Dorchester had to overcome the dreadful conditions as well as a spirited and feisty Wimborne side to maintain their position at the top of the table. In the end the home side were reasonably happy with a return of five tries to nil.
With the wind and rain sweeping diagonally across the pitch there was no real advantage to either side at any time during the afternoon. Dorchester did, however, dominate right from the start forcing Wimborne to concede a string of penalties. Five minutes in and James Rossiter took the opportunity to convert one such penalty chance and the hosts were in the lead.
Dorchester continued to have the upper hand but stern Wimborne defence kept them at bay until a clever cross field kick by John Firkin into acres of space allowed winger Tom Caines to score the first try. Wimborne showed little in attack but did contest the breakdown area fiercely ensuring that Dorchester could not feel comfortable at any time.
The second try came from a well rehearsed line out move, prop Steve Hodgson rumbling over following a front peel. Despite the conditions Dorchester did try and spread the ball at times and Tom Caines was looking particularly lively on the left wing. From one such burst down the touchline he was able to release the supporting Tom Gower for try number three.
The second half continued in much the same fashion. Wimborne suffered injuries to their hooker and tighthead prop causing the rest of the game to be played with uncontested scrums. The conditions deteriorated further making it almost impossible for either side to play any decent rugby.
Dorchester did manage two further tries. John Firkin sprinted in from thirty meters and then Tom Gower was on hand to grab his second and Dorchester’s fifth after props Rich Boyt and Stephen Hodgson had driven the ball up to the Wimborne try line. None of the tries were converted leaving the margin of victory at twenty eight points.
Weatherbury Hearn- SEC - JW Scaffolding Man of the Match: Stephen Hodgson
Team; Hodgson (Cottell 70), Chalker, Boyt, Hodges, Broadbent, Gower D, Newsam, Gower T; Weller, Rossiter (Read 60); Caines, Biddle, Firkin, Elliott; Bament.
