Not for the first time this season Dorchester paid the penalty for a slow start, conceding two tries in the first ten minutes and leaving themselves too much to do against the side that finished third in the league.

The home side did fight back and levelled the scores at twelve a piece with tries from No 8 Sam Prior, driving over from a front peel, and Rich Bament who picked off a stray pass and sprinted in from seventy metres. Despite his exertions Bament managed to convert his own try from the touchline. The visitors retook the lead when a misplaced pass in their back line created confusion in the Dorchester defence, North Dorset’s centre reacted the quickest and scored under the posts. North Dorset took the seven point lead into the break.

The second half became somewhat disjointed with neither side able to string any phases together and neither side being helped by some inconsistent refereeing. Finally it was the visitors who took a winning lead, taking advantage of Dorchester being reduced to thirteen men they kicked a penalty and then drove over from a five metre line out. Restored to a full contingent Dorchester made great efforts to save the game. A try from Hugh Pryce converted by Bament gave the some hosts hope but the game ended with Dorchester camped on the North Dorset line just unable to get the score that would have given them a well deserved bonus point.

Dorchester end the season in sixth place and can look back on their efforts with some satisfaction. With a little bit more luck and a bit more precision at crucial moments they could easily finished a couple of places higher.

Acheson Construction man of the match: Dave Gower

Team:  Warren, Chalker, Cottell (Bamlet 60), Hodges, Makepeace, J Gower (Miners 60), Newsam, Prior; D Gower, Bament; Pryce, Waddington, Miller, Cree (T Gower 65); Clifford;