DORCHESTER 32

SHERBORNE II 10

UNBEATEN Dorchester finally overcame a resilient Sherborne Seconds 32-10 in Wadworth Dorset & Wilts One South to secure their 12th win from 12 games this season.

Yet another bonus point victory began with a points deficit as the visitors started on the front foot to open the scoring with a simple penalty in front of the posts as Dorchester strayed offside.

Dorchester, with a dominant scrummage, began to take control of the game and it was no surprise when James Baker went over in the left-hand corner for 5-3.

Sherborne were now struggling to get out of their own half and Dorchester added two tries before the break as Zak Boyd-Paton squeezed into the right corner before George Foot spotted a gap in the Sherborne defence and, with a final reach, touched down under the posts.

Baker added his only conversion of the day in blustery conditions for 17-3.

Sherborne, kicking against the wind, were still in the game but Dorchester continued to dominate possession and territory, stretching the game with gaps beginning to appear.

First to benefit was the ever versatile Andy Dowell, playing at scrum-half, outpacing the defence for the bonus-point try.

But Sherborne refused to lie down and, following a charged-down kick, won the scramble to the ball for a consolation score. Sherborne then had a player sin-binned for a cynical obstruction and Dorchester immediately took advantage with Baker and replacement Jamie Morgan both crossing over.

With Dorchester’s pack dominating Sherborne with some strong carries, prop Chris Elliott picked up the county town’s man-of-the-match accolade for the game.

Elsewhere, Dorchester’s A XV made the short trip to Bridport after last weekend’s disappointing 22-14 loss to Wheatsheaf, and with the returning leadership of captain Matt Fry a determined team took to the pitch.

Despite conceding an unfortunate early breakaway try and struggling in the early scrums, it was the visitors who silenced the home crowd and took a deserved lead into the break with another superb effort by Freddie Marsden on the wing, adding to his brace from the previous week.

The second period was a much tighter affair with Dorchester leading until the referee handed a penalty to Bridport with the last play of the game giving the home side the win.

Dorchester’s man-of-the-match was fly-half Rob Parker who ran the game but a notable mention must go to Julian Dale who despite trying his best could not get a try to his name.

Next Saturday sees a local derby for Dorchester’s first team at Puddletown.

Dorchester: Bamlet, Ovey, Elliott, Harries, Burch, Hosford, Sharpe, Newsam; Dowell, Foot; T Gower, C King, Baker, Boyd-Paton; Moss. Underhill, Morgan.