PUDDLETOWN 34 SALISBURY II 5

PUDDLETOWN finished their Dorset & Wilts One South campaign with a flourish, beating Salisbury Seconds 34-5 at Greenfields.

The victory sees the Villagers record back-to-back wins for the first time this season as well as scoring six tries for a second game in succession.

Looking to build on the previous week’s success at Wimborne, a full strength Puddletown showed their intentions straight from the kick-off, enjoying the majority of the early possession and putting together some good attacking moves through the forwards.

Salisbury however, held firm under this sustained pressure. Eventually an excellent clearing kick by the visitors took play right up field and it was Puddletown’s turn to defend their line, with some big tackles being made right across the park.

But the visitors edged ahead first when their fly-half chipped the ball over the home defence and, following up his own kick, managed to beat full-back Mark Thomson to the line.

The Villagers were level just two minutes later when second-row Paul Chidley drove over to score.

And then, just on half-time, a similar attack saw Puddletown’s forwards again go through the phases before setting up the ball for fly-half Scott Price to cross the whitewash.

Puddletown managed to increase their lead within five minutes of the second period getting underway.

Winger Dan Udell fired a long penalty kick into touch inside the visitors’ 22, the ball was cleanly won at the resulting line-out and, in a move straight off the training pitch, was passed out through the backs for outside centre Tom Yeatman to score.

Salisbury did have several more attacking opportunities as the half progressed but the home defence was in no mood to give away any further scores, with Thomson providing two try-saving tackles.

The home pack were now starting to dominate both in the set scrum and at the line-out, and it was no surprise when Puddletown’s forwards drove their opponents over their own line. Scrum-half Josh Hiscock had the easiest of tasks in touching the ball down behind his pack.

With confidence running high and the visitors looking beaten the Villagers scored twice more in the last quarter.

Firstly, Udell beat three tackles before electing to chip over the last man. He safely grounded the ball before finally kicking a successful conversion.

Then, with just minutes remaining, another text book move saw the ball travel along the line to replacement centre Barry Dovell who ran in to score. Udell added the two points to seal a fine victory, which lifts them above Westbury into ninth spot.

Man of the Match: Toby Boatswain