ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT 33

DORCHESTER 24

THIS Counties One Tribute Southern South top-of-the-table clash did not disappoint as Dorchester earned a try bonus-point from their 33-24 loss to unbeaten Royal Wootton Bassett.

Bassett started the better and opened the scoring after ten minutes, driving over following a close-range tap penalty.

Dorchester hit back, using their speedy back division orchestrated by the returning Alex Peel. Space was created for left-wing Brook Legg who outpaced the defence and touched down under the posts, Peel converting to level the scores.

READ MORE: Dorchester 27-0 Poole - match report

Bassett then opened up a 14-point gap with two quick converted tries but far from downhearted Dorchester finished the half the stronger.

With a little more precision, the county town outfit could easily have scored a brace of tries of their own. Jack Adams was held up over the line and Scott Peach was unable to gather a Peel kick pass with the line at his mercy.

The second half started with an early unconverted try from the hosts and it looked for a while that they might run away with the game.

Dorchester however made a couple of substitutions and got themselves back into the game.

One of those, Cohen Emery, found a gap in the home defence to sprint into the right corner.

The hosts hit back almost immediately when a Dorchester handling error gifted Bassett a scrum ten metres out.

Bassett’s number eight picked and held off tacklers long enough to give the winger a simple run in. The conversion extended to 21 points the lead with ten minutes to go, but Dorchester were far from down and out.

Legg again showed his pace and balance to beat several defenders and cross under the posts.

Peel converted and as the game entered injury-time Dorchester applied further pressure on their hosts, earning a series of penalties.

Eventually, Cohen found the space to touch down in the right corner but Peel was unable to convert with last kick of the game.

With his two tries and a great work rate, Legg was this week’s Clayson Scaffolding man of the match.

Following the match, head coach Josh Ovey reflected on the game feeling his side were their own worst enemy.

He felt the side kicked away too much possession in the first half chasing the game and defending but the second half showed a big improvement using the ball in hand.

Once Dorchester spread the ball wide, they showed how well they can score and Ovey felt this option was not used enough.

However, he was pleased with the bonus point won on the road and commented how well Bassett were drilled and a dangerous team who will be towards the top of the table at the season’s end and felt his young side can learn from their opposition.

The result leaves Dorchester fifth in the table after four games, two points off the top side Wimborne, with a home game next week against second-placed Combe Down.

Dorchester A travelled to Ellingham & Ringwood and could not quite convert their early dominance into points despite leading 22-5 after 60 minutes.

The game swung when the visitors required a reshuffle due to injuries to Tom Gower, Archie Dale, and Toby Ingram and the scrums became uncontested.

Ellingham & Ringwood then put in 19 points without answer to win the game 24-22.

The Clayson man of the match was debutant Jez Beale, with Dorchester having another debutant stepping up from the Gladiators, George Halsall, and three young players moving up to senior level: Archi Dale, Joe Styrin and Slade Collins – all former Colts.

Although a hard loss to take there were many positives to take into the next Counties Three Tribute Dorset & Wilts fixture against Poole at Surcouf Park next weekend.