Dorset & Wilts U20s 66 – Middlesex U20s 21
· Another outstanding game of under 20s rugby with Middlesex more than holding their own in the forwards but totally outgunned in the backs.
· Much anticipated match as there hasn’t been a fixture at this age group between the counties for very many years if ever. As a result neither side knew what to expect of the other.
· After some early forward exchanges as each side felt out the other D&W opened their account with a try after 8 minutes by flanker Nick Horne which was converted by Luke Flower, the first points of his personal tally of 21 points.
· Tries then followed at regular intervals as the D&W backs carved apart their opposite numbers. Tries by Alex Devereux, Will Beach, Lewis Warner and Rory Hearson plus a penalty try awarded when Lewis Warner was brought down when following up his kick ahead which would otherwise have been a try under the posts.
· Half time 38 – 0
· Although D& W opened the scoring in the second half by a fine try by stand-off Luke Flower Middlesex were beginning to find some form and quickly responded with a try by Robbie Martey converted by Elliot Wake.
· But D&W quickly recovered their superiority and a second try by wing Rory Hearson pushed the score to 52 – 7.
· Once again Middlesex showed their resilience and a try by their scrum half John Thompson again convereted by Wake increased the Middlex tally to 14 points.
· A try from Will Beach stretched the D&W lead once more quickly followed by the most popular try of the afternoon by D&W young replacement prop Liam Chamberlain brought the total D&W score to 66.
· It was fitting that Middlesex skipper, prop Charlie Doyle should have the final say with a try on the final whistle to bring the final score to D&W 66 Middlesex 21
· At the after match speeches D&W captain Jack Green who had played an excellent game himself, congratulated Middlesex on their spirit and refusal to let their heads drop. A point which would have been echoed by the large crowd.
· A fine game from referee Andy Bickle and his assistants Matthew Carley and Ron Smerdon.
· D&W now face Yorkshire in the semi final at Bournemouth RFC on Sunday 18th April with the winners booking their place at the final at Twickenham.
Training session 24th March at Salisbury RFC 7.00 to 9.00. Quarter-Final v Middlesex at Bournemouth 12.00 meet 2.15 KO on Sunday 28th
Latest News 14th March
Dorset & Wilts U20s 33 – 32 Oxfordshire U20s
Another outstanding U20 game of rugby played by two evenly matched teams intent on playing enjoyable and entertaining rugby. The game was played in excellent spirit throughout and the refereeing team played their part in producing a game much enjoyed by the large crowd. Once again the result was in doubt until the final seconds when, as the final act of the game, an attempted conversion by Oxfordshire slid agonisingly past the left upright.
Amazingly Dorset and Wilts were already 10 points down with only three minutes on the clock. The first points a beautifully taken drop goal by the Oxfordshire number 10, Alex Stevenson, virtually from their kick off which was fumbled by the D&W players and stolen by the Oxfordshire forwards.
A try followed almost immediately followed from the restart. Oxfordshire drove the ball back to the Dorset & Wilts try line with a series of muscular mauls before feeding the ball to hooker Nick Gardner, who dived over pretty much unopposed. With a simple conversion by Stevenson the score moved to ten and it looked ominous for Dorset & Wilts.
The conversion itself produced the first of a number of significant injuries with both sides having to change strategy to cope. First Oxfordshire lost their stand-off, Stevenson, with a torn hamstring as he took the conversion, just when it looked as though his kicking game was going to be crucial to the final result. Then Dorset & Wilts lost their main line out option, Harry Pampiglione, after a collision in the air when both players were jumping to catch the ball from the restart. The lost was further compounded when shortly after Dorset & Wilts number 8 Alistair Vivian who was also a key line-out player turned his ankle and left the field. As Oxfordshire already looked supreme in this facet of the game with two giant jumpers Will Clayton and Olly Rees; Dorset & Wilts options became limited.
At last Dorset & Wilts woke up and started to impose themselves with a series of well worked rucks which produced a series of quick balls which opened up space for wing Mike Pope to score. The conversion also by Pope was his first points of a 18 point haul which earned him Dorset & Wilts man of the match.
The game continued to ebb and flow and after 20 minutes Dorset & Wilts finally got their nose in front with an impressive wingers try by Chris Bull, who had a number of impressive runs throughout the match. Again the try was converted by Pope. Oxfordshire quickly responded and after a series of penalties in the Dorset & Wilts 25 metre area they finally elected to kick with Tom Halliday bringing the score to a tantalising 14-13 at the half time whistle.
The second half began in the same manner as the first but this time it was Dorset & Wilts were on the score sheet after only a minute. On this occasion it was Dorset & Wilts centre, Lewis Warner, who cut a beautiful line from ten metres out and scored under the posts leaving a simple conversion for Pope.
With the strong wind now in their favour Dorset & Wilts began to play a bit more pragmatically pumping the ball into Oxfordshire territory and using their powerful rucking to produce good ball. It was from such a move that Dorset & Wilts stretched their lead with Dorset & Wilts flanker Nick Horne the beneficiary, a try which was again converted by Pope.
At 28 – 13 Dorset & Wilts looked to have the game sewn up but it was Oxfordshire that responded confidently and after a passage of play that drove them to the Dorset & Wilts line they finally managed to squeeze their full- back Kieran O’Connor over the line. The try was again converted by Oxfordshire’s Tom Halliday.
Now only 8 points down and with the impetus with them Oxfordshire began to play with real devil and Dorset & Wilts struggled to hold them. Eventually the pressure told and after a long period in the Dorset & Wilts 22 finally slipped the ball to prop Ted Sopppet who capping a fine game managed to drive over.
The Dorset & Wilts lead was once again cut to a single point with the conversion by Halliday.
With five minutes remaining the anxiety was somewhat reduced by the try of the match by Dorset & Wilts’ Pope who, having moved to full back at half time, was given the ball with a little room to work and demolished the Oxfordshire defence with a fine individual try which for once he failed to convert.
Again Oxfordshire refused to capitulate and battled for the converted try that would win them the game. After a series of impressive mauls and equally committed rucks with Oxfordshire’s man of the match Gardner at the forefront, Oxfordshire drove up to the Dorset & Wilts line where prop Tom Heydon drove over. Unfortunately for Oxfordshire the Dorset & Wilts defence had managed to drive play out towards the touchline and the difficult conversion which would have produced a courageous one point win just missed.
It was clear from the Dorset & Wilts body language at the final whistle that they were much relieved to achieve the win that takes them into the next round.
A fine game played in good spirit and a great advertisement for rugby at a time when the professional game looks distinctly stodgy in comparison.
Dorset & Wilts - Aaron Day (Oxford Brookes University) Alex Deveraux (Salisbury RFC) Alistair Vivian (Sherborne RFC) Chris Bull (Corsham RFC) Chris Patterson (Salisbury RFC) Dan Goldsworthy (Corsham RFC) Harry Pampiglionie (Bournemouth RFC) Jack Green (Bath University) James Newsam (Dorchester RFC) Lewis Warner (University Of Gloucester) Liam Chamberlain (Bournemouth RFC) Luke Byrne (Brunel University) Luke Flower (Basingstoke RFC) Mike Pope (Bournemouth RFC) Nick Bolton (Wimborne RFC) Nick Horne (University Of Gloucester) Richard Mitchell (North Dorset RFC) Robert Brown (Wimborne RFC) Sean Barker (Wimborne RFC) Tom Napier (Hartpury College) Will Beach (Salisbury RFC)
Oxfordshire - Kieran O’Connor (Oxford Brookes University), Harvey Bateman (Wallingford),Tom Halliday (Oxford Brookes University) Sean Cunningham (Oxford Brookes University) Mario DaSilva (Oxford), Alex Stevenson (c) (Rugby Lions) Will Power (Banbury) Ted Soppet (Bloxham School) Nick Gardner (University of Birmingham) Tom Heydon (Gosford) Will Clayton (Bicester) Olly Rees (Oxford) Richard Parkin-Mason (Abingdon) Alex Sawbridge (Oxford Brookes University) Rupert Crossland (Oxford Brookes University) Matt Edney (Oxford) James Sandy (Oxford) Sam Boyle (Banbury) Jed Boyle (Banbury)
Latest News 28th February
Berkshire U20s 0 -52 Dorset & Wilts U20s
An awesome display of forward domination and exciting running rugby from a back division on fire saw Dorset &Wiltshire U20s totally demolish a Berkshire side courageous but ultimately out-gunned in every area of the game. Given that the conditions were not conducive to a handling game, which resulted in a number of knock-ons with the try-line looming, it would be reasonable to suggest that the score could have been even greater. The only negative aspect for Dorset & Wilts was the loss of their exciting young prop Bertie Beanland with a broken collar-bone. The final game of the regional round of the Championship will be against Oxfordshire U20s on the 14th March at Bournemouth RFC.
Latest News 22nd February
This is the squad of 23 selected for the game against Berks this coming Sunday the 28th February. It would be very surprising if we do not lose one player between now and then so you should assume that all of you will be required for the match day squad of 22. Chris Stagg will name the starting 15 on the day. The game is at Tadley Rugby Club and the address and a map are at the 'next fixture and map' menu item. Please meet at 12.00. KO will be at 2.15. As usual please have ‘number ones’ for after the game.
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Aaron Day
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Alistair Vivian
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Bertie Beanland
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Bobby Brown
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Chris Bull
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Chris Patterson
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Dan Goldsworthy
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Harry Pampiglioni
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Jack Green
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James Newsam
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Jordan Sheppard
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Jorge Wadman
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Josh Gould
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Lewis Warner
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Liam Chamberlain
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Liam Long
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Luke Bynre
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Luke Flower
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Mark Holman
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Mike Pope
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Nick Bolton
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Tom Napier
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Will Beach
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Latest News 28th March
Dorset & Wilts U20s 66 – Middlesex U20s 21
· Another outstanding game of under 20s rugby with Middlesex more than holding their own in the forwards but totally outgunned in the backs.
· Much anticipated match as there hasn’t been a fixture at this age group between the counties for very many years if ever. As a result neither side knew what to expect of the other.
· After some early forward exchanges as each side felt out the other D&W opened their account with a try after 8 minutes by flanker Nick Horne which was converted by Luke Flower, the first points of his personal tally of 21 points.
· Tries then followed at regular intervals as the D&W backs carved apart their opposite numbers. Tries by Alex Devereux, Will Beach, Lewis Warner and Rory Hearson plus a penalty try awarded when Lewis Warner was brought down when following up his kick ahead which would otherwise have been a try under the posts.
· Half time 38 – 0
· Although D& W opened the scoring in the second half by a fine try by stand-off Luke Flower Middlesex were beginning to find some form and quickly responded with a try by Robbie Martey converted by Elliot Wake.
· But D&W quickly recovered their superiority and a second try by wing Rory Hearson pushed the score to 52 – 7.
· Once again Middlesex showed their resilience and a try by their scrum half John Thompson again convereted by Wake increased the Middlex tally to 14 points.
· A try from Will Beach stretched the D&W lead once more quickly followed by the most popular try of the afternoon by D&W young replacement prop Liam Chamberlain brought the total D&W score to 66.
· It was fitting that Middlesex skipper, prop Charlie Doyle should have the final say with a try on the final whistle to bring the final score to D&W 66 Middlesex 21
· At the after match speeches D&W captain Jack Green who had played an excellent game himself, congratulated Middlesex on their spirit and refusal to let their heads drop. A point which would have been echoed by the large crowd.
· A fine game from referee Andy Bickle and his assistants Matthew Carley and Ron Smerdon.
· D&W now face Yorkshire in the semi final at Bournemouth RFC on Sunday 18th April with the winners booking their place at the final at Twickenham.
Latest News 19th March
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