker Chris Norton – he was all over the park, both in defence and attack then he never fails to give less than 100 per cent to the team.”

Whilst disappointed with the end result, Dorchester chairman Tony Foot commented that it was good to see new faces take to the pitch.

The most important thing was to build the squad for a tough league campaign ahead.

He added it was great to see so many at the club to watch the game and great to see sponsors back at the first opportunity.

New Dorchester player-coach Josh Ovey will look to set the team up against good opposition (Yeovil) and set a benchmark for the squad to achieve as the season commences.

Many familiar faces will return to competitive rugby after the Covid-enforced lay-off, and with no injury worries this early in the season, Ovey has plenty to choose from.

Dorchester host a Prison Service game this evening at 7.30pm, followed by the first-team pre-season fixture against Yeovil at 2.30pm today, the mini and junior sections get back to full training tomorrow morning with the under-15 age group playing Oakmeadians at 12.30pm.

Tomorrow afternoon sees the Colts start their season against Winchester at 2pm.