It took over thirty minutes for Dorchester to get to grips with a Devizes side that was focused more on disrupting the home side than creating anything for themselves.
On a perfect day for rugby the home side had the ideal start when, in their very first attack, Devizes strayed offside and Rich Bament popped over the resulting penalty. Dorchester were dominating the set pieces but were struggling to put any phases together as Devizes were doing everything they possibly could to slow down Dorchester’s ruck ball.
Two silly offences allowed Devizes to take the lead with a couple of simple penalties. Dorchester were becoming more and more frustrated by their inability to win quick ball and eventually their efforts at the ruck were deemed to be overly physical and fly half Ben Hunt was dispatched to the bin.
The binning appeared to galvanise the hosts however and they soon retook the lead. Awarded a penalty close to the Devizes line, Dorchester opted for the scrum and with the Devizes back row committed to trying to support their struggling front five winger Jamie Morgan had simple stroll into the corner. In the dying moments of the half Rich Bament was also sent to the bin reducing Dorchester to thirteen players. However, the safety of half time was reached without any alarms.
Having finally got the measure of their opponents Dorchester completely dominated the second forty minutes with tries coming at regular intervals. No8 Carl Mitchell drove over from the tail of a lineout, Rich Bament finished off a fine move involving both backs and forwards and then prop Steve Hodgson capped a fine performance on his first appearance of the season with try number four. Bament converted all three of the tries and Dorchester were well clear.
With five minutes remaining replacement winger Hugh Pryce sneaked in at the right hand corner for Dorchester’s fifth and final try. Although the visiting forwards had been outgunned the Devizes’ back three had looked dangerous throughout and they gained some reward when they worked an overlap on the left and crossed for a consolation try that was converted with final kick of the game.
Next week Dorchester make the short trip to Sherborne looking for their first win there in more than ten years.
Acheson Construction man of the match: Adam Makepeace
Team: Hodgson, Miners (Pengelly 65), Prior, Broadbent, Makepeace, J Gower (Miller 60), Newsam, Mitchell; D Gower, Hunt; Morgan, Clifford (Pryce 55), Harvey, Bament; Read;
