DORCHESTER 62

SALISBURY II 5

A ROUTINE 62-5 thrashing of Salisbury Seconds saw Dorchester reach halfway in their Wadworth Dorset & Wilts One South league programme with their perfect record intact and the Highwood-sponsored outfit still proudly lead the standings.

The hosts scored in their very first attack, skipper Callum King breaking through Salisbury’s disorganised defence. James Baker was unable to convert and subsequently passed the kicking duties to Kieran Mayall.

There was then a scoreless period of 15 minutes before a burst of three converted tries in five minutes ended the match as a contest. Tom Gower was the first of the trio to score followed immediately by Charlie Sharpe and then Andy Dowell.

Further tries from Zak Boyd-Paton and a second by Dowell along with another Mayall conversion saw the home side leading by 38 points at the break.

The second half was relatively uneventful with the visitors bravely trying to stem the tide of Dorchester attacks.

Lee King, who carried strongly all afternoon, dotted down for a well deserved try and Boyd-Paton completed his brace before Andy Dowell crossed for his hat-trick – both tries converted by Mayall.

Prop forward Tom Evans added Dorchester’s 10th try of the afternoon but the visitors had the final word, getting some reward for all their efforts when the right winger sprinted into the corner.

Dorchester’s A XV were due to play Salisbury Thirds but the visitors could not field a team thus giving the home side maximum points and lifting them one place in the league table into fourth and a win away from third place.

The county town’s third XV Gladiators fell to a strong Crewkerne side but captain Tony O’Connell praised his squad who have played so far this season and commented that Brain Eadie, former Gladiators captain and stalwart of the club who passed away recently, would have been proud of his old team.

The club’s future looks in strong shape with its Colts side running away 52-12 winners at Chippenham, taking a commanding lead in their league with five wins from seven plus a seven-point lead in the table.

Next Saturday, Dorchester travel to Warminster for the Dorset & Wilts Senior Vase final looking to end the year, and decade on a high.

Having won the trophy last in the 2017/18 season, they face Minety who are currently in 10th place in Wadworth Dorset & Wilts One North.

Hopes may be high, but coach Martin Oxland has warned against complacency and expectation and urged his squad to put in a full 80-minute performance to secure the Vase.

Dorchester: Evans, Dunning, Bamlet, Harries, L King, Hosford, Sharpe, Dowell; Verkaik, Foot; T Gower, C King, Mayall, Boyd-Paton; Baker, Howell, Burch.

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