WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND 43

BOURNEMOUTH III 12

WEYMOUTH & Portland threw the Tribute Dorset & Wilts One South title race wide open by dealing a heavy 43-12 defeat to previously unbeaten Bournemouth Thirds.

Leaders Blandford, Weymouth & Portland, North Dorset and Bournemouth Thirds are separated by just two points at the top of the standings – the latter possessing a game in hand.

Weymouth & Portland upset the formbook by getting stuck into Bournemouth early on, Billy Hayne scoring a converted try, adding to a Ryan Lewendon penalty for a 10-0 lead.

Bournemouth hit back to trail 10-7 before Ben Davies went off with a painful torn ear.

Davies’ absence did not distract the Seahorses as Matt Savage went over to secure a 17-7 half-time lead.

READ MORE: Weymouth & Portland 23-29 North Dorset - match report

Joe Gibson and Lewendon added further scores as the Seahorses made use of a buffeting wind behind them.

Despite two sin-bins, the hosts’ strong forward play enabled Andy Bowditch to score a try but a lightning-fast move from Bournemouth’s backs undid the Seahorses’ defence for 36-12.

Fittingly, it was the impact of sub Gibson that produced the game’s final try, converted by Lewendon, to hand Weymouth & Portland a hard-fought win.

Speaking to Echosport, head coach Rich Bament said: “They put in a lot of effort to come back from the two previous defeats.

“It was good to get the win at Swanage which gave them the belief going forward. We knew it would be a tough game. We refocused and we got over the line, quite comfortable in the second half.

“The guys know they can do it, it’s just sometimes when things get thrown at them that they’re not expecting they go a bit off-piste.

“We’re not going to score straight away off every play. They take their time, tire the defence out and the tries come.

“Go back to what they know best – nine times out of 10 at the moment that’s going through our forwards.”

Bottom side Bridport lie in wait on Saturday, Bament adding: “You never know what to expect with Bridport, they’re quite a lively bunch down there.

“Good crowd, good enthusiasm – that’s a polite way of saying it! We’re quietly confident we’ll go there and do the job.

“This league this year is a lot tougher, it’s competitive all the way through.

“We’ll turn up, play what’s in front of us and hopefully we’ll come good.”