SHERBORNE 81

DORCHESTER 22

A DORCHESTER side missing more than 20 first-team squad players were no match for Sherborne in a 81-22 defeat which means they are certain to finish in the drop zone of the Wadworth 6X Southern Counties South.

The players who took to the field did themselves proud and earned a try bonus point, but the team may yet find a reprieve due to a restructure of the league system by the RFU.

With four players making their first-team debuts – Harry Dunning, Josh Peel, Damon Ashmore and Eral Anderson – the team ran in four tries against the newly-crowned champions.

Two early converted tries for the hosts was a taste of things to come, but Dorchester hit back when Cam Wills proved too strong for the Sherborne defence.

Sherborne continued to dominate and three further tries and a conversion put the hosts in complete control.

Dorchester however, refused to lie down and fly-half Alex Peel crossed for the final score of the first half.

Playing into the wind in the second half, Dorchester knew that they were in for a difficult 40 minutes and so it was as Sherborne ran in five more tries.

Once again, Dorchester showed real spirit to score two tries, the first from Andy Dowell and the second from replacement Anderson.

The match finished with Sherborne scoring their eleventh and final try.

Dorchester’s two other senior sides did not face any league action due to respective opposition not travelling.

As a result, the A side will end the season as Wadworth 6X Dorset & Wilts Two South champions, while the Gladiators finish fourth in Wadworth 6X Dorset & Wilts Three South.

The club did play host to an inter-club barbarian style game with the Gladiators taking on Dorchester’s newly-reformed social side the Vandals, which ended with many smiles on the players’ faces after a high-scoring, flowing game.

Ending the weekend on a high note, Dorchester’s under-15s won the Dorset & Wilts County Cup for the fourth consecutive year, showing the strength and depth of the whole youth setup at the club.

Dorchester host Swindon College Old Boys on Saturday.

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