Bill Beaumont RFU County Championship Pool 3 result: Devon 68 points, Dorset & Wilts 43.
Devon avenged last season’s 66 points to nil defeat at the hands of Dorset & Wilts with a comprehensive victory at Ivybridge rugby club in the Twin Counties second pool 3 game after beating Berkshire last weekend.
The Devon squad that contained 10 Devonport Services players who had just won the Regional 1 South West Championship proved too strong for a Dorset & Wilts side who competed with their hosts for the first half and after 20 minutes led the game by 10 points with the score 24 to 14 in the Combined Counties favour.
However, after the break the Devonian pack took control as the Dorset & Wilts forwards began to wilt and in the end despite all of their efforts the Twin Counties feel short.
Team manager Richard Elliott said: “We had 7 players from last week not available for the Devon game, but saying that the lads that came in stepped up to the plate, however although we played well for the majority of first half the Devon pack were just too powerful and they took control after the break. Saying that we did score 43 points away from home and usually if you do that you don’t expect to lose”.
It was not all bad news as Dorset & Wilts collected a try bonus point now it all hinges on the result of next Saturday’s game when Devon have to travel to play Berkshire to confirm which county progresses into the semi-final of the competition.
Elliott added: “We are not out of it yet it all depends on the outcome of the game next week, but now it’s out of our hands”.
Dorset & Wilts scorers. Tries, Tom Stewart, North Dorset 2. Harry Murphy, Chippenham. Reece Makin, Weymouth & Portland. Rhys Floyd, Royal Wootton Bassett. James Kennedy, Salisbury. Sam Baker, Royal Wootton Bassett, 1 penalty, 5 conversions.
Weymouth & Portland player Reece Makin scored his first try for Dorset & Wilts. against Devon.
On Sunday the Dorset & Wilts county women’s team played Sussex women in the Gill Burns Cup at Oakmeadians rugby club, but lost out by 38 points to 10.
The Twin Counties Under 20 squad travelled to Crediton to lock horns with Devon in the regional final of the Jason Leonard RFU Championship and the game ended level both teams scoring 34 points, however it is the Devonians who progress into the next round of the competition having scored more tries that Dorset & Wilts.
In the Dorset Cricket Leagues the Dorchester v Bere Regis game, Compton House v Beaminster and and the Puddletown v Cerne Valley match were all lost to the weather.
Martinstown beat Chalk Valley by 6 wickets, Swanage beat Blandford by 3 wickets, Portland Red Triangle lost against Marnhull by 3 wickets, having lost their first 2 encounters Weymouth broke their duck this season beating Corfe Mullen at Redlands by 4 wickets and Abbotsbury lost at home against Kingston Lacy by 4 wickets.
There are more pictures of the Dorset & Wilts Senior Women’s team in green versus Sussex Women here: https://idrismartin.wordpress.com