SALISBURY SECONDS 37

WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND 24

WEYMOUTH & Portland succumbed to a strong Salisbury Seconds side despite a late fightback in Wadworth 6X Dorset & Wilts One South.

It was a very different team that took to the field at Salisbury with eight changes from the starting XV that lost to Sherborne Seconds XV.

However, the Seahorses were soon 12-0 in the lead thanks to early pressure, tries from Rory Legg and Jason Hoskins and one conversion from Alex Toms.

Unfortunately, Salisbury scored the next 32 points to lead by 32-12 with 20 minutes to go.

Weymouth were not being outplayed as the forwards had the better of their opponents but as a whole the visitors just did not get the rub of the green.

However, in the last 20 minutes their luck seemed to change for the better when they quickly passed the ball along the line for Norton Rogers to touch down in the corner, with Toms kicking the conversion from the touchline.

With the pack firing on all cylinders they opted for a five-meter scrum instead of a kick at goal and drove over for Andy Bowditch to touch down.

An unlikely result suddenly seemed possible until the hosts scored a final try in the dying minutes of a hard game.

The bonus point for four tries sees Weymouth just one point behind third-placed Sherborne Seconds in the league although Sherborne have played one game less.

Weymouth and Portland coach Anthony Cowburn, said: “It was so frustrating.

“We went up nice and early and we were actually dominating. It just seemed to be every 50/50 call went against us.

“Like any team would do they (Salisbury) just capitalised on penalty after penalty and you are going to give scores at some point.”

Cowburn admitted his side should have reacted faster to the frustrating decisions.

He said: “Our players should have reacted quicker but there was confusion as to why the penalties were given and of course Salisbury just capitalised and kept going forward and scoring from it.”

Cowburn in particular highlighted the performances of Kevin Leatham and Bowditch, labelling them the two outstanding players.

Weymouth host Swanage & Wareham on Saturday, December 1, with the Swans currently topping the table with 35 points, 13 ahead of the Seasiders.

Weymouth: Comben, Keeble-Kinsella, Hurrell, Leatham, Tibble, Richards, Bowditch, Oaksford, Allan, Toms, Hoskins, Savage, Legg, Rogers, Richards. Reps: Young, Glover, Abel, Ritchie, Blanning.

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830990

e: aidan.williams

@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @EchosportAidan