![Report image]() |
text |
Despite the attractions of "Super Saturday" on the television a healthy crowd turned up at Coburg Road to watch the rearranged game against Wimborne. A close encounter was expected but, despite have to play for fifty minutes a man short, in the end Dorchester won reasonably comfortably.
The visitors started well gaining position in Dorchester's twenty two and several phases later earning a penalty in front of the posts that was duly converted. Five minutes later James Baker equalised with a penalty of his own before Wimborne scored the opening try. From a lineout close to the home try line they went for the drive, Dorchester managed to halt their progress but a couple of pick and drives and Wimborne were over. Again Baker was to level the scores, this time with a try in the left hand corner following a bullocking run by No 8 Mat Bonner.
By now the host's customary dominance at the scrum was having an effect and from one such advancing scrum Dave Gower was able to feed Matt Read for an easy score by the posts. Baker's conversion stretched the lead to seven points. With half an hour gone Dorchester were reduced to fourteen men when Toby Waddington was sent off for a reckless tip tackle on the Wimborne fullback. Sensing their chance, Wimborne went onto the attack and a drop goal from their outside half narrowed the gap. The hosts again benefited from their advantage at the scrum, this time Dave Gower was hauled down inches short but James Newsam was on hand to pick up and dive over. Baker popped over the easy conversion to bring the first half to a close.
The numerical disadvantage seemed to have little effect on Dorchester as they dominated Wimborne territorially throughout the second period. Baker narrowly missed with a couple of penalty attempts and several try scoring opportunities were wasted but the visitors were posing no threat at all. Even when Rich Bament had to leave the game injured with fifteen minutes left and they had to rejig their already unfamiliar back line they never looked like conceding any more points. Indeed it was the hosts who were to have the final word. Baker going over for his second try, this time in the right hand corner, to earn his side a bonus point and take them up to third place in the league.
Acheson Construction man of the match: Adam Makepeace
Team: Warren, Chalker, Cottell (Bamlet 60), Makepeace, C Mitchell, Miners, Newsam, Bonner (Skidmore 15-20); D Gower, Bament (Cree 65); Baker, Waddington, Harvey, Fry; Read
