WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND 13

LYTCHETT MINSTER 7

WEYMOUTH & Portland left it late to beat Lytchett Minster 13-7 in poor light to maintain their grip on top spot in Counties Two Tribute Dorset & Wilts South.

Rich Bament’s Seahorses suffered a shock 6-0 loss at Bridport last time out and, while the leaders were not at their fluent best again, they did at least return to the winner’s enclosure.

Hamish Jephcott kicked Weymouth & Portland into a 3-0 lead at half-time and the hosts extended their lead to 8-0 when Billy Hayne charged through a melee of bodies to score.

However, an improving Lytchett side got themselves back to 8-7 as the light began to fade, Jordan Andrews crossing the whitewash and Jamie O’Shea adding the extras.

READ MORE: Bridport 6-0 Weymouth & Portland - match report

With visibility deteriorating, Weymouth & Portland struck with a matter of minutes to go as quick ball spread to the left wing for James Newsam to crash over for an unconverted try.

Speaking to Echosport, Bament said: “They’ve improved a lot since our first game of the season.

“For 80 minutes we just had to keep doing what we’re good at. Eventually, twice we broke them for a pushover try and James at the end crashed over to give us breathing space.

“They never gave up, they just kept going and coming. It was a really good test for us. The guys tried really hard.

“Against Bridport they hadn’t played for three weeks and this was a bit of continuity.

“When you don’t play, you lose everything and it takes a while to get going again.”

This Saturday presents Weymouth & Portland with a huge test at closest rivals Oakmeadians, who lie second just one point behind.

Bament said: “It’s the biggest one of the season so far. It’s going to be a straight shootout this year between ourselves and Oakmeadians.

“Both, in my eyes, are the top two in the league. It will come down to Saturday to decide the league.

“We’ve got to come out of the blocks firing. We were very slow against them at home, so we’ve got to play for 80 minutes, not 70.

“We can’t afford to give them a head start.”

Tim Comben (unavailable) and Dan Bowditch (knee) miss out but Dan Hayne (foot) returns.