Sat 21 Jan 2023
Slaughtergate produced yet another close encounter this season on both the 1 st & 2 nd XV pitches with both games drawing a large crowd from Club Sponsors Farnfields Solicitors who were hosting their annual luncheon.
North Dorset’s 1 st XV took on Avonvale, and for the first quarter both teams negated each other with solid defence until Tom Hooper scored a hattrick in a space of 10 minutes, to see north skip to a 19 nil lead after Sam Jones converted 2 of the tries. Avonvale struck back with a hard charging run from their captain Marcus Larbalestier who scored under the posts on the close of half time to bring them back into the game.
The second half saw North extend their lead when Jaime Bettesworth crashed over the line and Sam Jones added the extras. However, Avonvale came home with vengeance and had the run of the second half, keeping North in their own quarter for the remainder of the match with 3 unanswered tries so that the final few minutes would be played with the scores in the balance 26-24. North would hang on to win the match with the 2 points from a Jones conversion being the difference between the two teams at the end. Strong games were had by Leon Taylor, Robbie Sampson, & Will Willoughby. 3 try hero Tom Hooper was awarded the Gritchie Brewing Man of the Match. Rylie Lewis was unlucky not to have appeared on the scoresheets however his efforts didn’t go unnoticed and he was rewarded with the William Poe Shield
