OAKMEADIANS 16

DORCHESTER 31

DORCHESTER did the double over Oakmeadians in both league games this weekend.

The first team picked up the full five-point haul on the road, to stay atop the Wadworth Dorset & Wilts One South table by nine points.

After a low key first-half performance, Dorchester eventually pulled away from a dogged Oakmeadians to equal the club record of 11 successive wins.

With a much-changed pack and switches in midfield it was no surprise that Dorchester took a while to settle.

Two well-struck penalties from long range put the hosts in front midway through the first half.

Eventually, Dorchester began to string some phases together and it was lock forward Lee King who found himself in the left-wing overlap to cross for the opening try.

James Baker, successful with five out of five off the tee, converted for a 7-6 lead.

The hosts were proving to be very competitive and they retook the lead driving over from a five-metre lineout. Dorchester were not behind for long as number eight Andy Dowell, continuing his excellent form, powered over from close range.

The conversion gave Dorchester a three-point lead at the break.

Unhappy with their first-half performance, Dorchester upped their intensity at the start of the second period and, following a string of powerful carries, George Howells crashed over for his first try for the club.

The Bears were far from beaten, however, and some silly mistakes from Dorchester allowed them field position from which they managed to force their way over the line in the left-hand corner.

With the game in the balance, coach Martin Oxland produced a masterstroke swapping full-back Baker and centre James McKendry.

Almost immediately, McKendry fielded a kick deep in his own 22 and set off on a blistering counter attack.

Having beaten several players he handed on to Baker who outpaced the rest of the defence to score the decisive try. A late penalty from Baker completed the scoring.

Dorchester’s A XV welcomed Oakmeadians’ second XV to Surcouf Park and battled out a 31-21 win to move up one place in the league table.

Matt Fry led his team out with a few players in unfamiliar positions, however the team pulled together and ran in some fine tries.

Number eight Luke Robson bagged a hat-trick and regular Gladiator Toby Graves marked his first appearance for the A XV by scoring also.

Both sides played strong running rugby but were also guilty of a lot of handling errors. Next weekend the side have an opportunity to pick up more points in the game against Salisbury Thirds to move further up the table.

The county town sides head towards the Christmas break with their final league games before the holidays this Saturday against Salisbury Seconds and Thirds respectively, then the Dorset & Wilts Vase final on December 21st for the first XV.