DORCHESTER let a lead slip to lose 28-17 at home to Walcot.

In a classic game of two halves, Dorchester built up a healthy lead in the first half only for another game to slip from their grasp, the visitors dominating the second period to finish worthy winners.

Playing with the wind in the first half Dorchester looked to benefit but it was Walcot who opened the scoring, their left winger crossing in the corner.

With little to choose between the two sides there was no further scoring until the second quarter when John Bowden, playing at number eight this week, scored round the blind side of a Dorchester scrum.

Bowden then quickly picked up a second try, stepping past several defenders in a very tight space. Jamie Morgan was narrowly wide with both conversion attempts but on the stroke of half time the centre was in support of Cohen Emery’s slicing break and went in under the posts. Morgan converted his own try and Dorchester took in a healthy 17-5 lead at the half-time break.

Walcot now had the benefit of the wind and used it to good effect. A series of long kicks had Dorchester pinned in their own 22 and a number of overly ambitious attempts to run the ball out of defence led to the hosts conceding a string of penalties.

Three of which were converted by the Walcot fly half. Now trailing by just three points the visitors sensed the win was within their grasp and sure enough two converted tries was enough to take the points. Dorchester made a valiant effort to score a fourth try and pick up what could be a valuable bonus point, but a lack of composure saw their efforts come to nothing.

With six games lost on the bounce, many of which could have been won, the County Town side need to arrest the pattern and pick up a vital win next Saturday at Yeovil.

Dorchester still sit eighth in the Counties One Tribute Southern South league table, but need to put together a run of wins to climb back up to the top half.

Three of their next four games are against sides below them in the table as it is currently, and team need to perform for 80 minutes concentrating and believing they can hold onto a winning position.