WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND 41

WIMBORNE II 12

WEYMOUTH & Portland moved to the brink of the Counties One Tribute Dorset & Wilts South title with a 41-12 victory over Wimborne Seconds at Monmouth Avenue.

With two games remaining, Rich Bament’s side hold an eight-point lead over Oakmeadians in second.

It means the Oaks must beat Lytchett Minster this weekend to keep the title race alive.

Should Oaks beat Lytchett, Weymouth & Portland could take the league crown with victory at home to Bridport on Saturday, March 4.

Ralph Green and Matt Savage scored unconverted tries for the Seahorses before Wimborne scored from an interception, running almost the entire length of the pitch.

READ MORE: Oakmeadians 20-20 Weymouth & Portland - report

Savage kicked a penalty for 13-5 but a Wimborne try underneath the posts after good work from their forwards brought them to within a point.

That score provoked the hosts into some of their best rugby, with Green adding his second try after breaking through a catalogue of tackles.

Home captain Billy Hayne touched down to secure the bonus point after a five-metre pushover maul.

Scott Greaney crossed the whitewash after turnover ball and James Baker rumbled over for his maiden Weymouth & Portland try.

Savage kicked two further conversions to complete the scoring as the Seahorses chalked up their tenth win of the season.

Bament said: “I was very pleased in the end. We maybe scored two tries too early, we only turned round 13-12 up at half-time.

“We knew it was going to be a tough battle and it proved for 40 minutes. Then we just put our foot down and played how we should be playing. We reaped the benefits.”

On the title chase, he added: “There’s the potential that if Lytchett turn Oakmeadians over this weekend, the title is handed to us without us playing.

“However, any win against Bridport would do the trick. We’re looking forward to that and we like playing at home, the guys love it.

“We’re getting good crowds down there so it would be good to win it on their home patch, give the boys and crowd something to cheer.”