Having undergone numerous team changes in the days before the match, including several on the Saturday morning, Dorchester were relieved to start with a full team and a whole replacement. A strange assortment of players (1 prop, 1 lock, 5 back row, 1 outside centre, and 8 wings and full backs, including several for whom this was their first or second ever competitive game) lined up to face a Frome side which appeared mostly to be forwards.
From the off it was clear this was going to be a game where the hosts would have to make the most of whatever ball they managed to get hold of. Frome, playing with the wind and the slope, rumbled steadily up to Dorchester’s line and soon got the first unconverted try of the game, followed by a penalty and then another converted try. At this point Dorchester managed a brief period of possession, opening up a gap for Nathan Jennings to get them onto the scoreboard.
The visitors tried to vary their game with some probing kicks, but as these were nearly all dealt with ably by Morry Jones at full back (first game) they eventually gave up on that plan. A little before the half time whistle the hosts’ makeshift front row were going backwards so quickly that it was deemed unsafe, and the match was completed with uncontested scrums.
The first half pattern of play was repeated in the second half, with Frome retaining the majority of possession and moving forwards slowly in multiple phases, and Dorchester striking from deep when the opportunities arose. Unfortunately they did not arise often enough. A loose ball near Dorchester’s 22 gave Jennings another chance to strike, which he finished off under the posts supported all the way by newcomer Alex Davies in his second game for the club; stand-in hooker Nico Brookes (also second game) converting as the scheduled kicker, Daniel Congo (first game) had to go off with thigh strain.
With only five points in it, Frome’s heads appeared to be going down, and it looked like a comeback might be on. However, the visitors made changes from their extensive bench and fresh legs gave them fresh heart. Dorchester defended heroically but conceded 3 more tries, two converted. However, they kept trying, and a kick into Frome’s 22 caused all sorts of problems for the visitors, as Dorchester managed to stop their inexperienced players giving away he offside before the pursuit of Jennings and Dudley Morris forced a forward pass. The ball was fed out along the line from the resulting scrum giving replacement winger Adam Turner his first try of the season for the Gladiators on the final whistle.
The Gladiators are Dorchester's third team. 
