Match Report County CHAMPIONSHIP Plate 5th MAY 2007
Dorset & Wilts 18 Buckinghamshire 22
On Saturday Dorset & Wilts entertained Buckinghamshire at Supermarine RFC for their second game in this season's County Championship Plate.
There were several changes from the side that narrowly lost to Hampshire as players from Bournemouth were now available after winning their play off game last week against Brixham to gain promotion into the South West 1 league.
Buckinghamshire had also made several changes to their team that had lost last week to Sussex.
D & W started confidently and after 15 minutes Salisbury lock Liam Gilbert kicked a penalty to give the Twin Counties the lead (3-0).
A poor clearance kick then enabled Bucks full back Raana Pearman to launch a counter attack which ended with him crossing the line for a try which Marlow wing and Captain Johnny Smith converted (3-7).
Another penalty by Liam Gilbert kept the Twin Counties in touch 6-7. Then after a period of strong pressure by the counties forwards a well organised rolling maul allowed Swanage & Wareham hooker and Captain Rob Elford to score an unconverted try (11-7). Bucks responded quickly and from a lineout peel their High Wycombe hooker Peter Dorling scored and Johnny Smith converted from wide out.
After the restart D & W backs immediately launched a promising attack and seemed likely to score when a poor pass was intercepted enabling wing Johnny Smith to score wide out. He was unable to convert his own try and half time score was 11-19.
Both sides pressed hard in the third quarter of the game and after 60 mins Johnny Smith kicked a penalty to increase Bucks lead (11-22).
With ten minutes to go D & W backs moved the ball quickly in their own half to Salisbury wing Phil Carr who outpaced the covering defence to score a try which Liam Gilbert converted (18-22).
D & W held then began exert pressure in search of a winning try but Bucks defended well and they hung on until the final whistle.
Next Saturday May 13th Dorset & Wilts entertain Sussex at Swanage & Wareham RFC KO 1500hrs. Yesterday Sussex lost to Hampshire (31-45).
Dorset & Wilts Team
1. Carl Randle (Havant)
2. Robert Elford (S & W) Captain
3. Adam Musselbrook (Trowbridge)
4. Liam Gilbert (Salisbury)
5. Dave Burgess (S & W)
6. Paul Daniels (Swindon)
7. James Warren (S & W)
8. Tom Steadwick (Oakmeadians)
9. Mike McKeon (S & W)
10. Richard Roe (Salisbury)
11. Phil Carr (Salisbury)
12. Tim Gray (Bournemouth)
13. Darryl Puzas (Bournemouth)
14. Duncan Fletcher (Bournemouth)
15. Chris Leak (S & W)
16. Nick Taylor (Salisbury)
17. Alan Manning (Bournemouth)
18. George Leyland (Bournemouth)
19. Matt Hart (Salisbury)
20. Gareth Blackbarrow (Salisbury)
21. Charlie Parish (S & W)
Tries. Elford, Carr
Conversion. Gilbert
Penalties. Gilbert 2
Buckinghamshire Team
1. Luke Gardiner (Aylesbury)
2. Peter Dorling (High Wycombe)
3. Matt Tutt (Buckingham)
4. Alex Hankinson (Slough)
5. David Coleman (Henley Hawks)
6. Paul Parkhouse (Marlow)
7. Mark Parkhouse (Marlow)
8. Paul Martin (Marlow)
9. Oli Caplin (Olney)
10. Brett Milligan (Marlow)
11. Rhys Pearman (Olney)
12. Leon Gillespie (Marlow)
13. Kiernan Mann (High Wycombe)
14. Johnny Smith (High Wycombe) Captain
15. Raana Pearman (Olney)
16. Peter Lewis (Marlow)
17. Craig Burgess (Marlow)
18. Colby Short (Marlow)
19. Andy Smith (Henley Hawks)
20. Alistair Foyle (High Wycombe)
21. Llewellyn Williams (High Wycombe)