SALISBURY 78 DORCHESTER 5

THIS wasn’t the result Dorchester wanted to complete their fixtures on the road in Southern Counties South this season, but the final score doesn’t tell the whole story of the game.

Dorchester were once again forced to make a host of changes to their starting XV and, as the players were still introducing themselves to each other, Salisbury fielded the kick-off and scored the opening try without a visiting player touching the ball.

This was not to be a portent of things to come as for the next 30 minutes Dorchester more than held their own against their high-flying opponents.

Salisbury looked somewhat nervous and tentative and they conceded a string of penalties which allowed Dorchester to dominate field position.

Lewis Allan scored in the corner following a good run and offload from Zach Paton, and if Dorchester had a recognised place kicker they would probably would have taken the lead.

Two relatively easy kicks were missed and at least two further chances were turned down in favour of kicking to the corner and going for tries instead.

The home side then added a second try but with half an hour gone Dorchester were more than holding their own against the side who are second in the table.

Unfortunately, Dorchester’s injury problems returned, tight-head prop Steve Hodgson had to go off with a back problem, and Salisbury took advantage to add two tries in the dying minutes of the first half.

The hosts, already with the bonus-point victory in the bag, could now play with complete freedom and started to attack at will.

Dorchester suffered further injuries when hooker Simon Pengelly and full-back Dave Clark both succumbed to knee problems.

As always, the county town outfit never let their heads drop, but the pace of the Salisbury backs proved too much for them to handle and the home side ran in a string of tries despite the visitors’ best efforts.

There is now a long break before Dorchester finish their campaign at home against champions Swanage & Wareham on Saturday, April 18.

Coach Martyn Peel will be hoping that the period in between games gives his squad a chance to shake off some of the injuries they have picked up over the last few weeks.

Dorchester: Cottell, Pengelly, Hodgson, Harries, L King, Grassby, Newsam, Makepeace, Gower, Evans, S King, Deakin, Paton, Allan, Clark. Reps: Ritchie, Hallett, Simpson.

Man of the match: Zach Paton