OAKMEADIANS 27

WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND 28

WEYMOUTH & Portland produced a gritty display to defeat Oakmeadians 28-27 in a nail-biter on the opening day of the Wadworth 6X Dorset & Wilts One South season.

Led by coach Rich Bament in his first game at the helm, the Seahorses survived a backs-to-the-wall final 10 minutes in defence of a one-point lead as man-of-the-match prop Ben Davies sat in the sin bin.

Strong defence and forward play was a key part of the Monmouth Avenue outfit’s resurgence last season, but Oakmeadians tested the visitors’ resolve at Meyrick Park, sweeping into an early 10-0 advantage.

Outside centre James Cooper then scored a fine individual try to close the deficit, although the Bears instantly scored a second soft try from the restart.

Bament’s men battled back with two Alex Toms penalties, before fine combination play between Lewis Allan and Toms set up the latter to score, converting his own try for an 18-17 half-time lead.

Weymouth and Portland opened a 25-17 lead when the visitors kicked a penalty into the corner before winning the line-out and driving over the line, lock Andy Bowditch the try-scorer with Toms converting.

In a see-saw contest, Oakmeadians reclaimed the lead after scoring a converted try and kicking a penalty to go 27-25 up.

As the tension grew, the Bears missed two kickable penalties in front of the posts before Toms punished the hosts by slotting a 30-metre penalty over from the touchline.

Davies then earned a sin bin and the Seahorses were pressed into defensive action for the final 10 minutes, holding strong to begin the new campaign in perfect style.

Speaking to Echosport, Bament said: “We held on through sheer defence, which was very good. Attack, there’s stuff to work on.

“But the guys all stuck together and didn’t give up, kept going for 80 minutes and sorted their problems out.

“After going 10-0 down it might’ve put a bit of doubt in their mind, but they played how I wanted them to play and got the result in the end.”

Bament noted his satisfaction with the Seahorses’ intake and production of his preferred playing style.

“They’ve taken it all on board,” he said. “They’re really good, they listen and put it all into practice.

“Sometimes it isn’t ideal and doesn’t work straight away, but they keep going and reap the benefits at the end.

“I’ve got a big bunch of forwards and some good backs – their skillset is very good, all of them. That’s one thing that has impressed me.”

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