North Dorset 2XV 27 - Puddletown 0
NOV
PUDDLETOWN were given a lesson in finishing at North Dorset Seconds.
The Villagers, despite enjoying superior possession for most of the game, were unable to score and fell to their sixth defeat of the Dorset & Wilts One South campaign as the hosts ran in five tries.
The visitors started strongly with a series of promising attacks, each time going through the phases only to fall short at the critical moment, either being turned over by the home defence, or by giving away penalties at the breakdown.
The hosts eventually broke out of their own half and immediately made it count when, for the first time in the match, they crossed Puddletown’s 22 and, in a well rehearsed move off the back of a line-out, took the lead with an unconverted try.
Undaunted, the Villagers were soon back up-field to test their opponents’ defence again and, in one spell lasting several minutes, were virtually camped on the home try-line, only to waste the opportunity by giving away yet another penalty for holding on.
North Dorset were relieved to clear their lines and, as the first half came to a close, once again punished the visitors when a good spell of pressure ended with their tight-head prop breaking through to touch down, increasing the lead to 10-0 at the interval.
The second period saw the same pattern emerge with Puddletown continuing to take the initiative, enjoying the better of the set-pieces, and repeatedly making good inroads into home territory, only for players to become isolated by a lack of support at the critical moment.
Patiently waiting for the opportunity to counter attack from these breakdowns, North Dorset were clinical in their execution when the chances did come, and by the end of the game had scored three further tries, one of which was converted.
After the match, Puddletown captain Dan Udell said: “We did a lot of hard work out there and much of our build-up play was good, but it all counts for nothing unless we score points.
“Our forwards were strong again, particularly in the line-out, and we contested the scrums well, but we were getting turned over far too often in the final phases.
“Its all about speed and support at the breakdown and we’ll be working hard on that area of our game before this Saturday’s fixture against Westbury.”
Dorset Piddle Brewery Man of the Match: Tim Yeatman
