DORSET DOCKERS 27

DORCHESTER 31

DORCHESTER just edged a Wadworth 6X Dorset & Wilts One South thriller in Christchurch, ending the Dockers’ unbeaten home run.

Played on a beautiful autumn day it was clear from the start that the two sides were very evenly matched.

The home side tried to play their usual running game but Dorchester’s defence looked well organised.

The visitors also had the upper hand in the set-piece.

Fifteen minutes in, and a mistake by Dorchester gifted the Dockers a five-metre scrum.

Despite heavy pressure, the hosts just managed to retain the ball and forced their way over for the opening try.

Dorchester hit back almost immediately, Josh Hosford finding a gap in the Dockers’ defence and scoring by the posts.

Minutes later, James Baker outpaced the defence for his first of four tries.

Momentum then swung back to home side who, in the last 10 minutes of the half crossed for three tries, one of which was converted and Dockers led 22-14 at the break.

Any thought that Dorchester were tiring in the hot conditions was soon put to bed as the county town side dominated the third quarter and James Baker ran in three tries. A further conversion took his points tally for the afternoon to 26.

However, the Dockers were far from out of the game and a fifth try for the hosts put them within one score with 15 minutes still to play. Despite playing most of the time with 14 men in the second half, due to yellow cards, Dorchester just held on to claim a valuable and well deserved victory.

Dorchester A XV’s game against Swanage & Wareham was called off due to the opposition being unable to field a side, so a great number of the squad added their voices of support to cheer home the first teams’ league win of the new season.

This weekend the county town side have their first home league game against Lytchett Minster.

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