DORCHESTER have reflected upon their tough start to the season which has seen them get to grips with a new division in the shape of Wadworth 6X Southern Counties South.

The team has had to face new challenges, such as availability with the away trips going much further afield.

Having lost only two games last season, so far this season the first team have only won two thus far in comparison.

The step up has proved a big task against much stronger teams, and the Dorchester’s points tally has shown points are not as easy to come by as they were last season, going into the break, they have only scored 197 compared to last season’s total tally of 1,001.

The county town side sit one place from the bottom of the table, above Bradford-on-Avon, on 16 points.

Last season’s relegated teams ended the league with 22 and 36 respectively, so Dorchester will be in a dogfight to avoid the drop with their most likely rivals being Thatcham, North Dorset and Grove.

The Highwood-sponsored side next play on Saturday, January 5 at Grove, a huge game to go into straight after the Christmas break.

The coaches will be looking for big performances from the senior leaders in the team and the whole squad to step up and make a mark on the game.

In complete contrast, Dorchester’s A XV sit proudly at the top of Dorset & Wilts South Two table on 44 points.

Having only lost two games in the campaign so far, away to Salisbury and Ellingham & Ringwood, they will look to reverse those results in the return fixtures. The team’s next fixture is against rivals Swanage & Wareham on January 5 at home, when the team hope to keep the points flowing.

The Phase Three Kitchens-sponsored side have put in some big performances so far and captain Rob Parker is keen to keep the momentum going.

Dorchester third team Gladiators sit second in Dorset & Wilts Three South, one point below Poole. The squad has shown a great mix of experience and youth so far in this campaign and have played some great flowing rugby. Having had to concede the away game at Poole due to availability problems across all three sides, the Gladiators lost five points and will look to claw those back in a bid to emulate their league winning season of 2014/15.

Club chairman Nick Hodge said: “There’s been a mixed bag of results for the senior men so far, the seconds and thirds are riding high in their leagues but the firsts haven’t won as many games as we’d like. I’m sure the strength and depth we have plus the experience of our leadership group and coaches will produce an improvement for the first team in the second half of the season.”

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