Dorchester kicked off the new season with a friendly down in Devon. The two sides have never played each other as far as I am aware so this was something of a trip into the unknown.

As it turned out Dorchester, despite being at less than full strength had too much power up front for their hosts and ended with a very *** victory. Two early tries for the home side were answered by a Rich Bament penalty and half time was reached with the host holding a narrow lead.

Despite being a man short at the start of the second period, Chris Miners cooling off in the bin, Dorchester dominated from the off. Dave Gower plunged over from close range followed by Carl Mitchell driving over in trade mark fashion. Both tries were converted by Rich Bament giving the visitors the lead for the first time. Mitchell then had to leave with a reoccurrence of an old ankle injury meaning that Dorchester had to play the rest of the game with two hookers in the back row.

Tiverton did cross for a third unconverted try to close the gap to two points but Dorchester were not to be denied and they sealed the win when returning prop Steve Hodgson blasted his way over from a short penalty. Bament was unable to convert but Dorchester survived the final ten minutes without any problems.

Acheson Construction man of the match: Dave Gower

Team:  Warren (Cottell 60), Chalker, Hodgson, King, Mitchell (Woodbridge 50), Miners, Newsam, Vivian; D Gower, Hunt (Fry 20)(Cree 70); Spensley, Bament, Harvey, Clifford; Read;