PUDDLETOWN 17 NORTH DORSET III 18

PUDDLETOWN managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory for the second Saturday running.

As with the cup game against Bridport seven days earlier, Puddletown started the brighter against North Dorset in this Dorset & Wilts Two South fixture, with Matt Watts driving over to score a converted try.

The home side continued to apply pressure and from a scrum 10 metres out number eight Dan Udell picked up and drove down the blindside.

He passed to Watts who popped the ball to skipper Jez Beale to score in the corner.

Winger Ben Spinney then went over to score a try which he converted to put the Villagers in a dominant position at 17-0 ahead.

The visitors started their comeback just before the break, a quickly tap penalty allowing North Dorset flanker Simon Drake to cross.

Puddletown then fumbled a lineout on their five-metre line and North Dorset captain Aubrey Aviss went through on the loose ball to touch down and put his side right back in it at 17-10.

And, after Josh Wyman finished off a flowing move to score and reduce the deficit further, North Dorset were awarded a penalty which they took quickly with a tap behind the referee.

The official was unsighted and pulled them back to take it again.

This time they elected to go for the posts and Tom Judd struck his kick well enough for it to creep over and give the visitors a dramatic 18-17 victory.