Saddleback Luke Rapson amongst the try scorers on Saturday
Devizes RFC hosted it’s first Dorset & Wilts Senior Mens game for several years as the Twin Counties hosted Buckinghamshire. Dorset & Wilts had defeated a strong Berkshire side and were looking to go into the final pool match against Middlesex next weekend with two wins on the board.
The Twin Counties showcased excellent fitness and finesse throughout the contest and relentlessly scored tries at regular intervals. The first score came from Wimborne back rower, Steve King after some good offload play in the pack with Taunton fly half Sam Baker converting. Bournemouth prop Tom Napier then added to this with a fine carry after some good offloading throughout with Baker adding the extras. Napier was involved again when some great offloading by the Bournemouth prop saw the ball played into Wimborne second row Rob Best to go over. Within the first quarter the Twin Counties had assailed a comfortable 19-0 lead.
The fourth score was aptly scored by Royal Wootton Bassett and Dorset & Wilts skipper, Gavin Ougan who was tireless throughout. Baker converted again. Despite a lapse in discipline and concentration for ten minutes or so, the fifth score soon came with Swindon College Old Boys scrum half Owain Hire sniping close to the line to go over. Baker converted again to make it 33-0 at the break.
Buckinghamshire upped the ante in the second period but were further down when Bournemouth back row Harry Leadbetter skipped through the visitors defence after a barrelling run from Trowbridge’s Shai Bonnick. Baker converted bringing the scores to 40-0.
Devizes back Luke Rapson then came on the final twenty-five minutes at full back much to the delight of the Devizes support in the crowd. The Twin Counties were relentless in their approach and some great offloading close to the line saw Swindon College Old Boys skipper Gareth Davis bundle over the line from out wide. Baker’s conversion hitting the upright and bouncing over.
In broken play the ball the fell to Rapson who jinked past two tackles and sprinted from the half way line to dot down between the posts, a fine break from the Devizes man and the biggest cheer of the day. Dorset and Wilts were not done yet as Wimborne’s other second row Declan Foley dived through the centre of the ruck to ground the ball. Baker converting again. The final score of the day at the death was scored by Warminster winger Ross Williams, who jinked round a few tackles to dot down for a well-deserved score. Baker converted again to end the game at 68-0 to the Twin Counties.
An excellent display of rugby on show at Devizes RFC and a good standard of rugby to set the bar for the senior team going into the 2019/2020 season. Thank you to Dorset & Wilts for giving the club the opportunity to showcase Bill Beaumont County Championship rugby at the Chivers Ground. Thanks also to Chris Jones and groundsman Julian Roberts for the organisation and quality of the pitch.
Dorset & Wilts now face Middlesex next week at London Grasshoppers with an opportunity to make it through to the next round of the County Championship.
Photos of the match can be found at the following link:
.jpg?v=638709009110099157 "Dev mens vs Thornbury (59 of 65)")
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.jpg?v=638248658763902723 "Dev cup (55 of 61)")
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