YEOVIL 21

DORCHESTER 24

DORCHESTER prevailed 24-21 in a hard-fought Tribute Southern Counties South clash at Yeovil where the result was in doubt until the final whistle.

Once again Dorchester went into the game with a much-changed team but settled quickly and had the better of the opening exchanges.

Then, against the run of play Yeovil created an overlap on the left giving the winger an easy run in for the opening try, which they duly converted.

Dorchester’s pack was giving their opponents a torrid time in both scrum and line-out, and it was from a driving line-out that hooker Scott Clarke crossed for Dorchester’s opening try.

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James Baker added the extras and then directly from the restart Dorchester counter attacked and five passes later Baker touched down by the posts. The successful conversion increased the lead to 14-7.

However, Yeovil fought back with a second converted try to level the scores at the break.

Dorchester started the second half with two men in the bin but defended resolutely and only conceded a single converted try with reduced numbers.

Injuries had now dropped Yeovil to 14 men and Dorchester took full advantage, Brook Legg scoring Dorchester’s third try. Baker was unable to covert leaving Dorchester trailing by two points.

The game continued ebb and flow until, with 10 minutes left, tight-head prop Chris Elliott drove over from close range for what would prove to be the winning score. Baker’s conversion attempt came back off the post leaving Dorchester with a slender three-point lead.

With another player in the bin Dorchester were forced into some desperate defence but were holding on until Yeovil were awarded a penalty in front of the posts.

Bravely, Yeovil refused the easy kick to draw the game and went for the win but Dorchester held firm to secure the full five points.

This result moves Dorchester above Yeovil, putting them fifth with three games left in the campaign all to teams who lie above them in the table. Dorchester head to Salisbury in two weeks.

Back home at Surcouf Park, Dorchester’s A XV hosted Poole in the Tribute Dorset & Wilts South Two clash.

With a number of players out of position the home side looked shaky to start with but eventually started to gel and look more likely to score.

Poole ran into an early lead, securing the bonus-point fourth try before half-time. However, Dorchester seemed to lift their game in the second period with a number of opportunities to score.

Eventually going over for two tries, one being converted, the final score of 31-12 was no disrespect to the home team.

The result means that Dorchester and Poole swap places in the league table, with only one game left this season at home in two weeks against Swanage & Wareham Thirds.