CORSHAM 53

DORCHESTER 24

A MUCH-CHANGED Dorchester side suffered a comprehensive 53-24 defeat at Corsham but managed to salvage a try bonus point in Southern Counties South.

The hosts were on the front foot right from the whistle and Dorchester’s patched up back line struggled to get their defensive structures in place.

As a result, the hosts scored four tries in the opening quarter.

Dorchester’s cause was not helped by injuries to George Foot and Jamie Morgan requiring further shuffling of the backs.

The county town side did get themselves on the board, as Dave Gower collected his own kick ahead and offloading to Louis Verkaik, to score on his first-team debut, in the left corner.

The hosts added a fifth try before the break leaving the half-time score 29-7.

Despite all Dorchester’s injury problems the second half was much more even.

Two early Corsham tries killed off any vague hopes of a Dorchester comeback but the visitors battled on.

Cam Wills forced his way over from close range before the hosts added an eighth try.

However, Dorchester now sensed that a bonus point could be won as replacement centre Andy Dowell began to punch holes in the Corsham defence.

The two tries duly arrived through James Newsam and Liam Kershaw, but Corsham had the last word, scoring the last try of the day to pass the 50-point mark.

Post match Martyn Peel said that Dorchester were unlucky picking up the injuries which caused the team to rethink the game plan, but that the losing bonus point was a positive factor to take home.

This week Dorchester face Devizes, lying five places above them in the league, at home.

Meanwhile, the county town’s A side had their match cancelled as East Dorset were unable to raise a side.

This leaves the side second in the Dorset & Wilts Two South table trailing Wheatsheaf Cabin boys by one point.

Dorchester’s third team, the Gladiators, brought home the full five points from Lytchett Minster after a high scoring end-to-end game in Three South. In a feast of running rugby to entertain the small crowd, the Gladiators scored eight tries.

In his debut game for the club, Rhys Williams scored out wide and converted his own try, whilst Dom Drabik also picked up his first try for the club.

Steve Tucker, returning from injury grabbed a try as did former first-team players Ryan Haskell. Tony O’Connell’s men now sit four points clear of Poole at the top of the league.

Dorchester, Weymouth & Portland Ladies put on a brave and competitive display with what was called an epic defence by the opposition, but finally lost 26-15 to Oakmeadians.