DORCHESTER 69
AVONVALE 19
DORCHESTER followed their 12-try haul against Yeovil with another 11 tries in a handsome 69-19 win against Avonvale.
The victory means Dorchester pick up back-to-back wins for the first time this season in Counties One Tribute Southern South action.
Jack Adams was first on the scoreboard for the home side, before the visitors’ excellent scrum-half William Abel slotted two penalties, one from quite some distance out.
Jack Hayward added a second try, again converted by Jamie Morgan, only for Abel to add a third penalty for 14-9.
READ MORE: Yeovil 0-78 Dorchester - report
Veteran back row Tomas Gower squeezed in at the right corner and Morgan added the extras from the touchline to give Dorchester a third score but Abel once again narrowed the gap with a fourth penalty.
The superb Henry Quinney then crossed for the bonus-point try, again converted by Morgan.
Alex Peel, returning from a rib injury and on as replacement for John Bowden, closed out the first half by sprinting down the left wing and touching down in the corner.
To their total credit Avonvale, although playing with only 14 men, never let their heads drop and battled throughout the second half with spirit and belief.
Dorchester added five further tries as Scott Clarke, another from Peel, Matt Fry and two for Morgan took the game out of Avonvale’s reach.
Avonvale did get a well-deserved converted try of their own, driving over from close range following a period of sustained pressure.
Dorchester, however, had the final word when with the last play of the match a flowing three-quarter move ended with full-back Kieran Fry diving over in the right corner.
It was rather apt that the Fry brothers both got their names on the score sheet, as their parents, Councillor Les Fry BEM and Julie Fry were match sponsors for the day.
Director of rugby Martin Oxland and his coaching team must have been delighted to see two players from their injury list, Steve Tucker and Alex Peel, head back onto the pitch to prove they are match ready again, as the side move into a cluster of three games they can get results from and move up the league table.
Oxland’s side still sit seventh but are starting to put some space between them and the sides below.
Meanwhile, Dorchester A took the short trip to Greenfields to play Puddletown in a Counties Three Tribute Dorset & Wilts league fixture.
With several familiar faces in the Villagers’ squad having played for Dorchester in previous seasons, and the hosts holding their Captain’s Day, it was always likely to be a highly anticipated fixture.
On the day, Puddletown came out victorious with a 62-0 win.
With both sides having won on their own home soil, they meet again in the cup competition at the end of February.
Dorchester now have three league games before then to get back to winning ways and regain some rhythm.
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