DORCHESTER 10

SHERBORNE 59

DORCHESTER suffered a 59-10 thrashing by Sherborne after a second-half blitz by their north Dorset counterparts at Surcouf Park.

Just as last week, Dorchester locked horns with one of the Counties One Tribute Southern South’s pace setters and, once more, they matched them for the first 40 minutes.

An early converted try from close range for the visitors opened the scoring followed shortly afterwards by a simple penalty, opening up a 10-0 lead very early.

However, the home side then seemed to wake up and a determined Dorchester defence prevented any further scores until they hit back with a try of their own.

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Jamie Morgan made the initial break before handing off to Cohen Emery to run in from 20 metres, Morgan adding the conversion.

After an infringement from Sherborne, Morgan then leveled the scores with a well-struck penalty. It appeared that the match would reach half-time all-square but with the last play Sherborne’s centre found a gap and crossed under the posts.

The second half, however, was completely different. Now playing with the wind Sherborne dominated the entire half and looked unlikely to give their hosts any chance to break through a strong defensive line.

Dorchester’s young side battled away, but just could not gain any meaningful possession or territory. The visitors ran in six tries at regular intervals, all converted, as the county town outfit seemingly had no answer to Sherborne’s greater physicality.

Dorchester will finish the season in their current eighth place in the table, and head to third-placed Swanage & Wareham for the final league game of the season in two weeks.

The gap to Combe Down, who beat Weymouth & Portland 34-15 on Saturday, is just too large to catch up even though they have a far superior points difference and have scored nearly 600 points this term.

The county town side in fact has the fourth-highest points scored tally in the league only being surpassed by the top three sides, showing they are able to score well which bodes well for next season.

Dorchester A also played at Surcouf Park and despite a strong, hard-fought performance fell 15-9 to an experienced Oakmeadians Seconds.

With one game left in the Counties Three Tribute Dorset & Wilts South campaign, the side will finish sixth in the table, even if they overcome Salisbury Thirds in two weeks’ time.