DORCHESTER 32

DORSET DOCKERS 12

DORCHESTER were expecting a stern test from close rivals Dorset Dockers but ultimately the encounter proved fairly comfortable in a 32-12 victory.

Playing with the breeze in the first half, Dorchester made the better start and were soon in front with a James Baker penalty.

Dockers immediately had a chance to equalise but the simple attempt was pulled wide.

The visitors were looking dangerous with ball in hand but the home pack was dominating and denying the Dockers much possession to work with.

It was the Dorchester forwards who stretched the lead, driving James Bryant-Harries over from close range and Baker added the extras for 10-0.

Dockers closed the gap with a try of their own, the centre showing great pace to slice through the home defence.

Dorchester’s Kieran Mayall was next to get his name on the scoreboard, Baker’s conversion giving Dorchester a 12-point lead midway through the half.

The visitors hit back when again their backs outpaced the defence on the left wing to score under the posts. The successful conversion closed the gap to 17-12.

This was however as close as the Dockers got as Dorchester pulled away. Number eight Andy Dowell scored a brace of tries either side of the half-time interval before Baker scored the final try of the day and put Dorchester into the Senior Vase final for the second time in the last three seasons.

The game was not without incident, with two Dorchester players earned yellow cards towards the end of the game and a Dockers player seeing red after the whistle.

Dorchester now face Minety in the final, who sit one place off the bottom in the Wadworth 6X Dorset & Wilts One North league.

Minety reached the final courtesy of a 19-15 victory over Lytchett Minster, also played out on Saturday.

The venue for the final has yet to be announced by Dorset & Wilts RFU but the contest will take place on Saturday, December 21st at 2pm.

Dorchester travel to fourth-placed Oakmeadians on Saturday back in the Wadworth Dorset & Wilts One South campaign (2.15pm).

Dorchester: Evans, Cottell, Underhill, Harries, Burch, Sharpe, Newsam, Dowell; Verkaik, Foot; Mayall, C King, T Gower; Baker. Bamlet, Miners.

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