WALCOT 48

DORCHESTER 10

DORCHESTER suffered their second defeat of the new rugby season with a 48-10 reverse at Walcot.

With a handful of players unavailable, Dorchester travelled to Bath with a different-looking squad for their first Counties One Tribute Southern South fixture on the road this season.

For the first 50 minutes the visitors held their own before injuries and exhaustion in the unseasonable heat proved troublesome.

The hosts started on the front foot and within five minutes they were ahead, with their right winger going over in the corner for a converted try.

READ MORE: Dorchester 13-38 Swanage & Wareham - report

Dorchester then worked their way into the game with Jamie Morgan in particular making yards in midfield.

From one such break, the quickly recycled ball allowed first-team debutant Guy Chalstrey to dance his way through the home defence for the county town’s first try.

The match remained even until just before the break as Walcot were awarded a five-metre penalty from which they drove over for an unconverted try and a 12-5 lead.

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first, with Walcot’s right winger crossing for his second try.

Dorchester were still matching their opponents and when Brook Legg won the chase for a clever kick into the right corner, they were within seven points at 17-10, a good sign for the first away trip of the campaign.

Midway through the second period, Dorchester’s efforts began to catch up with them and having no backs on the bench meant players had to play out of position.

Walcot took full control running in five tries, three of which were converted, to leave a slightly glossy look to the scoreboard.

Given the starting line-up had some enforced changes prior to kick-off, with Chalstrey moving into the fly-half role from his planned start at full-back, Legg moved from wing to full-back, and the evergreen Tom Gower played the full 80 minutes on the wing moving up from the bench.

This left Dorchester with only two forwards on the bench and no back cover.

With injuries to both Legg and Kieran Fry, the match ended with George Foot moving from the back row to full-back and captain Steve Tucker, in his 100th appearance for the first team, playing in the centre.

Debutant Chalstrey was deservedly named player of the match for Dorchester.

Director of rugby Martin Oxland and his leadership group will have some headaches to overcome this weekend with injuries and availability, as the club have both their first team in action and the second string starting their league campaign.

The first team face a strong local derby against Yeovil, whilst the second team have their first Counties Three Tribute Dorset & Wilts fixture against Salisbury Thirds.