DORCHESTER 20

FROME 29

LACKLUSTRE Dorchester fell to another home defeat as Frome claimed a 29-20 victory at Surcouf Park in their Counties One Tribute Southern South contest.

The opening exchanges were fairly even with both teams secure on their own scrums and line-outs, but it was the hosts who scored first.

Skipper Steve Tucker picked off a Frome pass in midfield before handing on to Jamie Morgan to run in under the posts for his 50th try for the club.

Callum King added the extras for 7-0 but the visitors soon hit back with two converted tries.

READ MORE: Dorchester 13-15 Weymouth & Portland - report

Firstly, their lively scrum-half Zach Bartlett found a gap in Dorchester’s ruck defence and strolled over, before Frome’s prop then drove over from close range leaving the visitors leading by seven at the break.

Dorchester opened the scoring in the second half, Alex Peel knocking over a penalty to reduce the hosts’ arrears to four points.

Frome then took control with two unconverted tries and with Dorchester suffering several injuries, disrupting the back division, it appeared the game was lost.

However, a stirring comeback saw Tucker cross in the left corner before Frome’s attempt at a cute restart fell into Jack Adams’ hands who beat several defenders on the way to the try line.

Neither try was converted but with only minutes left Dorchester trailed by just four points.

Unfortunately, as Dorchester went for the win a fumble in midfield gifted Frome possession and a kick to the right corner led to Frome’s fifth try to seal the victory.

The result leaves Dorchester in seventh place in the table with an away trip this weekend to Combe Down, the side below them, Combe Down.

Elsewhere, Weymouth & Portland lost 20-10 at home to Walcot, while bottom side Avonvale remain winless following a 34-7 defeat by leading side Sherborne.

Royal Wootton Bassett Seconds inflicted North Dorset’s second loss of the season, winning 24-21, while Corsham edged Combe Down 33-31 in a thriller.

Sherborne lead the way on 35 points by a single point from Swanage & Wareham in second, while Royal Wootton Bassett in third.

North Dorset are six points off the pace in fourth, while Frome sit fifth on 24 points just ahead of Walcot, with Dorchester in seventh on 19.

Dorchester A travelled to Bestwall for a Counties Three Tribute Dorset & Wilts encounter with Swanage & Wareham Seconds but came away empty handed after the table-topping hosts clocked up a 45-3 win.

Dorchester sit sixth in the table, ten points adrift of the top three.