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Cup Final - North Dorset 17 – Dorchester 0
Dorchester Under 14s travelled to Bridport RFC to take on North Dorset in the Dorset County Cup final on Sunday. The weather conditions were ideal for rugby and the confident county town team certainly looked the part in their newly sponsored kit by Central Roofing Supplies Ltd that had only just arrived in time. Dorchester started strongly but soon found that the quality of opposition was a lot stronger than what they were used to. The backs were well matched but the superior rucking from N Dorset meant a lot of turnover ball in favour of the current cup holders.
The county team played most of the rugby in their own half and the pressure finally told on Dorchester when a mistake at the back of the scrum was quickly pounced upon by the alert N Dorset 8 who drove over the tryline to score the first points of the half. The conversion was taken and the teams ended the half 7 – 0.
The play in the second half was much the same with neither team exerting themselves fully. The second North Dorset try came about from some great interplay between the backs and their impressive No.8 who fed the pacey North Dorset winger who crossed the whitewash 12 – 0. The Dorsets` kept the pressure on the green & whites and when a hurried box kick from within the Dorchester 10 metre line, was charged down by the advancing North Dorset backline, they were quicker to react and broke through the defence and scored the third and final try of the game.
The game was closed out by the North Dorset team and Dorchester failed to get on the scoresheet, despite the whole squad playing with great spirit until the final whistle. North Dorset were well deserved winners and have reaped the reward of playing quality opposition throughout the season. We wish them luck when they go on to play Chippenham in the Dorset & Wilts final at the end of April.
Team: Max Bagley, Charlie Lake, Joe Underhill, Josh Younger (capt), Max Buckler, Josh Perry, Sam Scott, Ryan Hardisty, Jake Ralston, Oliver Harding, Morgan Jones, Ieuan Davies, Zach Paton, Conor Jess, Martyn Harrison, Lewis Glynn, Tom Lawday, Josh Perry, Matt Gaston, Jack Comben, Sam Kershaw, Luke Farley
The Dorchester Under 14`s squad travelled 80 miles to play the current Hampshire champions Havant who are unbeaten this season. Although the county town were without a number of players due to Dorset & Wilts commitments and personal reasons they were still able to field a strong squad who pushed the slick Hampshire outfit all the way.
On a cold crisp morning the Dorchester pack were first to exert the pressure and after only 5 minutes won a scrummage against the head, with the resultant interplay between the backs centre Josh Perry crossed the line to give the visitors the lead. With the conversion taken by Jake Ralston, the score was 7-0 to Dorchester. The Havant team were quick to respond and after some strong close contact play between the forwards they crossed the line to make it 7-5 after missing the conversion. The game was evenly matched throughout with territory and possession being almost even. Only a mistake at a Havant lineout gave possession back to the green & whites who capitalised in the form of Sam Scott whose pace sliced open the Hampshire defence for winger Ryan Hardisty to receive the offload and score in the corner. Ralstons` brilliant conversion which was only a metre in from the touchline, dissected the posts to give the County team a 14-5 lead at half-time.
The Havant team came out the better at the start of the second half and it was not long before a wayward pass from a Dorchester player was intercepted by the alert Havant centre to race through and touchdown under the posts 14-12. The replacement forwards brought on by Havant were beginning to dominate in the loose and Havant should of extended their points tally but for some fantastic tackling and rucking by the courageous Number 8 – Josh Younger.
The continual pressure told on the tiring Dorchester pack who had thwarted attack after attack on their own try line until the Hampshire number 8 eventually breached the defences to score the try. Dorchester were behind for the first time in the match 14-19. The next period saw both teams evenly matched until a superbly weighted kick by stand-in fly half Ralston, was chased by Scott who scragged the Havant defender, ripped the ball and offloaded to winger Joe Cooper to cross for his first try for the club. With the conversion narrowly missed the score was now 19-19.
This would set-up a thrilling end to the match and it looked like the visitors had snatched it when the backline burst through the Havant defence for Scott to outpace the chasing defenders and score under the posts. 26-19 with just a restart to go, surely they could hold on? The Havant team restarted and when an uncharacteristical lack of concentration from the receiving Dorchester players gave possession to the chasing Hampshire pack there would be only one result. Try to Havant in the dying seconds of the game. With the pressure on the Havant kicker to draw the scores level, he slotted the ball over to share the spoils 26-26.
This was an ideal penultimate game for the county town outfit who take on North Dorset in the final of the county cup on 2nd March at Bridport kick-off 11.30am. The squad is holding a band night in the Corn Exchange, Dorchester on the 7th March 2008 in aid of their tour to Ireland and a prize draw in aid of CLIC. Tickets are available priced £12.00 each from Steve on 07902-025085
Team: Max Bagley, Charlie Lake, Joe Underhill, Josh Younger (capt), Joe Cooper, Josh Perry, Sam Scott, Ryan Hardisty, Jake Ralston, Nathan Cross, Ieuan Davies, Zach Paton, Martyn Harrison, Josh Perry, Owen Chubb, Jake Chislett, Matt Gaston, Tom Merewether, Connor Jess, Olly Harding.
The Dorchester Under 14`s squad travelled to Bridport and carried on with their impressive form despite losing some players to the county training session. The weather conditions were ideal and both team put up a great display of running rugby. The hosts were first to capitalise when they were awarded a penalty just inside the Dorchester 22 metre. They chose to kick for goal and slotted it nicely between the posts 3-0 to Bridport after only 5 minutes.
This was the wake-up call Dorchester who quickly got into their stride and it was not long before Buckler in his changed position of scrum half crossed the line to open the County towns account. The next score game from quick ball from a ruck through the backs hands to Ryan Hardisty on the wing who crossed in the corner to make 10-3. The third try was a result of Bridport givi9ng away the penalty from just inside their 22. The Dorchester forwards set-up the crash ball for Martyn Harrison to power his way over the white-wash, Buckler converting the score was now 17-3. The final score of the half came about from some great interplay between the 2 centres who drew the Bridport defence in for full back – Steve Tucker to exploit the space and score to the left of the posts. With the conversion the score at half time was 24-3
The second half began with Dorchester applying early pressure but only some ferocious tackling from Bridport, kept the green & whites from adding to their tally. It was not until 15 minutes into the second half that Dorchester finally ground down the battling blues when Jake Ralston finally opened his account after a superb offload by centre Josh Perry put him in space to cross the line under the posts.
Bridport showed great spirit and mounted a sustained attack from the kick-off. After a strong driving maul by the Blues pack took them close to the Dorchester tryline a great peel by their flanker resulted in them scoring in the corner to make 31-8. From the Dorchester kick off a quick chase by the visitors backs ensured a turnover in possession, with Buckler back at fly half he had the time to send through a superb grubber kick for Ralston to gather and score his second try of the game.
The final try was again created by Ralston to set-up debutant winger Jake Chislett to score in the corner making the final score 41-8. The score however did not reflect Bridports endeavours and the County side were certainly made to work for their win which would have been higher but for the physicality of the hosts pack who dominated for long periods of play.
Team: Max Bagley, Charlie Lake, Joe Underhill, Josh Younger (capt), Max Buckler, Joe Cooper, Josh Perry, Sam Scott, Ryan Hardisty, Jake Ralston, Nathan Cross, Ieuan Davies, Zach Paton, Martyn Harrison, Tom Lawday, Josh Perry, Owen Chubb, Jake Chislett, Steve Tucker, Sam Kershaw, Matt Gaston, Jack Comben.
Bournemouth 12 – Dorchester 36
A Dorset County Cup final place was at stake for the Dorchester Under 14`s squad who travelled to Chapelgate to play Bournemouth.
The weather gods co-operated and despite all the torrential rain in the preceding days, the game took place in dry conditions but with a strong wind. The County town team were playing in the semi-final having just lost there only game of the season so far, after a number of players had been unavailable due to county call-ups.
The game kicked off with Dorchester playing into the strong wind and the home team took full advantage of this and applied early pressure, only for Hat-trick man Ralston to slip his tackler on his own 22 metre line and race the length of the pitch and score under the posts, duly converted by Buckler, it was 7-0 after 5 minutes
Bournemouth restarted the game and again put the Dorchester line under pressure with some good rucking and set piece work. But yet again the Dorchester backs capitalized on spilt ball by a Bournemouth centre, they quickly passed the ball through the backline one way then the other with Centre Josh Perry finishing the move with a great try. With the conversion missed the score was now 12-0.
The Dorchester pack had now settled into their game and were beginning to dominate in the contact areas, but for some uncharacteristically poor handling by the backline the green & whites could have scored more tries. Dorchester’s` last score of the half came from a great turnover ball by flanker – Lewis Glynn, who then released his fly half Jones for him to offload to Buckler who sold a great dummy to the Bournemouth defender before running in under the posts, with his own conversion the score was now 19-0. With only minutes to go for the end of the half the Dorchester team must of turned their thoughts to the half-time oranges, as a number of missed tackles enabled the Bournemouth side to score making it 19-5 at the half-time whistle.
Dorchester restarted the 2nd half and after a superbly wieghted kick by Buckler was dropped by the Bournemouth receiver the chasing pack quickly gained possession and set up the backs to pass through their line for Ralston to score his second try of the game.
With the wind at their backs Buckler, who was now playing at fly half, put some intelligent kicks over the top of the Bournemouth defensive line. This kept the hosts camped in their own half for much of 2nd period and it was not long before on fire Ralston popped up again for his third try of the game. This time it was the backs that combined in a magical piece of handling and running. Scrum half; Harding was the orchestrator once again. His pass to the right found Josh Perry, the inside centre drew the defence before passing inside to Ralston whose choice of running line split the defence and he touched down unopposed. With the try converted the score now stood at 31-7.
The Bournemouth side however refused to lie down and after some great play by the forwards, who put together phase after phase eventually passed out to their centre who crossed the Dorchester whitewash to make it 31-12.
The response by Dorchester was decisive. After some great lineout ball, Dorchester set up the drive and pushed their way upto within 10 metres of the Bournemouth line. With the try line beckoning, Number 8 Josh Younger charged for the line and with 3 tacklers in tow, he crashed over to bring the final score to 36-12 to Dorchester.
A great team performance by the whole squad has seen them book their place in the final where they will face North Dorset on the 2nd March.
Team: Max Bagley, Charlie Lake, Joe Underhill, Josh Younger, Max Buckler, Joe Cooper, Josh Perry, Sam Scott, Ryan Hardisty, Jake Ralston, Nathan Cross, Ollie Harding, Morgan Jones (capt), Ieuan Davies, Zach Paton, Conor Jess, Martyn Harrison, Lewis Glynn, Tom Lawday, Josh Perry
Dorchester Under 14`s carried on with their magnificent start to the season with a convincing win at home to Wimborne. After the close victory over local rivals, Swanage & Wareham last week, this was another test for the blossoming County side.
The conditions were atrocious yet Dorchester managed to play the ball along the backs for the now customary first score from winger Sam Scott to finish under the posts. The ever improving forwards began to dominate up front clearing out the Wimborne pack at every opportunity. This provided a great platform for the second phase ball for the backs to capitalise on. Further tries for Ryan Hardisty, Josh Younger and Captain Morgan Jones brought the score too 28 – 0 after just 15 minutes. With the wind and rain in Dorchesters` face the predicted wind assisted kicks from the visitors failed to materialise and Dorchester kept the pressure on by keeping the play in the Wimborne half. A further score by Scott and a lovely mazy run from full pack Josh Perry gave Dorchester a 42-0 lead at half time with Max Buckler converting all his kicks with ease.
As is the norm, the changes began at half time to ensure that the whole squad played some part of the game. Unlike last week however, the changes failed to upset the pattern of play and with the wind in Dorchesters` favour, Fly half Buckler kept the opposition penned in their own half with his boot. Only some resolute defending and spilt ball prevented Dorchester from making further scores. Buckler scored the seventh try after some great work at the fringes of the rucks and it was great to see Connor Jess score his first for the club having come back from an eye injury which had kept him out from the start of the season. Wimborne rallied at the end of the second half but only some great team defence kept them out until the final whistle.
This game was played under extremely difficult conditions but both sides managed to pass the ball well and gave the rain soaked crowd an entertaining fixture. Dorchester have now played 8 - won 8. Well done to the whole squad.
Team: Max Bagley, Charlie Lake, Joe Underhill, Luke Farley, Matt Gaston, Josh Younger, Max Buckler, Joe Cooper, Josh Perry, Sam Scott, Ryan Hardisty, Jake Ralston, Nathan Cross, Ollie Harding, Morgan Jones, Ieuan Davies, Zach Paton, Jack Comben, Conor Jess, Martyn Harrison, James Grey, Ali Graham
Swanage & Wareham 14 – Dorchester 22
The Dorchester Under 14`s were in need of some stiff opposition after some fairly easy fixtures and local rivals, Swanage & Wareham were certainly that. On a Sunday morning ideal for running rugby the Dorchester squad started well against the larger more physical pack of Swans and after some great handling by the backs winger Sam Scott crossed over the try line to open the scoring.
The smaller Dorchester pack refused to be intimidated by Swans and worked hard to secure the ball at the breakdowns which enabled the green & whites to keep the opposition in their own half. A charged down clearance by back row – Luke Farley from a swans scrum on there own 10 metre line enabled him to hold onto the ball and score again to make it 10 points to nil. A second try from speedster Scott made the scores 15 – 0 at half time.
The Swanage team started out much the stronger in the second period and were beginning to dominate up front. Some more changes by the Dorchester coaches further upset the rhythm of the team but great defensive play by the replacements including some heroic tackling from pint sized flanker - Ieuan Davies, stopped the home team from getting off the mark.
Some ill discipline by Swans who had been encamped in Dorchesters 22 enabled the county side to relieve some of the pressure. The backs ran the ball up torwards the Swanage tryline and only a last ditch tackle by the Swans prevented Jake Ralston from scoring after some great interplay with Joe Cooper on the wing. The resulting lineout was won by second row Martyn Harrison who secured the ball for the backs to run onto in the form of Ralston who crossed over to give Dorchester their fourth try with the successful conversion by fly half Max Buckler the score was now 22 – 0.
This flattered Dorchester and it was soon to change after the restart when the Swans benefited from some missed tackles to finally open the scoring. Soon after restart again a great chip & chase by a Swanage back enabled them to burst through the Dorchester defensive line, and with the conversion, made the scoreline 22-14. The Dorchester team did not panic however and slowed the game down to hold out victors. This was the type of fixture that Dorchester needed and there was some great skills on show by both teams. Next weeks game, at home to Wimborne, will be a further test of Dorchesters mettle but the team are confident that they can overturn a 2 match defeat by them last season.
Team: Max Bagley, Charlie Lake, Joe Underhill, Luke Farley, Matt Gaston, Josh Younger, Max Buckler, Joe Cooper, Josh Perry, Sam Scott, Ryan Hardisty, Jake Ralston, Nathan Cross, Ollie Harding, Tom Vanzyl, Morgan Jones, Ieuan Davies, Zach Paton, Sam Kershaw, Jack Comben, Conor Jess, Martyn Harrison, James Grey
On a beautiful sunny Saturday morning the Dorchester Under 14s set off for North Somerset and their latest opposition - Frome. This was billed as an appetizer for the following game involving the Dorchester first team versus Frome in a league match.
With a strong line-up it did not take long for Sam Scott to open the scoring for Dorchester by exploiting the small wingers for Frome, his first of 3 for the afternoon. With the forwards struggling to secure second phase ball it was left to the backs to rack up the tries and by half time Dorchester were leading by 42 points to nil.
A few changes were made to try and balance up the proceedings and it certainly worked with Frome starting much the stronger in the second half. Only some terrific tackling prevented the Somerset outfit from opening the scoring after the restart. However it was the now familiar story of Dorchester’s` pacey backs that continued to score breakaway tries for the county town.
Jake Ralston scored 2 tries before unselfishly passing the ball to Zach Paton in the in goal area to score. This rounded of a fine game for Zach who was a revelation in his new position of flanker. Jake also off loaded to Olly Harding in the in goal area for him to score.
With the steady boot of Buckler converting all his kicks the score soon reached 63 – 0 before a poor clearance from a Dorchester forward on their own try line, gave the opposition winger the ball who danced through a number of missed tackles to score a consolation try for Frome, much to the delight of the home supporters.
Dorchester were not finished however and they managed to score a further 2 tries to make the score 75-7 at full time. The team had put in a magnificent display to beat a physical Frome team and are now looking forward to the next 2 matches - Swanage & Wareham and Wimborne, who they failed to beat on both occasions last season.
Team: Max Bagley, Charlie Lake, Joe Underhill, Luke Farley, Matt Gaston, Josh Younger, Max Buckler, Joe Cooper, Josh Perry, Sam Scott, Ryan Hardisty, Jake Ralston, Nathan Cross, Ollie Harding, Tom Vanzyl, Morgan Jones, Ieuan Davies, Ali Graham, Zach Paton, Sam Kershaw
On a morning more suitable for ducks, the first of Dorchesters` derby fixtures took place in almost horizontal rain. Despite the conditions and a bar of soap for a ball, both sides managed to entertain a soaked crowd with some surprisingly open style of rugby. With the wind advantage in the first half Dorchester opened the scoring after 10 minutes when the winger Sam Scott held onto a spin pass from the backs to outpace the defence and score under the posts. Dorchester continued with the wind and it was not long before Ed Matts got of the mark with the first of 3 tries after he danced through three tackles.
The next try came as a result of a move, practiced in training. The tireless No. 8 - Josh Younger, picked up the ball off the back of a scrum 10 metres from the Bridport try line, committed the tackler and off loaded to scrum half Olly Harding, who finished the move. The fourth try came from the winger Ryan Hardisty, who managed to break through 3 tackles to score under the posts.
Three conversions from Max Buckler gave the county town a 26-0 lead at half time. The second half saw Dorchester playing against the wind and with a number of changes made to enable all players to take some part in the game, it took a little time for Dorchester to settle. The Bridport team were camped in the green & whites 22 metre for long periods of time but some good defence and securing of loose ball by Dorchester prevented them from scoring. Dorchester added 3 more tries to their tally, 2 for Matts and 1 for centre Josh Perry before the final whistle.
The scoreline did not reflect Bridports` efforts throughout a hard match played in extremely difficult conditions.
Team: James Grey, Charlie Lake, Joe Underhill, Luke Farley, Josh Younger, Max Buckler, Joe Cooper, Josh Perry, Sam Scott, Ryan Hardisty, Jack Comben, Nathan Cross, Ollie Harding, Tom Vanzyl, Max Bagley, Martyn Harrison, Lewis Glyn, Ed Matts, Morgan Jones, Ieuan Davies, Ali Graham, Zach Paton, Sam Kershaw
On a glorious sunny morning the under 14s players travelled to Chard to hopefully continue with their unbeaten run of 3 games. The Somerset team soaked up the early pressure from the green & whites who were encamped in the home teams 22 metre for the first 10 minutes of the game. Only handling errors at crucial times prevented the visitors from opening the scoring.
Some excellent backrow work from debutant Lewis Glyn kept the home team on their back foot and the defence finally succumbed to Jake Ralston, who was playing at 10, as he scythed through the backline to open the scoring. A further try by Jake and another from full back Max Buckler, who converted all three, meant that the score at half time was 21-0.
With the Dorchester coach having the luxury of being able to change the front row at half time, the Dorchester squad carried on where they left off. With some great interplay between the forwards and backs it was not long before Jake added 2 more tries to his tally. With 2nd row forward Matt Gaston making some strong direct running the Chard team tried valiantly to keep the County team out but the now in form backs appeared to score with every attack.
Buckler scored another try following his chip & chase and centre Josh Perry finished the scoring with a sublime side step past three Chard defenders to score under the posts. With Bucklers boot converting all before him the score ended 49-0, bringing Dorchester’s` tally to 200 points for and only 34 points against in just 4 games.
Team: James Grey, Charlie Lake, Joe Underhill, Matt Gaston, Luke Farley, Josh Younger, Max Buckler, Joe Cooper, Josh Perry, Jake Ralston, Sam Scott, Ryan Hardisty, Jack Comben, Nathan Cross, Ollie Harding, Jake Ralston, Tom Vanzyl, Max Bagley, Martyn Harrison, Lewis Glyn
Dorchester 31 Ivel Barbarians 17
This was a last minute fixture for Dorchester after Lytchett Minster pulled out due to lack of numbers. Ivel turned up with only 12 players but we quickly agreed to loan them 3 players from our squad of 19. As the saying goes this was a definitely a game of two halves!
After a training session on body positions and rucking the forwards began at a tremendous pace out-rucking the larger Ivel pack at nearly every opportunity. This set up good ball for in form scrum-half - Ollie Harding to distribute to his pacey backs and it wasn’t long before the tries began. Quick hands shipped the ball out to Sam Scott on the wing whose pace took him past the defenders and in for the first try. This was converted by Ollie making it 7-0 within 4 minutes.
The team carried on with the same pattern of play with the forwards dominating up front and with prop Joe Underhill having a stormer of a game, the green & whites kept up the pressure on Ivel. This pressure soon turned to points when debutant centre Morgan Jones, offloaded in the tackle to release Josh Perry to cross the whitewash. Then it was the turn of winger Ryan Hardisty to get on the scoresheet with another scorching run down the wing. This wasn’t to be his last of the game but it was his last for Dorchester! With 2 more tries from Sam Scott and 2 conversions from fly half Max Buckler, whose quick ball to the centres had been the telling factor in this first half, Dorchester went into the break leading 31-0.
The coaches decided to even things up slightly and put Ryan and Maxs` Buckler and Bagley onto the oppositions team. This also involved playing a few players out of position for Dorchester. Ivel restarted the game with renewed vigour. As their new playmaker at 10, Buckler had the backs running at the Dorchester defence. With Bagley showing his new found front row team-mates how to ruck, the first period of this second half saw the Barbarians applying a great deal of pressure on Dorchester.
This eventually led to a penalty for Ivel inside Dorchester’s` 22 which was quickly taken by Buckler as the Dorch defence turned their backs on Ivel. This led to the first try for Ivel which was converted by Buckler. 31-7 and game on. The forwards of Dorch were beginning to revert back to their old habits of rucking too high, which led to turnover ball for Ivel. On one such turnover the ball was passed out to Ryan whose pace took him over the tryline to make it 31-12.
This was the wake-up call that Dorch needed, and they began to revert to the game that they are able to play. A great catch and drive by Matt Gaston at the lineout set the ball up for the backs to attack the Ivel tryline. Only a superb tackle by Ryan on Sam, prevented another try for Dorch. At the resulting breakdown Buckler chipped ahead and ran the full length of the pitch to score for Ivel – final score 31-17. This was a good lesson for Dorchester in two respects. One was the fantastic way in which the six Dorch players reacted when being told to play for the opposition.
We were the benefactors of this type of gesture against Salisbury last season and it should not be looked upon as a negative move. Also players were put into positions that are alien too them, but they still put in the effort and adapted well. The Ivel coach thanked the lads for playing for his team and the effort that they put in.
Team: James Grey, Charlie Lake, Joe Underhill, Matt Gaston, Luke Farley, Josh Younger, Max Buckler, Joe Cooper, Josh Perry, Sam Scott, Ryan Hardisty, Zach Paton, Jack Comben, Nathan Cross, Ieuan Davies, Tom Damon Lane, Ollie Harding, Jake Ralston, Morgan Jones
We were away for our second game of the season, over the border to Totton to play the Hants outfit who we played last season and beat by 4 tries to 2. We took a strong squad of 24 players for this game which would of posed a headache with regards to selection until on arrival when the Tottonian coach asked if we would play 3 periods of 20 mins as he had a number of new players that he wanted to try out in the first quarter. This was agreed and we named a squad with mostly new players and some established players in their 3rd or 4th choice position.
The first period began and straight from the Tots` kick-off the backs ran the ball back at their defence and opened the scoring with Jake Ralston, playing at full back, joining in the backs move and finishing under the post. Converted by Ali graham, the game started again with the same intensity and with Jake clear again he unselfishly passed to Zac 5 metres out from the tryline who went over and scored to make it 12-0 inside 5 minutes. We decided to make some further changes and brought Jake of and we played a few more players out of position which matched the teams up for the rest of that half, with it ending 22-12 to Dorchester. Josh Younger scoring his now trademark backrow try from 10 metres out and a score from the workhorse of the centres – Josh Perry.
The second period was more evenly matched, as both sides fielded their stronger teams. It was nip and tuck throughout the period with the packs evenly matched and the Dorchester backs unable to create any space to play in. At the end of this period it was 5-5 with the overall score now 27-17.
The third period began and the forwards upped their game from the start, overturning ball in the contact area and they were rucking and mauling like they have been trained to do…..for once! The effect was immediate. The backs began to receive good ball and the tries began to come. With 2 tries apiece for Sam Scott, Jake Ralston and Ryan Hardisty and another typical forwards try from Martyn Harrison the final score was 62-17. Another good outing for the green & whites, with every player doing their bit for the team.
The Team :- James Grey, Charlie Lake, Joe Underhill, Martyn Harrison, Matt Gaston, Sam Kershaw, Luke Farley, Josh Younger, Ali Graham, Max Buckler, Joe Cooper, Josh Perry, Sam Scott, Ryan Hardisty, Zach Paton, Jack Comben, Tom Vanzyl, Nathan Cross, Ieuan Davies
Tom Damon Lane, Ollie Harding, Jake Ralston,
The months of pre-season training had now passed and it was eventually time for the Under 14s squad to hit the road and head up to Blandford for the first game of the season. A big difference from last years season was that we were able to take a squad of 22 players with us and that was without 3 players who were attending the Dorset & Wilts trial games at nearby Bryanston school.
From the whistle the forwards quickly got into their stride although, as has been the story all last year, the body position in contact could have been alot lower, to enable the drive and clearing out against a large Blandford pack. The backs however, when they received the ball from debutant scrum half - Ali Graham, showed their superior pace & skill against a small Blandford back line and quickly dominated the game.
At the end of the first half Dorchester were leading 24-0 with tries from Max Buckler & Sam Scott, a bullocking run from Martyn Harrison 10 yards out produced his first try of the season and there was a try for debutant winger Ryan Hardisty who was very impressive with his strong running and immense pace out on the wing and the 2 conversions added by Max.
The 2nd half carried on where we left of, with the forwards beginning to work as unit securing good ball for the scrum half who was playing with great assuredness. The clean ball for the backs ensured that the tries kept coming but with Blandford refusing to give up, Dorchester were made to work for this victory.
The final score was 58-0, with further tries for Sam Scott, Ryan, Max, Josh Perry and Josh younger. A good first team outing for a lot of new players. All the lads adapted well to the changes being made in order to get all the players at least a part of a game. Credit to Blandford who have only recently had enough players to put out a full squad. As we were in the same position last year I can only say keep at it, as things will improve.
The Team :- James Grey, Charlie Lake, Joe Underhill, Martyn Harrison, Matt Gaston, Sam Kershaw, Luke Farley, Josh Younger, Ali Graham, Max Buckler, Joe Cooper, Josh Perry, Sam Scott, Ryan Hardisty, Zach Paton, Jack Comben, Tom Vanzyl, Nathan Cross, Ieuan Davies