Sat 6 Nov 2021, 14:30
North Dorset travelled to Puddletown, intending to bounce back after last weekend's result. But, unfortunately, North was hit with a setback in the morning, with head coach Michael 'Taff' Bamsey keeping his reasons to miss game bingo card ticking over nicely.
North had made a few changes to their squad, Thomas Barfoot and Marcus Randall, receiving their first starts. Tom Spinney came in at prop on debut, Charlie Jobling returned from injury on the flank, and Brandon Ward returned at 8. There was a last-minute swap around in the backs, with Jonathan Hooper moving to full-back, Tom Bridger Chilvers joining Tom Rose on the wings, and Sean Perry moving to 13. On the bench, Eric Munezero makes his first appearance of the season. Gavin Weeks, Gavin Bain joins him, and former club captain Will Willoughby makes his first appearance for a couple of seasons.
North playing up the hill with a breeze behind them, received the kick-off and immediately went into their phase play and flyhalf Robbie Sampson put them into Puddletown territory. After some strong defence, North turned Puddletown over in their 22. After a phase or two scrum-half, Sam Jones darted blind, with a lovely show and go, scampered over the whitewash for the first meat pie of the game. Jones successfully converted his try, 0-7.
North went around imposing themselves on the Puddletown pack, with solid runs from Spinney, Luke Biggs, Barfoot and Jamie Bettesworth making inroads into Puddletown. Then, however, the pressure told not once but twice in quick succession, Sam Jones knocking over two penalties to take the score to 0 – 13 after about 25 minutes.
North kept using the wind and kept Puddletown pinned in their half. Marcus Randall then made a break from the 10-meter line. He trundled free like a beautiful White Rhino on the charge, 30, 20, 10 meters to go. This was his moment. His first-ever North Dorset 1st XV try, 5 meters left, the thoughts of how he would put the ball down, 'ash splash' or a somersault flashed through his mind, only for him to get so confused he dropped the ball. A couple of meters short.
At the resulting scrum, Norths forwards tore into Puddletown, turning over the ball. Brandon Ward broke and ran hard at the Puddletown defence, only for them to give away a penalty. Randall tried to make up for his mistake, took a quick tap penalty, and passed the ball to winger Tom Rose, who crashed over the line in the corner, 0 – 18.
Before the half was up, North managed to get another meat pie thanks to a good break from Tom Bridger- Chilvers who could have scored in the corner but decided to run into the full-back instead. Still, some fine work on the right-hand side left Henry Barron to waltz over and casually put the ball down one-handed under the sticks with a wink to Randall Magoo. 0 – 23 half time.
Andrew Clunes said a few words and got the boys fired up for the second 40. North, now playing against the strong wind, knew the battle wasn't over.
North kicked off for the second half and immediately got stuck into their jobs. Pilling pressure on the Puddletown pack. From a scrum, North overpowered Puddletown, and Brandon Ward marked his return to the team with a try. 0 – 28 with 47 gone.
Clune thought this was the perfect time to unleash Eric Munezero and William Willoughby on Puddletown. However, as North looked to attack, some loose hands in midfield resulted in a Puddletown breakaway. Despite some excellent cover defence from Barron, Bain and Perry, it wasn't enough to stop Puddletown from getting a score, 7 – 28 with 60 gone.
North responded well with solid runs from Hooper and Trevis, thwarted by excellent breakdown work by Puddletown. From a Puddletown clearance kick, a glistening Gavin Bain went on the charge smashing through defenders until he met the Puddletown flyhalf, who cut him in half.
North now putting increasing pressure on the Puddletown line, got their breakthrough when North span the ball wide, Gavin Weeks wrapped around receiving a delightful offload from Hooper, Weeks crashed over, and Jones added the extras 7 – 35.
The last 10 minutes were played out with North controlling possession and territory and Puddletown trying to play their way out. Puddletown attacked one last time before North snuffed it out, and the referee blew for full time. A fine 35 – 7 win for the men in green.
Next week sees North host Minety in a Dorset & Wilts Vase Quarter Final.
Gritchie Brewing company POTM: Tom Spinney
Richard of the Day: Marcus Randall
Baker of the week: Robbie Sampson bought some brownies from his wife's shop.
