Sat 4 Feb 2023
Royal Wootton Basset 2nd XV 24 V NDRFC 1 st XV 36
North Dorset Men travelled to Royal Wootton Bassett to take on their 2nd XV who provided strong opposition in the first half of the season. The Slaughtergate side has had it’s ranks bolstered in recent weeks by the return of Tom Stewart and Mindaugas Kazlaukas who have been on loan to Taunton Titans for a few years. It took only 9 minutes for full back Stewart to make his impact felt, after strong work from the forwards had RWB on the back foot and the backs threw the ball wide to see Stewart score in the corner for an unconverted try. Not to be out done Sean Perry replicated the run down the same flank 2 minutes later and scored however this time Stewart would add the extras to see North 12 points in front after as many minutes. However, any thoughts that this was going to be an easy fixture went out the door immediately as RWB posted two tries of their own within 5 minutes and the scores were soon level at 12 all. North Dorset were slowly gaining ascendency through the forward pack, allowing Will Willoughby who is going from strength to strength each week to crash through the RWB defence for a converted try. In what was proving a free flowing and highly entertaining match, RWB again matched the score moments later. Brad Bignell broke the deadlock from no. 8, picking up from
the back of a scrum to barge over. The try would go unconverted, but it gave North the half time lead 24-19 over the home side.
The lead was short lived as RWB would score within the first 2 minutes of the 2nd half to see the scores once again level. However North began to control the game through the forward pack with Willoughby, Charlie Jobling and Jack Spencer making big runs. Sam Stinton, Mindas, Eric Muntzero & Brandon Ward were dominant in defence. The halves of Robbie Sampson & Luke Spicer controlled the pace of the game, whilst Henry Dimmack & Sam Trevis nullified the threat through the backs. With 15 to go, Perry made a fantastic run down the left-hand flank which would give him his second try and North a 5 point lead, before Tom Stewart put the game to bed showing a great turn of pace to score under the posts and convert his own try to give North an unassailable 12 point lead, and a bonus point win.
The Gritchie Brewing Company Man of the Match was difficult to pick this week with Tom Stewart, Will Willoughby and Sean Perry all in contention but it was Perry who took the honours. The Jean Thomas Dujour Memorial Claret Jug was won by Rylie Lewis.
