DORCHESTER 52

AVONVALE 24

DORCHESTER got the better of a brave Avonvale side, winning 52-24 in the first-ever fixture between the two teams.

The hosts started well and opened the scoring with a try from fly-half James McKendry, converted by James Baker in his 200th first-team appearance.

Avonvale hit back with a converted try of their own following a charged down kick in the Dorchester in goal area.

Dorchester responded by dominating both scrum and line out. Three tries followed with Josh Hosford, Freddie Charles, and Luke Robson all crossing.

Charles’ was the pick of the three, running in from 40 metres beating several defenders en route.

Baker left the field injured and Jamie Morgan took over kicking duties, added a single conversion. Avonvale did add a second, unconverted, try before the break but Dorchester led comfortably 24-12.

READ MORE: Wimborne 27-12 Dorchester - match report

The second half started slowly with a series of injuries disrupting the flow of the game and leading to the introduction of uncontested scrums.

It was the visitors who scored next, some sloppy tackling allowing the flanker to cross for Avonvale’s third try.

Skipper James Newsam added Dorchester’s fifth try before more poor ball retention gave Avonvale a simple run in for a well-deserved bonus point try.

Stung into a response, Dorchester closed out the match with three stunning tries, McKendry and the two debutants Jack Hayward and James Cooper getting on the score sheet. The last two both sprinting in from their own half.

Morgan converted all four of the second-half tries to break the 50-point mark.

This second win for the county town side moves them up to sixth place in the Tribute Southern Counties South table, one win off fifth-placed Wimborne.

Dorchester now have two successive fixtures against clubs below them in the table and need to pick up the points from both Combe Down and Corsham before heading into a clash with unbeaten league leaders Devizes at the end of November.

Elsewhere, the club’s combined second and third string sides welcomed close rivals Weymouth’s second-string side to Surcouf Park on Friday evening and began the weekend with a strong win.

All three of Dorchester’s senior sides have league fixtures next Saturday, with availability the key, the club currently seem to be bucking the trend of losing players and are showing strength in depth being able to still compete on three fronts.