WARMINSTER SECONDS 12

DORCHESTER A 24

DORCHESTER A continued their unbeaten run with a surging 24-12 comeback win at Warminster in the Dorset Seconds Senior Shield.

When Bradford on Avon scratched from the Dorset and Wilts cup late Thursday, this put Dorchester first team into the semi-final of the Senior First’s Men’s Cup automatically and they will play Devizes on Saturday, October 13.

This meant the coaching team could concentrate on the A XV alone and see them through a tough away tie in the Shield competition which they did with aplomb, but not without giving themselves some hard work to do.

The game started in atrocious conditions and despite playing the more structured rugby, a combination of toothless back play and some poor tackling from Dorchester saw the home side move into a 12-0 half-time lead.

Stern words from joint head coach Eral Anderson and good use of the bench saw Dorchester come back into the game.

Fly-half George Foot and inside centre Matt Read, both on as replacements, gave a sharper edge to the Dorchester attack and the pair combined well to set up a well-taken try by outside centre Luke Scadden.

The Dorchester scrum was dominant throughout and their second try came from a push-over five-metre scrum, touched down by man-of-the-match Josh Hosford.

Left-wing Jamie Morgan converted to tie the game and extra time seemed on the cards until, with six minutes remaining, another powerful Dorchester attack culminated in replacement prop Joe Prior crashing over to score.

Morgan converted once again and then wrapped up the result by grabbing a try with the last play of the game.

Other notable performances came from full-back Jack Ward and the game saw return of Liam Kershaw at hooker.

Captain on the day Laurence Burch said: “We had a slow first half, but in the second half we showed unity and resilience in defence and attack, dominated the scrum with the backs running great lines.

“It was a very well fought game with plenty of things to learn and take from it.”

The A team now move into the quarter final of the Dorset & Wilts Senior Seconds Senior Shield, and having lost in the final two seasons ago they are aiming to go one better. Dorchester face Swanage on Saturday, October 13.