Dorset & Wiltshire 61 - Essex 37
May
The Twin Counties are set for a second Twickenham final in successive seasons next Sunday as a curtain raiser, prior to the England Barbarians game following their win over the Essex boys with a committed and skilful display of open rugby.
Dorset and Wilts. took control from the outset and were cruising to victory, until in the twenty second minute following a flash point with players from both sides trading blows, the referee saw fit to red card Bournemouth number 8 Jack Hennings, leaving the Combined Counties to play out the remaining 78 minutes with only 14 men on the park.
Dorset and Wilts opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a try from Bournemouth scrum half Sam Hardcastle converted by Swindon fly half Adam Westall. Six minutes later Salisbury flanker Sean Barwick crossed for a try, again converted by Westall.
Barwick bagged a brace with his second try and with Westall’s conversion the score was Dorset and Wilts. 21 points to Essex Nil.
Then came Hennings’ dismissal and as the Twin Counties were re-organising Eton Manor hooker Tyson Goodchild touched down following a line out.
On the half hour Salisbury lock Liam Gilbert crashed over for a try followed a couple of minutes later with a penalty goal from Westall.
In the 33rd minute Bournemouth full back Simon Lilley touched down for a try then with half time approaching wing Chris Dudman of Westcliff crossed the whitewash to score a try with Brentwood fly half Brad Burr converting to make the score at the break 36 points to 12 in favour of Dorset and Wilts.
Immediately after the break Westall landed a penalty kick and followed it up in the 45th minute with a second.
Dudman grabbed his second try, and on the hour Nick Horton touched down for the visitors to make the score Dorset and Wilts 42 points to Essex 22.
Salisbury’s Dave Thorpe had only been on the field for a couple of minutes when he opened his account with a try then in 69th minute Chippenham second row Bobby Lyons crashed over from close in to score a try with Westall adding the extra two points.
Chippenham prop Tom Dunn got his name on the score sheet also with a try for Westall to convert
for the Twin Counties.
As the Dorset and Wilts. magnificent seven forwards tired Essex ran in three more tries, one each from Horton, Dudman to complete a hat trick and at the death Brentwood wing Tom King, Burr managed to convert King’s effort, but it was all to little to late for the visitors and it is Dorset and Wilts who will run out on the hallowed turf at headquarters next weekend.
Idris Martin
Dorset & Wilts.
1. Dunn, Tom – Chippenham
2. Wilford, Frazer – Bournemouth
3. Manning, Alan – Bournemouth
4. Lyons, Bobby – Chippenham*
5. Gilbert , Liam – Salisbury
6. Barwick, Sean – Salisbury*
7. Clilverd, Fraser – Cleve
8. Hennings, Jack – Bournemouth
9. Hardcastle, Sam – Bournemouth
10. Westall, Adam – Swindon (captain)*
11. Novik, Christian – Chippenham
12. Chislett, Scott – Bournemouth
13. Lilley, Sean – Oldfield
14. Pottage, Tom – Salisbury*
15. Lilley, Simon – Bournemouth
16. Esnouf, Luke – Salisbury*
17. Jones, Sean – Trowbridge
18. Thorpe, David – Salisbury
19. Baldwin, Tom – Chippenham*
20. Mitchell, Jaime – Oakmedians
21. Gilmore, Terry – Salisbury
22. Warner, Lewis – Wimborne*
