DEVON SHARKS 44 SOUTH DORSET GIANTS 28 STEWART Butters made an explosive debut for the South Dorset Giants but it was not enough to prevent them losing at the Devon Sharks.

The Giants returned from a very windy Torbay with a second South West Conference loss but signs of improvement were there for everyone to see.

For the second game running, rugby league naivety cost the Giants dear with the majority of the Sharks’ tries coming from mistakes and defensive errors.

And their cause was not helped by the absence of influential trio James Borrington, Will Hughes and Adam Hoxey. Indeed all three face fitness tests ahead of next week’s visit of reigning champions East Devon Eagles.

Butters was the star of the show for South Dorset with a hat-trick of tries and four goals, while Ryan Lewendon and another debutant Gavin Wooliter added the remaining points for the visitors.

Giants’ coach Anthony Cowburn, who had to play at scrum-half, said: “I was proud of the lads as they never gave up. Considering the unavailabilities and injuries we had they really stepped up to the plate.

“What we need to work now is defending around the play-the-ball and we won’t be a million miles away from beating some of these teams.

“I was especially pleased for Tony Worle who answered a last minute SOS and performed admirably. Next week we play the champions but with some hard work we’ll be ready.”

Anyone wanting to get involved with the Giants is invited to attend a training session at the Marsh on either a Tuesday or a Thursday (6.30pm).