WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND 64

SWANAGE & WAREHAM II 0

WEYMOUTH & Portland thrashed Swanage & Wareham 64-0 but their victory was not as easy as the scoreline suggests.

The Swans had defended resolutely and with tremendous courage for the opening 25 minutes, keeping the Counties Two Tribute Dorset & Wilts South leaders to 0-0.

During that time, Swans nearly scored as they went from their own 22 to the Seahorses’ 22, only to be met with stern resistance.

However, three quick tries at the end of the first half lit the ignition boosters for Rich Bament’s men.

Flanker Dan Hayne made the breakthrough, going over near the posts, before Joe Gibson started and finished a move for an unconverted second try.

READ MORE: Weymouth & Portland 43-0 Puddletown - match report

Arguably the best try of the afternoon was engineered by the forwards, resulting in a Khylo Farley try for 17-0 at half-time.

By the second half, the shackles were fully unleashed for the hosts as James Newsam, Tim Comben, Jacob Cummings and Ben Davies all added to the score.

Star of the show recognition belonged to Gibson, though, as the second-rower charged over for another three tries to complete a memorable quadruple.

Matt Savage also kicked seven conversions as Weymouth & Portland claimed another bonus-point victory.

Speaking to Echosport, Bament said: “After 25 minutes I wasn’t happy and I thought it was going to be a very tough game the way Swanage were playing.

“They defended very well, almost heroically, and then we got three quick tries – it was like the floodgates opened.

“We ran in tries at regular intervals in the second half to make the scoreline look like a rout, but there was a lot of points in 55 minutes.”

After beating Puddletown 43-0 last week, Weymouth & Portland are still yet to concede.

On his side’s defensive effort, Bament added: “So far, so good. The guys pride themselves on physicality.

“We’ve worked a lot on it and I think that’s showing now because we’ve conceded the least amount of points.

“Whereas before we were maybe a bit scrambled, chasing ourselves and things going wrong, we seem to be a bit more settled.

“The guys have got total trust in each other that they’re going to make a tackle, that eases it.”

With a one-point gap to second-placed Oakmeadians, the title could be all but decided when the two sides meet on Saturday at Meyrick Park.

Ahead of the crunch top-of-the-table clash, Bament said: “We’re at the advantage where they’re chasing us.

“The game is going to probably decide who’s going to win the league. Our guys are focused and looking forward to it.

“Against Puddletown and Swanage, it might look like we’ve absolutely trounced them and it’s been a walk in the park.

“But it hasn’t been that at all, we’ve had to work on it to get all the points. We come off two good victories and confidence will be high.

“It’s testament to the players that all the hard work is paying dividends. We’ll go there 100 per cent confident to turn them over.”

Weymouth & Portland have a full squad to choose from, with Andy Bowditch and Chris Norton back available after missing the Swans game due to work commitments.”