PUDDLETOWN 19

NORTH DORSET II 15

PUDDLETOWN progressed to the Dorset & Wilts Upper Counties Cup semi-finals with a hard-fought 19-15 victory over their local rivals North Dorset Badgers.

On a sunny afternoon, a large home and away crowd turned out at Greenfields and were treated to full-blooded game of rugby. 

Badgers were first on the scoreboard with a penalty kick after the home side were penalised for not releasing in the tackle, a theme that would be repeated on many occasions throughout the game.

North Dorset certainly had the upper hand in the first half and extended their lead with an unconverted try out wide after a misplaced pass was intercepted in midfield.

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Just before the half-time break, the Villagers were awarded a penalty and the ball was kicked into the corner by fly-half Lucas Frizzle for an attacking line-out.

Hooker and captain Rhys Jenner threw the ball in and was the recipient of the catch and drive, the lighter home forward pack driving over to score an unconverted try. 

After the break Puddletown took the lead with a try of a similar fashion, Frizzle kicking into the corner, Jenner throwing in and, after a second catch and drive, Jenner dotting the ball down over the line for his second score of the game.

This time Frizzle converted from out wide on the right to make it 12-8 to the home side.

North Dorset upped their game and threw everything at Puddletown, the home defence repelling each attack with some heroic defending, even holding up one onslaught over the line.

Eventually the pressure told and from a tap penalty the Badgers spun the ball wide to score a converted try to make the score 15-12.

The home side dug deep and with the clock going into stoppage-time they were awarded a penalty in their own half.

Frizzle spiralled the ball deep into the corner to give Puddletown one last chance to score from the line-out.

This time the ball was caught clean, the home team pack caught and drove forward and replacement scrum-half Kris Birch bundled over the line to score.

Frizzle added the extra two points to make it 19-15 with what was the last kick of the game.

The Villagers can be very proud of their players and especially their perseverance and defence.

Winger Tom Roy was awarded the man-of-the-match accolade for some outstanding defensive contributions.

Puddletown progress to play Wiltshire side Corsham in the semi-final on Saturday at Greenfields.