DORCHESTER A 76

RINGWOOD & E SECONDS 0

DORCHESTER A ran out with a superb performance at Coburg Road to thrash Ringwood & Ellingham Seconds 76-0 and continue their chasing down of the Wadworth 6X Dorset & Wilts Two South title.

The evergreen Dave Gower contributed in almost every score in the first half, with both Rob Parker and Matt Fry opening up the midfield.

In the forwards Alan Gale had yet another strong performance, with Tim Stephens as always putting in a dogged performance.

Ollie Morris was called on 30 minutes into the game and contributed well with his link and support play and he was awarded man-of-the-match for the side.

Lee King too put in a worthy performance at second row.

Leo Ansell is still learning a new position on the wing, but vice-captain Laurence Burch said he was lethal when he got the ball.

Dorchester dominated the scrum, winning a number against the head, and their lineout was smooth in both attack and defence, again taking the ball from the opposition.

All of this hard work lead to the backs gaining great attacking ball to maximise the scoring opportunities.

Following the match, vice-captain Burch said: “We had worked on our defence in training this week and it paid off.

“We kept the pressure up meaning they couldn’t get a real foothold in the game.

“I feel the team this week had a perfect balance.”

He also went on to say that Ellingham & Ringwood deserved praise despite the scoreline, as they never gave up and kept pushing the home side to keep playing and dig in.

Dorchester Gladiators third team travelled to league leaders Poole having not played a competitive game since the start of December in the Dorset & Wilts Three South division.

Poole were clearly a well-drilled, strong team who deserve their place atop the Dorset & Wilts Three South table.

However, the 44-0 scoreline did not reflect the dogged determination of the Gladiators.

The Gladiators were disrupted early in the game with a shoulder injury to prop John Elliott, and then had to continue the game with uncontested scrums, however they made Poole work for every score and spent the last 10 minutes camped close to Poole’s tryline.

Captain Tony O’Connell praised his team’s work-rate, resilience and attitude and the Poole captain said his team knew they had been in a tough contest after the match.

The county town’s sides now have a two-week break before the next league games.

With a number of injuries to be rested, the break is welcome to enable the club to focus on the first team to remain in the Southern Counties league and concentrate on avoiding the drop down to the league below.