DORCHESTER 54

CORSHAM 19

DORCHESTER made it three Tribute Southern Counties South wins on the spin with an emphatic 54-19 success over struggling Corsham at Surcouf Park.

Corsham had an early shock lead as a dropped pass allowed an away player to pick up and run unopposed to the line for a converted try.

Dorchester, with the pack dominant from the start, soon turned things round with four converted tries in 10 minutes.

James McKendry scored the first and third with Josh Ovey steering a driving maul over the line and Jamie Morgan collecting the fourth score. Morgan added the conversions and Dorchester were almost out of sight.

Corsham did score a second try when a kick to the corner was spilled and the winger was on hand to touch down.

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Before the break Josh Hosford added his name to the list of Dorchester try scorers and Morgan once again converted leaving the score 35-12 at half-time.

Injuries to the visitors’ front row forced the game to uncontested scrums in the second half and for 20 minutes Corsham battled bravely and had the better of the contest.

Indeed, they added a third try and conversion for 35-19. Inevitably this effort caught up with the Corsham players and the hosts ran in three tries in the final quarter.

All three were scored by debutant Brook Legg, showing good pace to run in from distance. Morgan converted two of the three tries to take the score past the half century.

This victory takes the county town outfit to fifth in the table with a big game against the unbeaten league leaders Devizes next up.

Coach Josh Ovey has called for a big commitment from his squad to field his strongest available team with a growing injury list and availability issues already highlighted.

Post-match he said: “Not all games are fairytales and rarely go to plan, but I can confidently say that this weekend I have never seen two stronger teams willing to play for each other and support each other.

“The amount of quality players we now have at the club, giving us strength and depth, is outstanding.

“Congratulations to all involved and committing to make this a great season.”

He added a special mention to first team debutant Legg.

Dorchester’s next four games could prove crucial to the season, playing the league leaders away first before the two teams immediately above them in the league at home.

They then travel to local rivals Swanage & Wareham for the final game before the mid-season break. If results fall well, the club could end the year in the top three, if not mid-table beckons.

In a hard-fought match, Dorchester’s A XV came up short against league leaders Lytchett Minster, losing a bruising encounter 34-12.

The first half was a very even contest with only immense tacking from both sides stopping tries and keeping the scores level.

However, injuries to both of the home centres, including captain Matt Fry, who pulled his hamstring whilst scoring a try to give Dorchester the lead in the second half, gave way to sustained pressure from Lytchett.

Even the heroism of Liam Stocke playing the second half with a broken hand could not stop the onslaught from Lytchett as they eventually came away comfortable winners.

Dorchester’s A XV sit third in the table with their next game at home against sixth-placed Oakmeadians on Saturday.

Given the club’s growing injury list this could prove closer than the table suggests.