DORCHESTER 38

SWANAGE & WAREHAM II 3

A GAME that will not go down as a classic in the memory of any who witnessed it ended in a comfortable bonus-point 38-3 win for league leaders Dorchester against Swanage & Wareham Seconds at Surcouf Park.

Conditions were far from ideal for this Wadworth 6X Dorset & Wilts One South clash following heavy rain, but Dorchester dominated from the kick-off.

Early pressure resulted in a penalty in front of the posts and Dorchester elected for the scrum.

Aiming play right, simple passing put James Baker over in the right corner.

Swans were playing a very limited game, keeping the ball with their forwards, but did have some success leading to a simple penalty.

Dorchester were soon back on the attack with Tom Gower sneaking over from close range, Baker adding the conversion.

Before the half was over, Callum King crossed for two tries to earn the bonus point for Dorchester, Baker converting the first.

With the result a foregone conclusion the second half was a question of both sides going through the motions.

Baker and number eight Andy Dowell both scored tries and Baker added the extras on both occasions.

The visitors tried hard but were unable to penetrate Dorchester’s solid defence as the county town ran out 38-3 winners.

The news that Dorset Dockers had been beaten at Sherborne meant that Highworth-sponsored Dorchester now have a nine point lead at the top of the table.

Next Saturday, the team take a break from league action to welcome second-placed Dorset Dockers in the Dorset & Wilts First XV Vase.

Dorchester’s A XV lost narrowly to Poole in similarly poor conditions with large amounts of standing water on the pitch.

Both sides played a very physical encounter with Poole counter-rucking the better of the two teams and turning possession over. With a converted try needed to draw the match, the visitors pushed hard at Poole’s defence for the last 10 minutes but could not break through.

On Friday evening. Dorchester Gladiators took on the combined force of Puddletown and Blandford Seconds in an entertaining game.

With the half-time score 12-0 in favour of the visitors, the Gladiators dug deep and ran in four tries to eventually come out 26-17 winners.

Tony O’Connell was rightly proud of his team for the commitment put in and with players from both teams leaving the pitch with smiles on their faces it proves grassroots rugby is as strong as ever.

He also noted that there was much support for both teams on the touchline including players from all three clubs’ first teams along with committee members from all clubs.

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