Dorchester put one foot in Southern Counties South with a dominant second half performance away at local rivals Bridport.

The home side won the toss and elected to play into the breeze in the first period. With so much riding on the result it was not surprising that the early exchanges were scrappy and somewhat niggly. Rich Bament narrowly missed with a long range penalty attempt before Bridport’s back division began to show the form that has scored so many points this season. Only desperate defence kept the score blank until, with a player from each side in the bin, Bridport finally created an overlap on the right and the centre crossed for the first try. The conversion was missed. Stung by this setback Dorchester began to apply pressure especially in the set piece. Time and time again the home scrum was shunted backwards leading eventually to a pushover try, captain Dave Gower getting the credit for the score. There was no further scores and Dorchester could consider themselves slightly fortunate to turn round all square.

Luckily for Dorchester the wind dropped for the second half but it wasn’t just the weather that changed. The first period was an equal contest that was too tight to call, the second forty minutes was completely dominated by the Dorchester pack. They produced a continuous stream of good clean possession and disrupted much of Bridport’s. Props Stephen Hodgson and Tom Bamlet carried the ball to great effect wearing the home forwards down and creating the space for the Dorchester backs to exploit. Rich Bament kicked a simple penalty and then burst through midfield from a planned move to score under the posts before adding the conversion. Dorchester now had their tails up and were not to be denied. Two further tries from Luke Weller and Jack Elliott, the latter converted by Rich Bament, put the result beyond doubt. Bridport did manage to restore some pride in the dying minutes scoring two tries themselves, one by the fullback following a superb run by their outstanding right winger, the second due to some very generous refereeing.

With two games left Dorchester now lead the table by three points and a win at Warminster will confirm promotion at the first attempt.
           

Team:  Hodgson, Chalker, Bamlet, Hodges, Broadbent, Newsam (T Gower 70), Hawkins, D Gower; Weller, Rossiter; Spensley, Firkin, Harvey, Elliott; Bament (Biddle 65).

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