HAMPSHIRE 46 DORSET & WILTS 13

HAMPSHIRE avenged last season’s 29-11 defeat at the hands of the Twin Counties with a comprehensive victory against a spirited, but inexperienced Dorset & Wiltshire side of youngsters who were overpowered by a more physical team of seasoned combatants.

From the outset the Twin Counties youngsters were very much on the back foot, conceding 10 points in as many minutes through a penalty, try and conversion.

However, in the 16th minute, a fine move incorporating both forwards and backs saw North Dorset centre Alan Geal touchdown in the corner to open the scoring for the visitors.

Ten minutes later and following a period of intense pressure on the home line, a Hampshire back was caught offside and Royal Wootton Bassett fly half Dave Hogg stepped up to slot the resulting penalty and put Dorset & Wilts back into contention after their poor start.

However, the hosts ended the first half strongly adding a penalty to a converted try to make the score 20-8 at the break.

Now kicking off the second half with the strong wind at their back the Dorset and Wilts travelling supporters were expecting better fortunes, but a lapse of concentration in the heart of the Twin Counties backs allowed the hosts to cross for a try directly from the restart, which was a hammer blow for the visitors.

Hampshire followed it up with another try in the 52nd minute that was converted and then in the 70th minute they touched down again and added the extras to make the score 39-8 with 10 minutes remaining.

Down but far from out, the visitors rallied with Lewis Pagett of Devizes crossing the whitewash to score a well-deserved try to make the score 39 points to 13 in Hampshire’s favour.

As the visitors chased the game and threw the ball about in an attempt to narrow the margin, they left space at the back for Hampshire to exploit and the final action resulted in a touchdown beneath the visitors’ posts.

Following the conversion the referee blew to end the proceedings.

The Twin Counties are not yet out of the competition, but need for Berkshire to beat Hampshire and then produce an inspired victory themselves against Berkshire at Royal Wootton Bassett in two weeks’ time.

The Dorset & Wilts team will be bolstered by the return of their Salisbury based players who will be available for selection, as was not the case at Gosport.