DORCHESTER A 17

BOURNEMOUTH WANDERERS 55

DORCHESTER A bowed out of the Dorset & Wilts Knockout Cup with a 55-17 home defeat to Bournemouth Wanderers.

With the county town club’s first-team game postponed due to an unplayable pitch at Wiveliscombe, their A squad took to the field at Surcouf Park.

Captain Jamie Jackson led out a strong but mixed side including many of Dorchester’s homegrown young players. Both teams showed the strength of local grassroots rugby with fine support on the touchline encouraging them on.

Bournemouth took an early lead in the first few minutes from a set-piece move but the home side slowly fought their way back into the game.

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Dorchester began to grow in confidence and were defending well when required with some solid tackling.

Early into the second half the home side took a slim lead with an opportunist but clever score by Jude Gwennap after a scrum close to the opposition’s try line.

Dorchester, now playing down the slope, were attacking in the opposition half for most of the time for the third quarter.

The hard work they were putting in was starting to take its toll on the home side and, as Bournemouth began to run back at them putting some width on the game, the hosts dropped off some tackles and failed to hold back the tide of runners.

This led to three quickfire tries under the posts for the visitors, including the last move of the game from the kick-off caught deep in their own half.

The score certainly did not do justice the effort put in by the Dorchester side who now move into the plate part of the competition.