1st February 2012

WEST DORSET RUGBY: Puddletown on top in derby

by Keith Jenkin

HAVING spent the last few weeks journeying to the East on a Saturday afternoon, I decided to travel to the West on Saturday last to take in the Cornwall & Devon League promotion clash between Honiton and Hayle.

WEYMOUTH 51 ELLINGHAM & RINGWOOD 2nd 12

Weymouth, although they did not really play at their best, were just too good for their opponents who reside near the bottom of the Dorset & Wilts League Division One (South). 

They scored four tries during the first 40 minutes, through Max Vallance, Joel Wilson, Mike Robinson and Sean Murphy and, with out half Nick Sheppard converting two of them, and kicking a penalty goal, they led 27-5 at the halfway stage. 

Having had the four try bonus point sewn up by the break, they went on from there. Sheppard got over for the first try in the second period. Wilson then touched down his second of the afternoon. Craig Geldard also crossed the whitewash, and flanker Charles rounded things off as his side moved out of sight. 

Sheppard kicked two second half conversion to add to his first half tally, while the visitors, who had scored an unconverted try during the first 40 minutes, scored another with the final play of the game.

WEYMOUTH 2nd 0 PUDDLETOWN 15

It was the visitors who settled first in this local derby game, and they took the lead with an unconverted try after Matt Watts, one of their flankers, was first to react when the ball ran loose after a lineout close to the Weymouth line. He gathered and dived over to give his side a five-point lead and, for the next few minutes Puddletown were in the ascendancy. 

The home defence coped however and set up attacks through their eight that were dealt with in turn, and half time was approaching when the next score came. Prop forward Michael-Beale found himself in space on halfway and set off. He slipped several tackles, made good ground before finding centre Hiscock. He finished the move by scoring under the posts. Unusually, the conversion attempt from in front was charged down, leaving Puddletown 10 points to the good at the halfway stage. 

They would have known however that matters were far from resolved, for the home side had shown themselves to be capable of taking the result throughout the first-half. 

The contest continued to be evenly contested in the second half, with both sides having their moments in attack. 

Final passes for both sides tended to go astray however and the half remained scoreless until the final few minutes. 

At this juncture centre Yeatman made the dummy run, his out half threw the miss pass, putting Hiscock into the gap. He turned the defence and found full back House in support and he touched down. 

This try too remained unconverted but it served to put the visitors two scores clear and they proceeded to play out time for a win that they will cherish.

SHERBORNE 10 DORCHESTER 15  

Strange to relate, the home side started and finished this game well enough but failed to measure up in between. 

In minute one they were awarded a penalty and, while Dorchester were scratching their collective heads as to the reason why, their scrum worker took the quick tap and scuttled over from twenty metres out.

The visitors then began to take the game to their opponents, gaining an edge in the set piece, defending aggressively and winning the territorial battle. This did not bring immediate success although they had a try disallowed and missed a penalty from a wide angle during the first quarter. 

Things changed however when Bament, together with the home number eight were invited to spend ten minutes in the bin. James Baker took over the kicking duties in his absence and landed two penalties to give his side the lead. He kicked a third just before the break, turning his side's pressure into points, and Dorchester led 9-5 at the halfway stage.

Dorchester's dominance, territorially speaking, continued after the break and for the whole of the third quarter, and well into the fourth, Sherborne struggled to get out of their own half. But Dorchester's occasional lack of precision, meant that the scoreboard remained unchanged. 

Baker then kicked his fourth and fifth penalties of the afternoon to take his side a score clear, and it was as well that he did so for, in the final minutes, the home  winger got over out wide. 

It was a pretty good day for the Dorchester club all round, with their second team coming out on top against Verwood 22-10  and moving to the top of the Dorset & Wilts league Division Three (South).

BOURNEMOUTH 4th 10 DORCHESTER 3rd 33

A host of unavoidable late withdrawals meant that Dorchester had to travel with just 11 players. This they did and, although their opponents made up the numbers, the game had to take place as a friendly. 

It was hardly surprising that the home side scored first as Dorchester took time to settle. Having done so they equalised through Sam Scott who ran in from halfway. The try was converted, as was the next, touched down by Tom Caines, and Dorchester led 14-10 at the halfway stage. 

Things got even better in the second half as the visitors stretched away to win comfortably with tries coming from Underhill, Caines and Lewis Glyn. 

BRIDPORT 8 SALISBURY 2nd 19

After taking an early lead Bridport slid to defeat against a well drilled Salisbury side whose defensive tackling, especially in the centre, served to nullify most home threequarter moves throughout the game. 

A penalty goal, kicked by out half Jason Kidd gave them the lead with just five minutes gone and the score line remained unchanged for the next half hour. 

The visitors then replied with a converted try, only for the home side to regain their lead almost immediately when they fed hooker Herbert at the front of a lineout in their opponents' twenty two. 

He galloped down the outside channel and found Phillips who touched down out wide. The try remained unconverted and Bridport took a slender 8-7 lead in at the break. 

The much changed home side continued to compete into the second-half, only for Salisbury to edge ahead after 15 minutes with a try that they converted. 

Matters were far from resolved however, but Bridport were finding their attacks blunted by some good Salisbury defending then, with10 minutes left, the ball ran loose in midfield. The visitors  took full advantage by scoring an unconverted try to complete the scoring.

PREVIEW

Of the four local sides, two play at home on Saturday next. DORCHESTER have what is sure to be a tester with the visit of WIMBORNE. 

Dorchester were beaten, albeit narrowly, by these opponents earlier in the season, but have enjoyed a better campaign subsequently. 

The fact that Wimborne are occupying a mid table place is, in itself a little surprising, but I see that they have roused themselves and put a couple of good results together recently. 

The home side will have to be at its very best if it is to win this one. 

In complete contrast PUDDLETOWN, also at home, face a side who they should beat comfortably in WHEATSHEAF CABIN CREW. The visitors have always been unpredictable  in the past but have not enjoyed a good season thus far.

Puddletown on the other hand, are an improving side and, while not threatening a promotion place, will I am sure, end the season very much in the top half of the division.

Both BRIDPORT and WEYMOUTH play away from home. The former certainly have a little tester at SHERBORNE 2nd who narrowly beat them at the Brewery Field back in the autumn. Given the apparent reluctance of several of their squad to travel, I would suggest that, although they have shown signs of improvement as the season has progressed, they have scant chance of reversing that result. Let's hope I'm wrong. 

WEYMOUTH travel to take on the workmanlike SWANAGE & WAREHAM 2nd side whom they bested 24-8 back in the autumn. Their opponents have enjoyed a mixed bag of results so far and I would normally back Weymouth to come out on top. 

I am aware however that the Weymouth club have a veritable butchers bill of injuries at the moment, and much will depend on the condition of several of their "walking wounded".

As to the second sides, Bridport seconds entertain their Dorchester counterparts and will certainly have quite a job on if they are to win this one, home advantage notwithstanding, for their opponents are making a very determined push for promotion. 

Dorchester thirds have a far easier task on hand seemingly with the visit of New Milton, as do Weymouth seconds who take on Wincanton. Weymouth thirds face the prospect of a long journey and a difficult game at Ellingham & Ringwood thirds.   

Fixture - 4th February

Bridport v Sherborne 2nd (away); Bridport 2nd v Dorchester 2nd; Chard v Burnham on Sea (away); Chard 2nd v Morganians; Crewkerne v Minehead Barbarians 2nd (away); Dorchester v Wimborne; Dorchester 2nd v Bridport 2nd (away); Dorchester 3rd v New Milton 3rd; Honiton v Withycombe (away); Puddletown v Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew; Sidmouth v Thornbury (away); Weymouth v Swanage & Wareham 2nd (away); Weymouth 2nd v Wincanton; Weymouth 3rd v Ellingham & Ringwood 3rd (away).

Weymouth Youth Rugby

 

Weymouth U15 33 Bridport 17

WEYMOUTH produced another good performance to beat Bridport at home, producing tries from both forwards and backs alike.

The hosts were at full-strength with plenty of reserves available enabling the match to be split into three 25 minute sections to allow all players to get game play time under their belts.  

Both teams began brightly, each cancelling out their opponents attack and demonstrating some good defensive play. The deadlock was broken by Weymouth who, playing with the strong wind behind them, scored 19 unanswered points in the first third, 

Weymouth made six substitutions at the break, but it was Bridport now with the elements in their favour who scored their 17 points without reply.

Weymouth made more changes at the start of the third period, and it was this that made the difference as they ran in the remaining points to seal the victory. 

Weymouth U16 22 Swanage 24

WEYMOUTH hosted Swanage with a slightly depleted team and once again the match  was split into thirds to allow all squad players the opportunity of a run out. 

Weymouth started slowly and it was the Swans who were first to put points on the board.  However Weymouth hit back with some well worked moves scoring two tries in quick succession and comfortably held their visitors at bay for the rest of the period looking comfortable both going forward and in defence. 

The six changes at the start of the second period hampered Weymouth and Swanage ran in three unanswered tries, two of which were converted, leaving them a healthy 24–12 lead going into the final third.

Weymouth continually pushed Swanage back in the last period and were rewarded with two tries scored out wide to reduce the gap to two points. 

Their dominance in offence was evident as the visitors resorted to kicking at every opportunity, but Swanage held on with some very commendable defence to claim victory.

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