SHERBORNE 50

DORCHESTER 22

INJURY-HIT Dorchester managed to come away from Counties One Tribute Southern South leaders Sherborne with a try bonus point despite a 50-22 defeat at The Terraces.

In freezing conditions, both sides did their best to play open, adventurous rugby.

The hosts were first on the board, the left winger on the overlap in the corner. Dorchester hit back at the end of the first quarter, John Bowden hacking a loose ball forward and winning the race to the touchdown.

Sherborne then added a couple of tries from close range before winger Brook Legg benefited from another mistake by Sherborne and stumbled his way to the line. Callum King added the extras and at the break Dorchester trailed 19-12.

READ MORE: Dorchester 21-26 North Dorset - report

Sherborne began to dominate in the third quarter and with Bowden in the bin for not rolling away they added three further tries together with two conversions they were out of sight at 38-12.

Dorchester however were not giving up and scored two tries of their own.

The Dorchester defence turned over the ball in their own 22 allowing Brook Legg to sprint the length of the pitch for try number three.

Minutes later, it was veteran prop Dave Cottell showing a turn of pace to dive over in the right corner.

Now tiring, the visitors, with skipper Steve Tucker off with a suspected broken ankle, conceded a further two tries in the final five minutes as Sherborne brought up the 50 points mark.

The result leaves Dorchester in eighth place in the table, with a tough home game against fifth-placed Walcot next up.

Struggling with an ever-growing injury list, director of rugby Martin Oxland will be hoping for some better news and good availability from the senior squad next weekend.